The College of Arts and Sciences: Uniquely Transformative
Think Critically:College Foundations
CAS: All For Transforming Minds
The College of Arts and Sciences at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota educates you to think critically by igniting curiosity through exposure to the liberal arts—through which you will develop a deep understanding of human begins and the societies in which they live, as well as the ecosystems upon which all living things are dependent. The College is home to 21 departments, nearly 200 programs, and 10 centers and institutes that span the arts, natural sciences, mathematics, social sciences and humanities. By acquiring knowledge in a broad range of disciplines, you will develop a holistic understanding of the world, enabling them to investigate complex systems with a capacity to innovate, problem solve, and participate as active members of your community.
According to a report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, liberal arts colleges have a median return on investment of $918,000 over 40 years, which is 25% higher than the median for all other colleges and pre-professional schools. This long-term value reflects the versatile skills and critical thinking abilities that a liberal arts education imparts, preparing graduates for diverse and evolving career paths.
You will choose each course with intention, uniquely positioning you for your career and vocation. Each course you take will influence your worldview and shape the person you are becoming. When you graduate, your curriculum will tell a story about how a St. Thomas education has formed you.
“The value of an education in a liberal arts college is not the learning of many facts, but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks.”
—Albert Einstein
Tell A Story With Your Core Curriculum
Like life, learning is a journey. As students discover who they are and what they're passionate about, the College of Arts and Sciences provides meaningful, interactive experiences that allow students to reflect on and apply what they're learning so that they're prepared for what's next.
Through our curriculum, graduates are prepared to contribute to their industry and their community in meaningful ways as soon as they get their diploma. St. Thomas doesn't just produce graduates-we offer a transformational educational experience to prepare our graduates to lead in their chosen careers with a heart for the common good, striving for the creation of society that honors human dignity and pursues justice for all.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers nearly 80 majors and minors in the arts, humanities, social sciences, mathematics and natural sciences — as well as a range of interdisciplinary programs. From Art History to Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies, our undergraduate academic programs offer something for every curious mind.
Art is the glue that connects people and varying disciplines by tapping into emotions, increasing understanding, providing new perspectives, and empowering students with a sense of purpose and connection that serves the common good
Broaden your horizons through study abroad, with distinctive sophomore programs in Rome and Limerick that combine academics, culture, and global engagement. In addition, students are able to seek out community engagement experiences, collaborative research opportunities, and internships through their programs and the career services center.
Study Abroad & Away
There are a number of diverse study abroad options that provide students with world experiences, new ideas and different perspectives
Designed for first-semester sophomores, the Rome Empower Program perfectly blends classroom with real world. Site visits, weekend excursions and cultural events immerse you in a new culture and broaden your perspective on the world, bringing relevance to the classroom and allowing you to think across disciplines.
Study at the University of Limerick in scenic central Ireland and immerse yourself in an authentic Irish university experience with a cohort of your St Thomas peers. This is faculty-led program that runs in the spring semester.
The Center for the Common Good connects students, faculty, and staff with meaningful community engagement opportunities—locally and globally. Through these experiences, we gain a deeper understanding of today’s most pressing social challenges.
The Career Development Center helps students and alumni launch and explore careers. Career exploration is supported by connections with employers and alumni, integration of career conversations and curriculum across the university, and opportunities for continuous learning and skill development.
The Schoenecker Center is the central home for STEAM education at St. Thomas. We believe it will become a national model for bolder, more interdisciplinary learning.
At St. Thomas, we prepare tomorrow's leaders to work with people from other fields and disciplines. The Schoenecker Center fuels innovation and provides a home for powerful training in these critical skills for our students.
Discover your potential in state-of-the-art facilities featuring performance halls, a professional media studio, and an observatory that bring learning to life.
Performance Halls
The Schoenecker Center is home to state-of-the-art performance, rehearsal and recording facilities. Students from all discipines are encouraged to pursue music at St. Thomas.
Our Multimedia Production Studio is a versatile recording space for both music and video. Professionals and student workers assist with consultations, setup and production needs, as well as post- production editing and graphics by request. Schoenecker Center is also home to a podcast studio.
Physics Department Observatory
The University's observatory provides an opportunity to understand and appreciate the process of modern scientific investigation and atmospheric exploration.
Our laboratories provide modern technology to enhance your studies in chemistry, physics environmental sciences and more.
Visual Arts Galleries
The art and architectural collections and galleries at the University of St. Thomas serve as teaching opportunities for our students and the public. For undergraduate and graduate students in art history, St. Thomas provides the experience of working with artwork, learning proper curatorial and exhibition techniques and fostering a better understanding of the works' cultural context.
The Pollinator Path is a series of gardens, some planted to attract pollinators and some planted for aesthetic purposes. These gardens allow students, faculty, staff and visitors to study pollinator activity and learn how to support declining pollinator populations.
The Biology Department maintains two greenhouses on the St. Paul campus — attached to Owens Science Hall and John Roach Center. The Greenhouses are a very active site for research for faculty from both the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering.
Our medicinal garden is reminiscent of monastery gardens from the Middle Ages. It was designed to be both a source of plants for laboratory teaching and research and a spot for quiet and solitude. The garden is a great source of forage for many pollinators, including several hummingbirds.
Whether you’re tackling a difficult course or sharpening your skills, academic support services provide personalized help in writing, math and many other disciplines.
Mathematics Resource Center
The Mathematics Resource Center (MaRC) in O'Shaughnessy Science Center 235 supports student learning in mathematics through free drop-in peer tutoring as a service of the University of St. Thomas Mathematics Department for any ACTC student taking MATH 005 through 200.
Located in John Roach Center, the Center for Writing at the University of St. Thomas offers individualized conferences to students at any stage of the writing process. The center supports writers as they develop their abilities to respond to others, reflect and express their own ideas concisely and thoughtfully.
Sometimes, you might need help with an assignment or studying for an exam. No problem. Schedule time to meet with your professor, set up a free 30-minute session with a tutor, or drop by during walk-in hours.
In August 2024, the College of Arts and Sciences began the process of developing a strategic plan through meaningful stakeholder engagement. We sought to set clear priorities and ambitious — yet achievable — goals, culminating in a plan that articulates a compelling 5-10 year vision for the college.
