The Ideas that Shaped Us
Through its 150 years, the University of Oregon, its students and faculty have been driven by discovery. The College of Arts and Sciences has been there from the start.
Our faculty have worked to advance scholarship that continues to make a difference. They created the nation's first physical education school in 1920 that still fuels human performance a century later as the Department of Human Physiology. They established the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology that grew from a handful of tents to a year-round marine station. They created archeological field work that put students in the action of scientific discovery.
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!
The CAS Experience
The College of Arts and Sciences experience is more than classroom lectures and lab experiments — it’s about putting ideas into action. Our students spend time in the classroom and then go out to the real world to apply their knowledge. A lifetime of curiosity, learning and engagement starts here at CAS.
Undergraduate Studies
Small classes. Big ideas. More than half of the University of Oregon’s student population is pursuing a College of Arts and Sciences degree. But what you’ll find at CAS is an intimate liberal arts experience at an R1 institution. With a median class size of 23 students per classroom, CAS is an environment where you can work closely with faculty dedicated to research and mentorship. With more than 50 departments and programs, we have a program where you can transform curiosity into action.
Graduate Studies
You’ve got ambition, and you’re ready for the next step: graduate school. Whether your goals are to expand scholarly knowledge or level up your professional capacities, CAS has more than 30 master’s programs and more than 20 doctoral programs, all span a range of disciplines. Our faculty members are here to support you on your academic journey, to guide you through research and advance your professional skills.
What’s Happening in CAS?
It turns out the sky isn't the limit for CAS physics alum Manju Bangalore (pictured). The physics alum is on her way to lead a research mission in space on a 2027 Virgin Galactic spaceflight. The October issue takes a look at what some of our researchers have received federal grants to study, faculty reviewing the hot topics of the 2026 midterm election, a CAS alumni couple working at Meta — and more.
Student Support Services
We’re here for you. As a CAS student, you have access to plentiful resources that can help you thrive inside and outside the classroom. Through Tykeson Advising, we provide comprehensive academic and career advising from the start of your journey. Learn about career preparation and get assistance in selecting the very best classes that resonate with you and offer the opportunity to grow. Connect with labs, libraries, IT and tutoring. Find your community on campus.
World-Class Faculty
Our faculty go beyond the frontiers of science. Whether it’s green technology of tomorrow or tackling centuries-old philosophical questions, our College of Arts and Sciences faculty are in forward motion to tomorrow.
And they’re just as committed to the classroom. They’re here to help students like you discover their academic passion so you can become the next generation of professionals and scholars. They are here to coach you, inspire you and prepare you as you enter the professional world as critical thinkers and ethical global citizens.
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!
Life at Oregon
As a CAS student, your next home could be set in the lush Willamette Valley in the city of Eugene. Set between mountain ranges, two rivers and the Pacific Ocean, your adventure awaits. In between your studies, the UO is a place where you can forge lifetime friendships and connections with an exciting backdrop — whether that’s yelling “Go Ducks” during gameday at Autzen Stadium or a quiet hike in an old growth forest.
The College of Arts and Sciences includes:
Happening at CAS
Eugene History Pub Lecture Series: "Whale Lovers: The 1970s Scientists and Activists Who Saved the Whales and Hated Each Other"
7:00 p.m.Nov
11
7:00 p.m.
Join the Department of History for the Eugene History Pub Lecture by Professor Ryan Jones on Whale Lovers: The 1970s Scientists and Activists Who Saved the Whales and Hated Each Other.
Note: This presentation involves adult subject matter that may not be appropriate for children under 18.
The Eugene History Pub Lecture Series features talks by history scholars and experts on historical events, concepts, and research in a casual setting with local beer, wine, and food. Unless otherwise noted, talks take place the second Wednesday of the month from October through May at The Annex (1236 Kincaid St, Eugene, OR 97401). Free parking is available after 6pm in all UO parking lots (e.g., Kincaid St. at E. 11th Ave. and E. 14th Ave.)
Korean Forum-UO Pacific Northwest Korean Studies Forum
9:00 a.m.Nov
12
9:00 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
We invite you to join us at our inaugural Korean Foundation-UO Pacific Northwest Korean Studies Forum.
The Korea Foundation–UO Pacific Northwest Korean Studies Forum brings together scholars, educators, and researchers from across the Pacific Northwest to explore the past, present, and future of Korean Studies in the region. Hosted by the University of Oregon with support from the Korea Foundation, this gathering seeks to foster new connections among institutions across the Pacific Northwest while highlighting the region's longstanding intellectual, cultural, and transpacific ties to Korea.
Through interdisciplinary flash talk presentations, collaborative conversations, and strategic planning workshops, the forum aims to strengthen regional partnerships, encourage the sharing of resources and expertise, and build a sustainable network for Korean studies. By bringing together scholars working across the humanities, social sciences, language education, and public engagement, we hope to create new opportunities for collaboration and help position the Pacific Northwest as a vibrant center for innovative Korean studies scholarship.
We warmly welcome participants, students, and community members to join us in this collective effort to advance Korean studies and deepen understanding of Korea's place in our interconnected world.
If you are interested in attending, we request that you register using our forum website, which also features our digital program, list of speakers, and directions to the Crater Lakes South room. Registration is free, and refreshments will be provided throughout the forum.
History Department Fall Term Coffee Hour
10:30 a.m.Nov
12
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Please join us Thursday mornings for a free cup of coffee, pastries, and conversation with your history department community! We’re excited to continue this tradition for our history undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff. We hope to see you there!
Fulbright Alumni Connection
3:00 p.m.Nov
12
3:00–5:00 p.m.
Join the Global Studies Institute in celebrating International Education Month with an informal gathering of the UO's Fulbright community. This first-of-its-kind event brings together current and returning Fulbright Scholars and Students, Fulbright alumni on campus, and visiting Fulbright scholars hosted at UO.
This gathering is a chance to meet others in the Fulbright community, share experiences, and learn about the program from those who have been through it. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
This event is part of International Education Month (IEM) programming. View the full calendar of IEM events here: https://international.uoregon.edu/IEM.