The College of Humanities and Natural Sciences serves as the anchor for all undergraduate study at Loyola. The liberal arts and sciences are key to the cultural and intellectual formation of the individual.
In fulfilling its role to provide all Loyola students with a foundation in the liberal arts and sciences, the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences has as its mission to educate and graduate students who are prepared to lead meaningful lives with and for others; who appreciate and contribute to the understanding of global cultures; who comprehend the interrelated nature of all knowledge; who are able to think critically and make decisions for the common good; and who have a commitment to the Ignatian tradition of a life of justice and service to others. It is the mission of the college to contribute to the expansion of knowledge through the scholarly and creative activities of its faculty and students.
The College of Humanities and Natural Sciences seeks to assist the university toward its strategic goal of national prominence by enhancing the quality of the college's faculty, the strength of its curricula, the effectiveness of its support services, and the excellence of its graduates.
The College offers the following degrees within each department:
Students who wish to earn a bachelor’s degree through programs not regularly available in the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences may consult the Associate Dean about the possibility of a contract degree.
*Through a special arrangement with Tulane University's School of Engineering, Loyola students may participate in a program which leads to a B.S. degree from Loyola and an engineering degree from Tulane upon successful completion of both segments of the program. Interested students must consult the Associate Dean.
The requirements for the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science are the following:
Adult and non-traditional students can contact the Office of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) for information about Evening Programs and Online Degrees.
The curriculum is meant to achieve two goals: to give the student a solid and well-rounded preparation in the major and to enable the student to grapple with current convictions, beliefs, and commitments in an atmosphere of study and reflection. The curriculum matches the goals of Catholic and of Jesuit liberalizing education, both of which function best in an open society, a pluralistic culture, and an ecumenical age. The curriculum is divided into three parts:
Major: that series of courses which leads to a bachelor’s degree in a subject area. The major generally requires between 30 and 40 credit hours of study and is described under each departmental heading.
Adjunct Courses: that series of courses in areas that complement the major. Thus, mathematics is necessary to a physicist and chemistry to the biologist. Some of these courses are specifically named under degree programs; others are selected in consultation with the student’s adviser or chairperson.
Common Curriculum: The Common Curriculum complements the major and adjunct courses by providing a broad humanistic dimension to every undergraduate program. The Common Curriculum is comprised of introductory and advanced courses. Find out more »
Qualified students who have completed two full semesters of their freshman year and have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 may pursue two majors. Students pursuing a double major must successfully complete the Common Curriculum requirements of the first major as well as the major and named adjunct requirements for both declared degree programs of study as set forth in the Undergraduate Bulletin. Students complete the comprehensive and exit examination requirements for both majors if required by the department. Students who complete the requirements for two majors will receive the degree of their first major. However, the transcript will indicate the two majors that were completed. Students interested in pursuing a double major should consult with the Associate Dean of their first major.
Students who enter law school generally do so after having completed a bachelor’s degree. However, the Loyola College of Law may accept students after they have completed three years of exceptional undergraduate work and have earned an appropriate score on the LSAT. Students in the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences who wish to attempt early admission into the Loyola School of Law after three years must have completed all but the last 30 hours of their degree program, including all Common Curriculum, major, named adjunct, and foreign language requirements. The first 30 hours earned in law school will be applied as general elective credits for completion of the undergraduate degree.
A student of the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences who completes the hour requirements as outlined above is not guaranteed acceptance into the Loyola College of Law. The College of Law has final authority on all admissions decisions. Interested students should consult the Loyola College of Law Office of Admissions for information concerning admissions standards.
Director: Judith L. Hunt, Ph.D., Associate Dean
Many students enter college undecided about the field of study they would like to pursue. For students unsure of their educational and/or career goals, Loyola University offers the General Studies Program. In this program, students work toward the completion of the Common Curriculum requirements while exploring major courses offered in a variety of disciplines at Loyola.
During their first semester General Studies freshmen are assigned a General Studies advisor who will continue as their advisor until a major is declared. General Studies advisors are knowledgeable about all the degree programs in the college, and help guide students in determining a major that best suits their interests. Courses taken in this exploration process generally fulfill requirements for the major, adjunct, or general electives once the student selects a particular degree program.
Students may remain in the General Studies Program for a maximum of 55 hours. Since the University does not grant a degree in General Studies, students must officially declare a major by the end of their sophomore year.
General Studies Degree Program Course List