Welcome to the College of Arts & Sciences!
Derek Bok, in his recent book, Our Underachieving Colleges, discusses the case of Anna, a hypothetical young college graduate who is assigned by her corporate employer to open an office in Beijing, China. He presents this situation as an illustration of the importance of a broad-based education. Bok argues that in order for Anna to succeed, in addition to her educational background in business, she needs to know how Chinese people think about work, how cooperative networks are formed in that culture, and what misunderstandings might arise in interactions between Chinese and American workers. Anna also must have knowledge of Chinese history since disruptions of the Cultural Revolution still shape workers’ attitudes. Anna should have an understanding of Chinese gender relations and how this relates to the workplace, along with a more general view of human rights and to what extent it is legitimate to criticize another nation’s way of life. Anna might find herself dealing with problems of anti-African racism and with recent attempts by the Chinese Government to exclude immigrants who test positive for HIV. She further will need to be able to keep her bearings even when she knows the society around her will not accept her views. We now live in an increasingly global society requiring levels of understanding well beyond the requirements of past generations.
The College of Arts and Sciences involves preparing our general education students, undergraduate majors and minors, as well as graduate students for global citizenship and fulfilling professional careers. We want our students to develop a strong appreciation of the human experience and the natural world. We encourage our graduates to become life-long learners leading a reflective, insightful, and purpose-driven life.
It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the College of Arts and Sciences website and hope you find the information contained in these pages both helpful and informative. Arts and Sciences at Pittsburg State is the largest college boasting thirteen departments. Our units heavily are involved with the general education program at the University involving every student on campus, and we also offer a robust list of more than 40 degree programs including undergraduate majors, master’s degrees, and affiliations with the College of Education leading to the Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
Our fields span the liberal arts ranging from the humanities (English, Philosophy, Art, History, Theater, Music, Modern Languages), through the social sciences (Geography, Political Science, Sociology, Communication, Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as Justice Studies), to the natural sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Physics). We also offer a degree program in Nursing, a minor in Military Science, along with interdisciplinary programs in Integrated Studies, International Studies, and Women’s Studies. Given the breadth of our offerings, I’m certain we have a program of interest to you!
The Arts and Sciences Faculty are committed teachers specifically focused on student success. Our Faculty also are productive scholars and provide important service contributions to their local, regional, national, professional, and global communities.
Please explore the pages in our website to learn about the many offerings opportunities, and accomplishments of the College of Arts and Sciences. Also, I encourage you contact either a particular Department Chair or the Dean's Office if you have any questions or would like more information about our programs, offerings, and the opportunities we provide students, faculty, and staff.
It certainly is special to be a Gorilla and involved with the College of Arts and Sciences at Pittsburg State University!
Karl R. Kunkel
Dean
The Mission Statement of the College of Arts & Sciences
Through our participation in the University’s General Education Program, as well as through our more than fifty undergraduate major, minor, and graduate programs in thirteen departments, we provide students with the capacity to transfer learning to various settings throughout life. We seek to prepare generally educated students for global citizenship in the Twenty-First Century so they can lead meaningful, purposeful lives, contribute to their communities, and fully participate in the democracy. We further facilitate our majors, minors, and graduate students for developing expertise in specific disciplines and preparation for careers. Through extensive outreach programs beyond the classroom, we provide the campus and larger community with opportunities for cultural, aesthetic, and scientific enrichment.