College of Arts and Sciences

UMKC’s College of Arts and Sciences offers a vast selection of courses that span the arts, humanities and sciences, whether you are pursuing a degree or taking courses for personal enrichment. With small class sizes and a faculty-student ratio of 14:1, students are ensured plenty of opportunities for individual attention. UMKC’s location in the heart of Kansas City offers a comfortable, small-campus feel in a thriving urban environment.

We are organized into three division – Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences and Natural and Physical Sciences – encompassing 18 departments and schools with over 40 degree options. There are also interdisciplinary programs available to complement both undergraduate and graduate degrees. As an undergraduate student, you’ll take classes that meet a common set of general education requirements that ensure you’ll graduate with the skills to function in our complex society. Students who move on to graduate study will find a full range of programs from which to choose. Most departments offer master’s level instruction, and many disciplines participate in UMKC’s innovative Interdisciplinary Ph.D. program.

Our Vision Statement

UMKC’s College of Arts and Sciences will be a model urban liberal arts and sciences college reputed for both traditional and cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate academic programs; a highly diverse and dynamic faculty, staff and student body; an active engagement with its city and region; and a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research.

Our Mission Statement

UMKC’s College of Arts and Sciences promotes the development of an enlightened society by fostering the discovery of new information in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences, and by making its educational resources widely available to the public. Through teaching, research and service, the College enhances and enriches the intellectual, cultural and economic well-being of the city, the region and the state of Missouri. Capitalizing on the diversity and expertise of its faculty, the College provides the graduates of all of the university’s academic divisions a solid foundation in the liberal arts and sciences. With emphases on writing, critical thinking and interdisciplinarity, the College’s academic programs introduce students to the major branches of knowledge and to research methods in the various disciplines and professional programs. Upper-division and graduate programs prepare students for leadership roles in the arts, sciences, business and industry, education, government, health organizations, and social-service agencies. The College is committed to lifelong learning and civic engagement.