What's the Story?
From cave etchings to the advent of the printing press, the written word and stories have been a foundation for the human condition. And storytelling is core to what College of Arts and Sciences students learn, whether they're majoring in general social science, neuroscience or English. Learning the art of storytelling and communication is a way for a student to remain competitive in a world filled with artificial intelligence.
“If you can organize your thoughts on a page and articulate why you’re the right person for the job, then you are in a position to become a leader, to have a voice and to become valuable,” said Jason Brown, a writer, professor and head of the Creative Writing Program. “Being able to tell a story is a foundational skill that is essential for many career paths, from being a writer to a doctor to a psychologist.”
Read more about what CAS students, faculty and alumni are doing in the April 2026 issue of CAS Connection.
News from CAS
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We Love Our Supporters
Gifts to the College of Arts and Sciences can help our students make the most of their college careers. To do this, CAS needs your support. Your contributions help us ensure that teaching, research, advising, mentoring, and support services are fully available to every student. Thank you!
Congratulations, Graduating Ducks!
The College of Arts and Sciences’ departments will hold commencement ceremonies on Monday, June 15, 2026.
What’s Happening in CAS?
Why is storytelling so important for College of Arts and Sciences students, whether they're pursuing creative writing or neuroscience? With the advent of AI and constant technological innovation, it's more important than ever to bring humans together. Find out more how the craft of storytelling is preparing students for an ever-changing world.
Also in the April CAS Connection issue, an economist weighs in on why the war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz leads to high prices around the world; alum, filmmaker and Olympic runner Alexi Pappas shares her perspective on ambition and failure; and a chemist shares research on how we can make labs more accessible for students — and more.
Undergraduate Studies
Wherever your academic goals eventually take you at the UO, all Ducks begin their journey with foundational courses in CAS. More than 60 percent of students go on to pursue a major in a CAS department or program. With more than 50 departments and programs, there’s an intellectual home for almost any interest, talent, or career aspiration.
Graduate Studies
The College of Arts and Sciences offers more than 30 master's programs and more than 20 doctoral programs across a diverse range of disciplines. Both as contributors to research teams and through their own scholarship and teaching, our CAS graduate students are indispensable to the vitality of the UO academic mission.
Student Support Services
We provide our students with a variety of resources to help you thrive inside and outside the classroom. Through Tykeson Advising, we provide comprehensive academic and career advising from the start of your journey at the University of Oregon. Learn about career preparation and get assistance in selecting the very best classes. Connect with labs, libraries, IT and tutoring. Find your community on campus.
World-Class Faculty
The College of Arts and Sciences faculty members are a driving force of the high-output, high-impact research activity that has earned the UO membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). Our world-class faculty members are inspiring teachers.
Among them are five members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, four members of the National Academy of Sciences. They are committed to helping students discover their academic passion. Every day, they work to expand students’ intellectual horizons, preparing them for life after college with real-world knowledge and skills.
Meet our Dean
In the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), we are committed to excellence in research and teaching, student success, and diversity, equity, and belonging.
A liberal arts education—one that offers a breadth of intellectual approaches and perspectives and depth in a major discipline—is the foundation to a purposeful life as a life-long learner, engaged citizen, and leader. The skills you will learn here—from written and verbal communication to analytical and quantitative reasoning, to compassion and understanding—are those that employers seek and will open the door to a wealth of opportunities.
You will find more than 50 majors and a multitude of minors within CAS, and seemingly endless opportunities for personal exploration and discovery. Whether you are an incoming first-year student, a grad student or a transfer student, you can map an exciting future and be part of a fun, warm, engaged liberal arts community here. Come join us. And go Ducks!
The College of Arts and Sciences includes:
Happening at CAS
7:30–9:30 p.m.
In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire. Written with warmth and humor, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 9 to 10 actors, who play more than 30 parts—friends, co-workers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates, and myriad interested bystanders. Called a “powerful” and “engrossing” drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science. Produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Company of Woodstock, Illinois. Originally produced by Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey and developed with a commissioning grant from The Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science and Technology Project.
by D. W. Gregory Directed by Willow Jade Norton Zolan
1:15–2:15 p.m.
GIS and the Makerspace is a three-session workshop covering the basics of map design in ArcGIS Pro to create a laser-cut map notebook and a keychain map of Oregon. The first session covers GIS concepts and map projections. The second session introduces Illustrator basics and formatting for the laser cutter. The third session is held in the Price Science Commons (PSC) Library's DeArmond Makerspace, where you will learn to use the laser cutter and assemble your book.
No experience with GIS or the Makerspace is assumed, and completion of this workshop will certify you to use the laser cutter for your own projects. This workshop is open to current UO students, faculty, and staff. Spots are limited: please only register if you plan to attend, and please cancel your registration if a conflict arises and you won't be able to attend.
2:00–3:30 p.m.
How can landscape architects orient themselves while working on Indigenous-led projects? Join Master of Landscape Architecture student Paras Bajaj as he shares his understanding of the Klamath watershed developed through interactions with members of various tribes and nations. Moving from the watershed scale to the Shasta Indian Nation lands that have re-emerged after the dam removal, Bajaj will discuss how cultural continuity can be aided through design and planning.
Bajaj is a landscape architecture graduate student from Northeast India hailing from the Brahmaputra Watershed, here in Oregon to learn from the Klamath movement. Their background as an architect and their field work on the Majuli island in India led to the simple but profound revelation of how architecture is a byproduct of the landscape when the communities are in close connection and relation with the lands and waters. Their work focuses on supporting cultural continuity through planning and design.
11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Want to learn more about graduate school or different types of part-time/full-time jobs, internships, volunteer opportunities, and careers in the health professions? The Health Grad & Career Expo is your chance to get curious about your present and future in healthcare! This expo is a mix of graduate schools excited to share more with you about their organization/program and early career talent and educational opportunities. Great for students exploring career paths as well as students ready to start applying for the year ahead.
FEATURING PROGRAMS IN: Audiology, Biomedical Sciences, Chiropractic, Dentistry, Gerontology, Health Services, Human Genetics, Kinesiology, Medical Doctor, Medical Science, Mental Health, Natural Medicine, Nursing/Nurse Practitioner, Nutritional Science, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Osteopathy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Podiatry, Psychology, Public Health, Sociology, Speech Therapy, Sports Medicine, Surgery, Veterinary, and more!
Register on Handshake today to learn about all the schools and organizations coming, positions of interest, and get tips and advice for how to make the most of the expo.
For more information, visit the Unviersity Career Center in Tykeson-Garden Level to learn more about how the UCC supports students applying to grad school through career coaching and document reviews! Also check out our NEW online career exploration resources around Health & Scientific Discovery!