From the Dean:
The liberal arts are more essential than ever
As the largest and oldest unit on campus,
the College of Arts and Sciences has always been at the academic center of "the Carolina experience." Now our teaching and research are more essential than ever, as we prepare our students for the complexities of the 21st century.
Our academic mission is to create new knowledge, discover innovative solutions, educate our outstanding undergraduate and graduate students, and engage meaningfully with the state, nation and world.
We are committed to giving Carolina students an exceptional liberal arts education with all of the benefits of a major research university.
The College has more than 15,000 undergraduates and our faculty teach nearly 90 percent of the undergraduate credit hours. We also have more than 2,000 graduate students, 20 percent of all graduate and professional students on campus.
All undergraduates spend their first two years in the College, selecting courses across the disciplines. They learn about the fine arts and humanities, the social sciences and the natural and mathematical sciences. Students hone their skills in oral and written communication, critical analysis and ethical decision-making. They also have opportunities for experiential education where they work closely with world-class scholars and teachers through special seminars, research projects and study abroad.
By the time our students graduate, they are prepared for leadership and service, wherever they choose to live and work.
This is what makes the College a vibrant and stimulating intellectual community. Through scholarship and creative work, our extraordinary faculty shed light on the past, communicate new ideas and interpret the world. They also take on some of the biggest challenges of our time: social and economic disparities, drug addiction, climate change, international conflict, life threatening diseases and more.
My goal as dean is to work with our colleagues, students, alumni and friends to ensure that the College of Arts and Sciences thrives as Carolina’s vital hub of learning, discovery and innovation.
Karen Gil, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
