College of

LIBERAL ARTS AND
SCIENCES

DISCOVER YOUR PASSION

Two students work together in a Chemistry lab.

The oldest and largest of Villanova’s colleges, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers more than 40 academic programs and cultivates knowledge, understanding and intellectual courage for a purposeful life in a challenging and changing world.

CLAS undergraduate and graduate students can find opportunities for collaborative research and learning with faculty who are dedicated teacher-scholars and among the most distinguished in their fields. From pinpointing a protein that could hold a key to cancer screenings, to testing the impact of industry on local waterways, to critiquing creative writing alongside published novelists, each experience elevates learning and yields insights.

The College’s dynamic, integrated curriculum encourages creativity and innovation, developing critical thinkers, strong communicators and ethical leaders well positioned for diverse and interesting careers. With an emphasis on faculty-student engagement, experiential learning and a global perspective, CLAS is where students find their passion, path and purpose.

EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS

BACHELOR'S

Pursue a degree from among more than 40 programs in the humanities, social sciences, math and sciences.

MASTER'S

Choose from more than 20 degrees, including online options in the humanities, social sciences, math and sciences.

DOCTORAL

Find out about our funded, full-time programs in philosophy and theology, and a part-time option in theology.

CERTIFICATE

Enhance your career with graduate certificates in humanities, social sciences, math and sciences, including online options.

MINOR

Complement your major and enjoy an even more interdisciplinary and diversified academic experience by adding a minor.

CURRICULUM

Prepare for a purposeful career with our undergraduate core curriculum, a foundation emphasizing communication and critical thinking.

THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

STORIES OF DISCOVERY

COLLEGE NEWS

Rory Kramer, PhD

Sociology and Criminology Professor’s New Book Studies the Multifaceted Identities of Rising Black Professionals

Rory Kramer, PhD, associate professor of Sociology and Criminology at Villanova University, delves into the intraracial diversity among Black students at America’s prestigious colleges and universities in his co-authored book, Young, Gifted and Diverse: Origins of the New Black Elite.

MARCH 20, 2023

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Kerry P. C. San Chirico, PhD

Theology and Religious Studies Professor’s New Book Explores Unexpected Worship of Jesus in Northern India

In Between Hindu and Christian: Khrist Bhaktas, Catholics, and the Negotiation of Devotion in Banaras, Kerry P. C. San Chirico, PhD, associate professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University, explores the surprising rise of worshippers who blur the lines between Christianity and Hinduism.

FEBRUARY 22, 2023

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Cristina Martinez in her restaurant.

South Philly Barbacoa Owner Cristina Martinez Named 2023 Praxis Award Recipient

From an undocumented immigrant fleeing an abusive husband to a nationally recognized chef and workers’ rights champion, Cristina Martinez has demonstrated impressive ethical integrity in the face of adversity.

FEBRUARY 10, 2023

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Two books from the Gender and Women's Studies discipline.

32nd Annual Gender and Women’s Studies Conference Welcomes New York University’s Emma Heaney, PhD

On Friday, Feb. 10, Emma Heaney, PhD, associate director and clinical assistant professor in the XE Program in Experimental Humanities and Social Engagement at New York University, presents the keynote lecture “Literature Against Cisness,” at the 2023 Gender and Women’s Studies Student Research Conference.

FEBRUARY 1, 2023

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AT A GLANCE

60+

GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENT AT ACADEMIC CONFERENCES EACH YEAR

  

98.8%

SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT RATE
FOR CLASS OF 2022

  

14

FULBRIGHT SCHOLARS IN 2021 – 2022

  

91%

of students seeking an internship participated in at least one

  

200

STUDENTS COMPLETE A LAB OR FIELD RESEARCH PROJECT EACH YEAR

  

92%

of students seeking an international experience participated in at least one

  

WHO WE ARE