College of Liberal and Social Sciences

ABOUT THE COLLEGE

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.

ACADEMIC MISSION

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.

DIVISIONS

Division of Communication, Media, and Fine Arts
Division of English and Applied Linguistics
Division of Humanities
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences

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.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

BACHELOR'S DEGREES

Anthropology
CHamoru Studies
- CHamoru Studies
- CHamoru Studies for Education
Communication & Media
- Communication Studies
- Public Relations
- Digital Cinema, Media, & Journalism
English
- Literature
- Linguistics/ESL
- English for Education
Fine Arts
- Art
- Music
- Theater
History
- History
- History for Education
Philosophy
Political Science
- Political Science
- Government for Education
Psychology
Sociology
- Gender & Family Studies
- Social Problems Studies
- Development Studies

MINORS

CERTIFICATES

MASTER'S DEGREES

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE

Micronesian Studies

ADMISSION AND OTHER PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

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.

ADVISEMENT & DECLARATION

See the Academic Advisement section.

ADMINISTRATION

Sellmann D. James

Office Location:

Mailing Address:

Expertise

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Communication, Media & Fine Arts	Faculty Advisor
UOG Communication Society	Dr. Raymond Anderson
Lambda Pi Eta: Alpha Beta Eta Communication Honor Society	Dr. Francis Dalisay
Society of Fine Arts (SOFA)	Dr. Troy McVey
Alpha Psi Omega: Sigma Upsilon National Theater Honor Society	Dr. Troy McVey
UOG Latte Tones Choir	Dr. Ron McNinch
Mangilao Hot Jazz	Dr. Stephen Bednarzyk
Visual Arts Society

English & Applied Linguistics	Faculty Advisor
The English Society	Dr. Christopher Garcia-Santos
Sigma Tau Delta: International English Honor Society - Alpha Zeta Xi Chapter	Dr. David Gugin
Linguistics & Language Appreciation Society (LALAS)	Dr. Hyun-jong Hahm

Humanities	Faculty Advisor
Anthro Tribe	Dr. David Atienza
Mañelon Marianas	Dr. Kisha Borja-Quichocho-Calvo
Marianas History Club	Dr. Christopher Rasmussen
UOG Philosophy Club	Dr. Brett Fulkerson-Smith Dr. Jonathan Wurtz

Social & Behavioral Sciences	Faculty Advisor
Sociology Club	Dr. Angeline Ames Dr. Debra Cabrera
Political Science Student Association	Natasha Suba Kate Yusi
Pi Sigma Alpha - National Political Science Honor Society	Dr. Arun Swamy
Psychology Club	Dr. Camarin Meno
Psi Chi - International Honor Society in Psychology	Dr. Yoshito Kawabata
UOG Chapter of the United Nations Association of the United States of America	Dr. Arun Swamy Kate Yusi

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College of Liberal and Social Sciences