College of Arts and Sciences

Evelyn B. Harrell, Ph.D., LCSW, LAC, Dean

Office: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Bldg., Room 120

Phone: (504) 286-5234

Wanda Hicks, Administrative Assistant

Office: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences Bldg., Room 115

Phone: (504) 286-5449

The College of Arts and Sciences brings together a single faculty body from three (3) departments namely: Arts and Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences; the undergraduate programs of Forensic Science, Health Information Management Systems and General Studies; the graduate programs of Criminal Justice and Museum Studies. The Department of Arts and Humanities houses the following degree programs: English and History.

In addition, general academic courses in Communication, Fine Arts, Music, Philosophy, Spanish, Humanities, and French are offered through the Department.

The Department of Social Sciences offers programs in Addictive Behaviors Counseling and Prevention, Criminal Justice (graduate and undergraduate), and Psychology, all of which are degree-granting programs. Courses in political science and sociology are offered as general education courses and as a minor.

The Department of Natural Sciences houses programs in Biology and Mathematics as degree granting programs. Additionally, general academic courses are offered in Chemistry, Physics, and Physical Science.

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degree has been developed in order to provide students with the types of skills and information that are necessary for success in forensic science. The program includes sequences in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology. SUNO also offers a number of specialized courses specifically related to forensic science. Students will take courses in forensic biology, forensic DNA, forensic microscopy, evidence collection and processing, witness testimony, and more.

The Health Information Management System (HIMS) educates students in planning, collecting, storing, retrieving, and communicating health care data through a combination of course-work in healthcare, technology, and business which will prepare students to become health- care administrators, analysts, and providers of modern healthcare delivery techniques. The program prepares students for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) Examination. The HIMS Program was initially accredited on February 7^th, 2013 by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

The General Studies Program, which offers a Bachelor of General Studies degree, was established at Southern University at New Orleans in the academic year 2002-2003. The Program is designed especially to provide students with an enhanced comprehensive broad-based liberal education with the flexibility to adapt and combine courses from established traditional curricula. The Program adds depth and new dimensions to existing programs as well as enables Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) to continue pursuing its mission of serving the educational needs of both students and the community. To this end, the General Students now offers a course in Museology as a complement to the graduate Museum Studies Program. The goals and requirements for graduation are stated in the program’s curriculum.

Intrinsically, the programs in the College provide knowledge and related educational experiences that form the intellectual core of academic achievement at Southern University at New Orleans. The major aim of the College is to offer students at the University with diverse opportunities for a meaningful education in the liberal arts and natural sciences by establishing a variety of majors in the academic disciplines in collaboration with other Colleges of the University. Institutionally, the College links the theoretical and practical across an array of extraordinary range of academic programs and activities which emphasize the mastery of language along with the other liberal and scientific studies. By doing so, the students are provided the opportunity to expand their educational and cultural horizons.

The individual departments in the College share identical goals specified in each department’s/program’s curriculum. Students who contemplate majoring in a program of the College are advised to consult the appropriate department/program chair/director as soon as possible, so that a comprehensive plan of study is worked out toward his/her course of studies. A description of a degree requirement is found with each department’s/program’s course offerings. The change from one program to the other must be approved by the department chair/program director and the dean of the College. Thus, a liberal arts and science education at Southern University at New Orleans will help students become resourceful thinkers who have an understanding of themselves and the world around them.

The goals of the College of Arts and Sciences are as follows:

Facilitate the implementation of the mission and basic goals of the University.
Expand the frontiers of knowledge of the Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, General Studies, and Health Information Systems.
Emphasize the significance of the arts and science education in an age of indomitable technological advancement.
Provide areas of concentrated study for students who contemplate careers as professionals in the liberal arts and science.
Give students a well-balanced training in the application of the scientific method, and techniques to solve contemporary problems.
Develop the versatility necessary for personal adaptation in a highly complex society.
Develop knowledge and communication skills which are essential to advancement in any vocational field.
Increase understanding of the contemporary world by focusing on diversity, tolerance, multiculturalism, and international interdependence.
Promote democracy and citizenship by developing abilities for critical thinking, understanding, and solving pressing social, political and economic issues.
Prepare students for admission to schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, law, and other graduate schools.

Requirements for Graduation

The completion of an approved program of studies of not less than 120 semester hours with a cumulative average of 2.00 or better.
The completion of a minimum number of semester hours as specified in the major field, with a grade of C or better in all courses, and a minimum of eighteen (18) semester hours in a minor field.
The completion of 39 hours of General Education courses and 21 hours of electives in other areas of interest in support of the student’s career goal.
The completion of 60 hours in community services.
Take and pass English 112, which includes a writing component, with a grade of C or better. Students who transfer from other universities and submit documentation of having passed a Writing Proficiency Examination will be given credit for the examination.