College of Liberal and Social Sciences
The University of Guam granted its first Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962 from what was then the School of Arts at the Territorial College of Guam. At that time, academic disciplines providing the core of General Education courses were grouped in departments. They were later combined into divisions when the Territorial College of Guam became a four-year institution. The school was renamed the College of Arts and Sciences in 1973 before becoming the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS) in 2003.
The college includes those academic disciplines traditionally known as the liberal arts. The phrase “liberal arts” is a translation of the Latin artes liberales and pertains to “those arts appropriate to a free person.” This is the definition and the orientation of the liberal arts at the University of Guam.
The college provides more than half of the General Education courses required by all of the University’s baccalaureate programs. Through its four divisions, the college offers 10 major programs, 17 minor programs, three master’s programs, and courses that fulfill professional preparation requirements of other institutions of higher education.
The college has a long tradition of sponsoring or co-sponsoring major conferences on important academic, intellectual, educational, community, and public policy issues. Examples include the CLASS Annual Research Conference, the Regional Language Arts Conference, the CLASS Colloquium Series, the University of Guam Film Festival, and various programs and student events.
The CLASS buildings house modern classrooms and office spaces as well as instructional laboratories for English, indigenous, and international languages, broadcast and print journalism, anthropology, geography, and psychology. The Fine Arts Building has two-and three-dimensional visual arts studios, music studios, a theater workshop, and a theater production facility.
The major mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences is instructional delivery in a variety of disciplines. The key aim of the college is to provide students with a broad and interconnected education in the arts, humanities, language, literature, and the social and behavioral sciences.
The college actively contributes to the development of skills, knowledge, and values necessary for the continuing educational, professional, and economic advancement of the individual student, Guam, and the Micronesian region. This includes advancement of regional knowledge; all aspects of social and economic development; the understanding of diverse regional cultural traditions; the resolution of the social, environmental, health, and physical problems that face the Western Pacific region; and contributing to the mastery of qualitative and scientific content knowledge and methodology. Achievement in these domains is known to enable students to be admitted to and to succeed in advanced educational opportunities and rewarding careers.
Faculty of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences carry out the institutional missions of research and service to the University and the region in a variety of disciplines and programs. These activities lead to original discovery and creative work contributing to the world’s knowledge of Guam and the Micronesian region and permit the inclusion of relevant, cutting-edge, regional material in the college’s classroom instruction. In addition to contributing to the advancement of regional knowledge, this work allows students to be exposed to modern research methods, basic and applied, that contribute to critical thinking skills, and academic understanding and growth. For those students who wish to seek graduate degrees, undergraduate research training, and experience, the college prepare them to compete effectively for graduate school admission and for success once accepted.
Division offices are important centers of information for students in regard to their academic programs; contact with faculty members; registration; advisement; problem-solving; information on student clubs; opportunities for internships, scholarships, and special summer activities; and other student-related activities.
A student who plans to enroll in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences should be familiar with the general requirements and procedures regarding admission to the University (see the Academic Rules and Regulations). Every student should obtain an academic advisor to assist in learning and complying with these requirements.
See the Academic Advisement section.
Students have opportunities for involvement in a wide variety of organizations that are sponsored by the academic disciplines in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Some divisions sponsor college- wide activities, such as band, choir, or the newspaper. Many of the major programs in the college, working with faculty advisors, have student organizations or honorary societies, such as those below. Many CLASS students are also active in the Student Government Association.
Student Organization | Faculty Advisor |
---|---|
Alpha Psi Omega: Sigma Upsilon National Theater Honor Society |
Dr. Troy McVey |
Anthro Tribe |
Dr. David Atienza |
The English Society (English majors) |
Dr. Christopher Garcia |
Society of Fine Arts (SOFA) |
Dr. Troy McVey |
Lambda Pi Eta: Alpha Beta Eta Communication Honor Society |
Dr. Francis Dalisay |
Mañelon Marianas |
Dr. Kisha Borja-Quichocho-Calvo Kate Yusi |
Pi Sigma Alpha - National Political Science Honor Society |
Dr. Arun Swamy |
Political Science Student Association |
Natasha Suba |
Psi Chi - International Honor Society in Psychology |
Dr. Yoshito Kawabata |
Psychology Club |
Camarin Meno |
UOG Communication Society |
Dr. Raymond Anderson |
Sigma Tau Delta: Alpha Zea Xi International English Honor Society |
Dr. David Gugin |
UOG Philosophy Club |
Dr. Brett Fulkerson-Smith |
Sociology Club |
Dr. Angeline Ames |
UOG Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America |
Dr. Arun Swamy Kate Yusi |
Unibetsedȧt Guåhan
UOG Station
Mangilao, Guam 96913
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The University of Guam is a U.S. Land Grant and Sea Grant Institution accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. UOG is an equal opportunity provider and employer committed to diversity, equity and inclusion through island wisdom values of inadahi yan inagofli'e: respect, compassion, and community.