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Dean Chris Poulsen speaks through a microphone

The Future of Liberal Arts Is Now

As a paleoclimatologist, Tykeson Dean of Arts and Sciences Chris Poulsen is used to looking at the big picture. Higher education faces new challenges—from concerns of rising costs and a perceived declining return on investment to evolving workforce demands. Poulsen is leading the charge on a new strategy that aims to establish CAS as an innovator and leader in liberal arts education. With a strategic plan, Poulsen sees CAS as a place to prepare students to meet the challenges of a 21st-century world, equipping them with skills and knowledge to set them up for changing workplaces and to excel as global citizens. 

Read More About the Future of CAS

News from CAS

BIOLOGY, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES, LINGUISTICS - Three University of Oregon faculty members have received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards for the 2024-25 academic year. The recipients in CAS are Department of Linguistics Professor Melissa Redford and Department of Biology and Environmental Studies Associate Professor Lauren Hallett.
HISTORY - Lauren Goss, BA ’11 (history), is the University of Oregon's new sports archivist. Funded largely by a gift from an anonymous family foundation with deep Oregon roots and a love for UO Libraries, Goss’s position is the only one on the West Coast and one of only a dozen in the US dedicated to preserving collegiate sports history.
PSYCHOLOGY - Michael Posner, professor emerit in psychology, has had a career filled with accomplishments. He's received numerous honorary degrees, awards, and the National Medal of Science presented by President Barack Obama in 2009. Now the Posner family is establishing The Dr. Michael Posner Psychology Professorship in Cognition and Neuroscience to support a tenured professor or associate professor in strengthening the college’s contributions to cognition and neuroscience.

All news »

We Love Our Supporters

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Your Gift Changes Lives

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!

Give to CAS

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What’s Happening in CAS?

It's a crucial moment for higher education. Many families are questioning the value of a college degree due to rising costs and a delayed return on investment—and the College of Arts and Sciences isn't immune to these challenges.

The October issue of CAS Connection explores how a CAS liberal arts education is evolving with the times, as well as the college's new strategy and the ways it will prepare students for challenges and opportunities ahead. Read more about a PhD student who researched how a community recovered from the 2020 record-breaking wildfire season, how advisors are preparing students to succeed in and out of the classroom, new Latinx studies-related professors joining the college—and more. 

Undergraduate students posing for camera making hand signals

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 students working in a lab

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

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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.

 

 

Spotlight on CAS Academics

Choose Your Path

The College of Arts and Sciences offers more than 50 majors and nearly 70 minors across multiple departments and programs in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. We also offer 36 master’s programs and 25 doctoral programs.

dean chris poulsen posing in front of Tykeson hall

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! 

More from Dean Chris Poulsen

The College of Arts and Sciences includes:

50+
undergraduate degree programs
30+
masters programs
25
PhD programs
10,000+
Undergraduate students in CAS Majors
825
faculty members
1,295
masters and PhD students in CAS

Happening at CAS

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

UO College of Arts & Sciences (@uocas) • Instagram photos and videos

Oct 7
Peace Corps Prep Certificate & Global Service Minor Coffee Chat 11:30 a.m.

Come learn more about the Global Service minor and Peace Corps Prep Certificate. Drop in to chat with the advisor for the minor and the Peace Corps rep and have a snack between...
Peace Corps Prep Certificate & Global Service Minor Coffee Chat
October 7
11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall Commons (1st floor)

Come learn more about the Global Service minor and Peace Corps Prep Certificate. Drop in to chat with the advisor for the minor and the Peace Corps rep and have a snack between classes!

Learn more about the UO + Peace Corps at https://career.uoregon.edu/jobs-and-internships/peace-corps

Oct 7
University Film Organization and Cinema Studies Open House 6:00 p.m.

Join the University Film Organization and Cinema Studies for an open house! Meet UFO members and CINE faculty, learn about CINE courses, and win some film-related...
University Film Organization and Cinema Studies Open House
October 7
6:00 p.m.
LLC South Performance Hall

Join the University Film Organization and Cinema Studies for an open house! Meet UFO members and CINE faculty, learn about CINE courses, and win some film-related prizes! All majors welcome! Free food and giveaways! Questions? DM @uofilm on Instagram.

UFO is a student club for UO student filmmakers to connect, create, share, and discuss their films.

Monday, October 7th at 6 pm LLC South Performance Hall Free and open to all majors

 

 

Oct 8
Oregon Cyber Resilience Summit 2024 8:30 a.m.

The Summit’s goal is to share expertise and knowledge about tools and services that promote a more secure and resilient community and combat the risks associated with cyber...
Oregon Cyber Resilience Summit 2024
October 8
8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Erb Memorial Union (EMU)

The Summit’s goal is to share expertise and knowledge about tools and services that promote a more secure and resilient community and combat the risks associated with cyber threats affecting all critical infrastructure sectors and our society as a whole.

The event will take place at the University of Oregon’s Eugene campus.

OCRS will take place at the Erb Memorial Union (EMU) at the University of Oregon’s Eugene campus.

Additional information about the summit can be found on the OCRS website.

Oct 8
Department of History Coffee Hour 10:00 a.m.

Please join us Tuesday mornings for a free cup of coffee, pastries, and conversation with your history department community! We’re excited to continue this tradition...
Department of History Coffee Hour
October 8–December 3
10:00–11:00 a.m.
McKenzie Hall 335

Please join us Tuesday 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!