College of Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences
In an environment in which the average person may expect to change careers five to seven times, a liberal arts education is future proof. The liberal arts will prepare you for a lifetime of change by teaching you how to learn, how to reason, and how to apply your knowledge to real-world challenges.
Where intellectual curiosity meets societal impact.
Our college serves as a vibrant hub of interdisciplinary exploration, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and empathy. With a diverse range of programs spanning from literature to sociology, education to psychology, we empower students to understand the complexities of human experiences and drive positive change in their communities. Guided by renowned faculty and fueled by a passion for discovery, we invite you to join us in shaping a more inclusive and enlightened future.
Discover our diverse program options
Be the teacher who inspires your students to greater heights. We pair a strong foundation of knowledge with quality field experiences. From this, you'll leave with an understanding of effective classroom teaching and how to put ideas and research into practice. You’ll learn how to adapt in an ever-changing classroom environment so you can make a difference in the educational, social, emotional and behavioral well-being of students.
- American Sign Language (ASL)/English Interpreting
- Early Childhood Education Grades PreK-4
- Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Health and Physical Education
- Coaching
- Middle Level Education (4-8)
- Language Arts (4-8)
- Mathematics (4-8)
- Science (4-8)
- Social Studies (4-8)
- Secondary and K-12 Education
- Biology
- Business Education
- Chemistry
- Earth and Space Science
- English
- General Science
- Health and Physical Education
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Social Studies
- Social Work
- Special Education
- Special Education PK-12 and Early Childhood Education PK-4 Dual Certification
Minors
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Child Life Specialist
- Coaching
- Educational Technology
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Program Specialist
- Middle Level Education Minor
- Playwork Minor
- Special Education Minor
Certificates
- Child Life Specialist
- Early Childhood Curriculum and Assessment for Early Care and Education
- Early Childhood Development, Education and Family
- English as a Second Language (ESL) Certificate Program (can lead to certification)
- Playwork Certificate
Endorsements
- Special Education (M.S.) (M.Ed.)
- Supervisory Certification in Special Education
- Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.)
- Alternative Education
- Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Wellness
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Educational Leadership
- PK-12 Principal Certification
- PK-12 Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction Certification
- Reading
- School Counseling
- Social Work (MSW)
- lead to teacher certification approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education
- are taught by faculty — not graduate assistants — with extensive experience in PK-12 schools as teachers, supervisors, principals, curriculum directors, and superintendents
- include specialized training in non-academic barriers (social, emotional and mental health, suicide prevention) through the McDowell Institute for Teacher Excellence
- allow for dual certification, English as a Second Language (ESL) Certificate and STEM Endorsement for enhanced marketability
- include field experiences beginning in the first year culminating with a 16-week supervised student teaching experience
- both the child life minor and the child life certificate programs meet the Association of Child Life Professionals curriculum standards and eligibility requirements necessary to obtain the certified child life specialist credential
CAEP Accreditation
CAEP accreditation ensures we prepare new teachers to know their subjects, their students, and have the clinical training that allows them to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively.
Liberal Arts Curriculum Committee (LACC)
CU's Liberal Arts Curriculum Committee serves as the faculty recommending body to the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities on all matters affecting the development, modification, change, adoption, and implementation of the curriculum.
LACC is responsible for acting upon curricular proposals at the department-wide level and serves as a coordinating committee of the curricular proposals emanating from all components of the liberal arts academic community. In acting upon curriculum proposals from the College of Liberal Arts, LACC reviews and make recommendations on:
- The additions or deletions of courses
- Change in title, number, prerequisites, or other protocol for a course
- The addition or deletions of degree programs
- Changes in requirements for degrees, majors, minors, and career concentrations
- The designation of a sequence or group of courses such as general education, honors programs, or programs within or among departments
Tutorial - Liberal Arts Curriculum Committee
Filling Out Proposals for Modification, Discontinuation or Addition of a Course/Program
- Dennis Frohlich (Mass Communications)
- Mary Jo Larcom (Psychology)
- Eric Miller (Communication Studies)
- Mykola Polyuha (Language and Cultures)
- Luke Semrau (Philosophy)
- Matthew Slotkin (Music, Theatre and Dance)
- Seokwon Yoon (Social Work)
Resources
- Values Rubric
- Bloom's Taxonomy
- PRP 3224: Course Numbering Guidelines
- PRP 3230: Course, Co-Curricular Learning Experience, and Academic Program Development Policy and Proposal Requirements
- PRP 3233: Required Format for Master Course Syllabi for BUCC Approval
- PRP 3264: Student Course Requirements and Progress Information
Proposal Examples
McDowell Institute
The McDowell Institute is dedicated to supporting the facilitation of social, emotional, and behavioral wellness of children, youth, and young adults across school and community settings. This mission is accomplished through training, technical assistance, and information dissemination.
Careers in Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities
CASSH Con offers liberal arts students, as well as undeclared students looking to learn what COLA has to offer, two days of panels and workshops on alumni engagement and professional development. Almost every program in the College of Liberal Arts hosts alumni panels so students learn about the rich career opportunities awaiting them. Additionally, there are a variety of sessions designed to help students think about their professional identity and learn ways to build their resumes through experiential learning.
Center for Community Research and Consulting
Through our Center for Community Research and Consulting students get the opportunity to assist on various research projects that focus on the community, allowing them to have a hands-on approach to improving the community while utilizing skills that have been learned in the classroom. Students also take part in various research projects geared toward improving the surrounding communities and are involved in various forms of data collection and produce useful materials for communities and organizations.
Center for the Visual and Performing Arts
Each year, CVPA offers programs from the various Liberal Arts departments to celebrate the arts and support the connection between the university and our broader community. Featured events have included the Big Band Dance, the Personal Adornment Day and Makeup Extravaganza and the Taste of the Arts, which brings together BU's representative arts programs in an extended collaborative event.
Diehl Center for Law School Preparation
Our Diehl Center provides assistance to students about careers in law, the law school experience and how to prepare for it, as well as the application process. It also offers interactive programs, a speaker series, law school recruiting events, and trips to law schools.
News
College of Education Earns CAEP Accreditation
Bloomsburg
The College of Education granted accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Banking internship provides dual major inside look into local economics
Bloomsburg
Dylan Kraus was eager to get a taste of the financial world, not waiting until his senior year at Bloomsburg University before landing an internship with one of Pennsylvania’s leading community banks.
Political science major sees future come into focus with Department of State internship
Bloomsburg
Heading into her senior year, Kendyl Swank wanted to have her next steps after Bloomsburg University more firmly mapped out.
Alumni pair leverage homegrown grit to tackle law school
University-wide
Competing with an underdog, small school mindset is nothing new for Nick McGuire and Siena Cerra, who each successfully did so as NCAA Division II student-athletes at Bloomsburg University. That...
Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences Departments
- Anthropology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work
- Communication Studies, Media and Journalism
- Counseling and Educational Leadership
- Early Childhood Education and Exceptionality Programs
- English, Languages and Cultures
- History, Political Science, and Philosophy
- K-12, Middle Level Education, Secondary Education, and Health and Physical Education
- Music, Theatre and Dance
- Psychology
- Visual Arts
