College of Arts and Sciences

Learning by Doing

Our curriculum emphasizes hands-on experiential learning so you can build the meaningful practical skills employers seek. As students progress through their programs, they will gain hands-on opportunities to apply their knowledge through internships, research, and more.

Experienced, Knowledgable Faculty

97 percent of JCU full-time faculty hold doctoral degrees or terminal degrees in their field, as well as publish in top national journals each year.

Prepared for the Future of Work

With over 70 academic programs at your fingertips, you'll be exposed to a well-rounded breadth of knowledge and explore emerging fields of study to prepare you to address the needs of today.

High-Impact Practices

The AACU (American Association of Colleges and Universities) lists 11 high-impact practices where all students, especially those in historically underserved demographics, gain significant social, educational, and personal growth benefits. John Carroll's commitment to the Jesuit ideal of cura personalis, or care for the whole person, is reflected in the many high-impact practices offered on and off campus.

Study Abroad

Your academic programs offer a variety of opportunities for study abroad, including semester-long stays at top foreign universities, or week-long trips to supplement learning in your courses.

You can learn more about study abroad at JCU here

Service Learning

John Carroll offers courses that integrate service-learning into its curriculum. Our Center for Service-Learning and Social Action is partnered with local community organizations that welcome JCU students to gain increased knowledge of community issues, needs, strengths, challenges, and resources.

Learn more about CSSA here

Undergraduate Research

Our students collaborate with faculty and industry leaders, communicate with diverse audiences, and complete challenging research projects - experiences valued both by graduate schools and employers. Research looks different for each student -- from studying poison frogs with Biology faculty in Costa Rica to publishing creative writing in literary journals.

student and faculty researching plant biology

Internships

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences gain invaluable professional experience through internships. You can earn academic credit while working as an intern full-time during the summer or part-time during the academic year. Our students have completed prestigious internships at locations not only in the healthcare, legal, nonprofit, and corporate hub of Cleveland, but throughout Ohio, the U.S., and the world.

Programs

The College of Arts & Sciences offers a wide array of rigorous learning opportunities and life-changing experiences for students, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The College of Arts and Sciences houses 18 academic departments, spanning across over 70 distinct majors and minors, and over 20 graduate-level degrees.

Discover our academic programs here

College of Arts and Sciences Alumni

Marcello is a first-generation Latino comedian who joined the cast of SNL in 2022. Before catching his big break, he played for the John Carroll Men’s Soccer team, and graduated with a degree in Entrepreneurship & Communication, concentrating in TV & Screenwriting.

Marcello Hernandez '19

Freelance writer, teacher, and current National Endowment for the Arts fellow in literature. Hirsch’s works have been published in The New York Times, TIME Magazine, VOX, and other publications.

Aubrey Hirsch '04

Ernest supervises several computer generated graphic teams for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He was a double major at John Carroll in Engineering Physics and Computer Science and he has worked on films such as “Tangled”, “Bolt” and “Big Hero 6”.

Ernest Petti '97

Jenny graduated from JCU with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and since then she'd combined her passion for teaching and providing for others, with her drive to simplify complicated human problems. These skills have served her well as the Director of IDEA Partnering (inclusion, diversity, equity, action) at lululemon.

Jenny Basa '03

Andrew graduated with a B.S. in Biology from John Carroll and went on to lead his own family dental practice in Northeast Ohio. During his time at JCU, he was part of the Dental Club and the Middle Eastern Student Association. After JCU, he obtained his DDS from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.

Andrew Nahra '17

Learn More About CAS Outcomes

Information for Students

Undergraduate Resources

Take the next step in your academic journey by exploring the many resources available to you as an undergraduate student at John Carroll.

Learn more here.

pete williams talking to students in communication class

Graduate School

At John Carroll University Graduate School, you will launch your future, deepen your connections, advance beyond the classroom, and lead an inspired future.

Learn more about Graduate Studies at John Carroll here.

CAS Leadership

The arts and sciences are the foundation of John Carroll University. Our goal is to foster the mission of the university and inspire students to develop the broad-based knowledge, critical-thinking abilities, and values-based leadership skills needed to serve and succeed in a complex global society.

Learn more about CAS leadership here.

News and Events

Catch up on the latest news from the College of Arts and Sciences!

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Join our dynamic and diverse learning community to be challenged, supported, and inspired to build a better world.

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Jesuit education has called us to draw meaning from an interdisciplinary approach to learning for 450 years. Whether you pursue a career in law, digital media, medicine, or whatever your passion, the College of Arts and Sciences will equip you to work for the greater good.