College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences provides students at the University the opportunity for a sound liberal education. A core value of Arts and Sciences is that learning is an end in itself, and that the principal utility of knowledge is in the pursuit of happiness. As teachers and scholars, Arts and Sciences faculty are concerned with the discovery of new knowledge as well as with the preservation and communication of the wisdom of the past. They seek to instill in all students the spirit of reasoned inquiry and habits of intellectual curiosity and discipline. In its curricula, the College seeks to enrich students with an appreciation of their intellectual, cultural, and aesthetic heritage; to provide them with the skills necessary to understand the complex human, societal, and technological issues of the present; to prepare them for direct entry into careers and advanced study in a variety of fields; and to foster in them a commitment to human growth and the continuing examination of life.
Mission Statement
The College of Arts and Sciences provides a comprehensive, holistic, and interdisciplinary education at Minot State University. College faculty integrate excellent teaching with scholarly and creative activity, thereby preparing undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, values, and skills needed in our diverse world.
Vision Statement
To be recognized as one of the best liberal arts colleges among mid-sized, comprehensive state universities in and beyond the USA.
Organization
The College of Arts and Sciences consists of the faculty of the following units (Found in the Faculty Tabs under "Chairs")
Pre-Professional Guides
Pre-Law
Advisor: Daniel Ringrose
Adequate preparation for entrance into an accredited law school requires a bachelor’s degree. No specific college major is required for admission to an American school of law. The Association of American Law School’s ‘’Statement of Association Policy on Pre-Legal Education’’ states that an appropriate pre-law education develops: (l) comprehension and expression in words; (2) critical understanding of the human institutions and values with which the law deals; and (3) creative power in thinking. Therefore, the pre-law program takes the form of recommended course in various disciplines and an advising service to help the student shape their program to meet specific interests. Advising is also available to aid in preparation for the LSAT and in the selection of a law school. The pre-law student should select a major field of study to demonstrate a mastery of a specific area. Traditionally, pre-law students have majored in the social science fields of economics, history, political science, or sociology. Non-social science disciplines such as criminal justice may also be selected as the major field of study. Selection of a major should be determined by the student’s interests and career plans.
Non-degree advising: Pre-Law
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 110 (RC) | 3 | COMM 110 (RC) | 3 |
| History (FC3) | 3 | Humanities (FC1) | 3 |
| Lab Science (FC2) | 4 | Social Science (FC3) | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Electives | 6 |
| 16 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 120 | 3 | Math (RC) | 4 |
| Humanities (FC1) | 3 | Social Science (FC3) | 3 |
| Lab Science (FC2) | 4 | Electives | 9 |
| Electives | 6 | ||
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Electives1 | 16 | Electives1 | 16 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Electives1 | 16 | Electives1 | 16 |
| 16 | 16 | ||
| Total Hours: 127 | |||
- 1
For the first two years, the pre-law student is advised to take as many General Education credits as possible. In addition to fulfilling General Education requirements, this broad exposure will allow the student to discover what he or she finds interesting and does well in. Then the student should choose a major, minor and an area of concentration which can be completed in the junior and senior years. The major, minor, and concentration courses should hone the intellectual skills that will be required for success in law school. In short, any major, minor, and concentration that enables the student to develop communication and critical thinking skills will constitute an acceptable minor for a future law school candidate.
These four-year matrices are possible with commitment, focus, and optimal conditions.
Pre-Seminary
Advisor:
The suggested curricula for pre-seminary students follows closely the curricula prepared by the American Association of Theological Schools. Such preparation should include an adequate background in English language and literature, history, philosophy, and at least one of the natural sciences. There should be proficiency in at least one foreign language. Additional courses are recommended in the areas of humanities and social sciences. A broad background in history, literature, and culture is recommended before theology and religion courses are attempted.
Students interested in more specialized areas may contact the chairperson of the Division of Social Science for a more detailed program.
Non-degree Advising: Pre-Seminary
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 110 (GE1) | 3 | ENGL 120 | 3 |
| History (FC3) | 3 | PHIL 101 | 3 |
| Math (RC) | 4 | Social Sciences (FC3) | 3 |
| Lab Science (RC2) | 4 | History Elective | 3 |
| Social Sciences (FC3) | 3 | ||
| 14 | 15 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| COMM 110 (GE1) | 3 | ENGL 231 | 3 |
| Humanities (FC1) | 3 | Lab Science (FC2) | 4 |
| SPAN 101, GERM 101, or FREN 101 | 3 | PHIL 201 | 3 |
| PHIL 102 (FC1) | 3 | SPAN 102, GERM 102, or FREN 102 | 3 |
| ENGL 220 | 3 | ||
| 12 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| HIST 244 | 3 | HIST 401 | 3 |
| PHIL 210 | 3 | SPAN 202, GERM 202, or FREN 202 | 3 |
| SPAN 201, GERM 201, or FREN 201 | 3 | PSY 411 | 3 |
| HIST 243 | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | Electives | 3 |
| Electives | 2 | ||
| 15 | 17 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Hours | ||
| Elective | 34 | ||
| 34 | |||
| Total Hours: 123 | |||
These four-year matrices are possible with commitment, focus, and optimal conditions.
Faculty
Chairs
Daniel Ringrose
Division of Social Science
Daniel Ringrose
Division of World Languages and Cultural Studies
David Rolandson
Division of Performing Arts
David Rolandson
Division of Art and Professional Communication
Bryan Schmidt
Department of Biology
Bryan Schmidt
Division of Science
Darren Seifert
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Vicki Michels
Department of Criminal Justice