WCSU Undergraduate Catalog 2023-2024 : Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences

Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences

Dean: Michelle Brown, Ph.D.
Higgins Hall 109B, Midtown Campus
brownml@wcsu.edu
(203) 837-9400
(203) 837-8525 (fax)

Assistant Dean: TBA
Higgins Hall 109C, Midtown Campus
@wcsu.edu
(203) 837-9406
(203) 837-8525 (fax)

Administrative Assistant: Sheryl Scott
Higgins Hall 109, Midtown Campus
scottse@wcsu.edu
(203) 837-9401
(203) 837-8525 (fax)

 

Departments:

Biology 
Chair: Theodora Pinou, Ph.D.
pinout@wcsu.edu
Science Building 243, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8569
(203) 837-8769 (fax)

Chemistry
Chair: Russell Selzer, Ph.D.
selzerr@wcsu.edu
Science Building 323, Midtown campus
(203) 837- 8440
(203) 837- 8769 (fax)

Associate Chair: Paula Secondo, Ph.D.
secondop@wcsu.edu
Science Building 339, Midtown Campus
(203) 837-8795
(203) 837-8769 (fax)

Computer Science
Chair: Dan Coffman, Ph.D.
coffmand@wcsu.edu
Higgins Hall 039B, Midtown Campus
(203) 837-8746
(203) 837-8289 (fax)

Associate Chair: Gancho Ganchev, Ph.D.
ganchevg@wcsu.edu
Higgins Hall 039F, Midtown Campus
(203) 837-9349
(203) 837-8289 (fax)

History and World Perspectives
Co-Chair: Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox, Ph.D. 
wilcoxw@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 221, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8565
(203) 837-3960 (fax)

Co-Chair: Joshua Rosenthal, Ph.D.
rosenthalj@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 216, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8449

Mathematics
Chair: David Burns, Ph.D.
burnsd@wcsu.edu
Higgins Hall 101A, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9346
(203) 837-8289 (fax)

English and Interdisciplinary Studies
Chair: Cigdem Usekes, Ph.D.
usekesc@wcsu.edu
White Hall 021C, Midtown campus
(203) 837-3294
(203) 837-8905 (fax)

Physics, Astronomy & Meteorology
Chair:  Albert Owino, Ph.D.
owinoa@wcsu.edu
Science Building 264B, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8361
(203) 837-8320 (fax)

Associate Chair: Robert Eisenson
eisensonr@wcsu.edu
Science Building 277, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8989
(203) 837-8320 (fax)

Psychology
Chair: Patricia O’Neill, Ph.D.
oneillp@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 308, Midtown campus
(203) 837-9383
(203) 837-8905 (fax)

Social Sciences
Chair: Carina Bandhauer, Ph.D.
bandauerc@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 211, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8650
(203) 837-3960 (fax)

Associate Chair: Christine Hegel-Cantarella, Ph.D.
hegelcantarellac@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 217, Midtown campus
(203) 837-3914
(203) 837-3960 (fax)

World Languages & Culture
Chair: Galina Bakhtiarova, Ph.D.
bakhtiarg@wcsu.edu
Higgins Hall 218B, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8734
(203) 837-8032 (fax)

 

Mission

The Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences strives to help our students develop the habits of inquiry that are the essence of a liberal arts education. We are committed to placing disciplinary expertise within a broader liberal arts context in order to encourage the creative and analytic thinking that comes with interdisciplinary thought. We expect all of our graduates to be able to access and evaluate information with reason and evidence, and to effectively communicate about that information to diverse audiences. In the Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences, we believe that a liberal arts education is outstanding preparation for a productive and rewarding life.

Objectives

  • To provide all students with an education that supports the development of strong critical and analytic thinking.
  • To present students with educational opportunities in the traditional arts and sciences disciplines that will prepare them for careers, further education, and an informed life.
  • To facilitate opportunities for integrative learning, allowing students to draw connections between the classroom and their many professional and community contexts.
  • To encourage interdisciplinary thinking and creative problem solving in and outside of the classroom.

To meet these objectives

  • Students complete rigorous academic programs developed by highly qualified faculty who are guided by current scholarship in their disciplines.
  • Our faculty engages students in collaborative research and learning opportunities, connecting theory with practice, applying topics learned in the classroom to real-world problems.
  • Students have many opportunities to take their knowledge outside of the classroom through internships/co-ops, service learning courses, and volunteer work in the local community and abroad.
  • We offer interdisciplinary majors, minors, courses, seminars, events, and study-abroad opportunities as a regular part of the learning environment.

The Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences plays a central role in the education of every student at Western Connecticut State University. Whether through the foundations in our general education curriculum or the depth of knowledge provided by our major programs, we are committed to creating outstanding learning opportunities for all.

 

Undergraduate Degree Programs

Associate in Science

AS-Liberal Arts

Bachelor Degree Programs

BA-Anthropology/Sociology

BA-Biology
Options:
Biology
Bioscience

Ecological Science

BS-Secondary Education: Biology (See Education & Educational Psychology Department)

 

BS-Chemistry
    Options:

Chemistry–ACS Approval

Chemistry with Biochemistry Option- ACS approved

Chemistry with Biochemistry Option

 

BS-Secondary Education: Chemistry (See Education & Educational Psychology Department)

BS-Computer Science

BA-Applied Computing

BA-Contract Major

BS-Contract Major

BA-Earth and Planetary Sciences

BA-English

BS-Secondary Education: English (See School of Professional Studies for more information)

BA-History

BS-Secondary Education: History/Social Studies (See School of Professional Studies for more information)

BA-Interdisciplinary Studies

BA-Mathematics
    Option:
Applied and Computational Math

BS-Secondary Education: Mathematics (See School of Professional Studies for more information)

BS-Meteorology

BA-Political Science

BA-Psychology

BA-Social Sciences
    Options:
Global Studies
Social Justice and Policy

BA-Spanish

BS-Secondary Education: Spanish (See School of Professional Studies for more information)

Admissions

Please refer to the department area in this catalog for specific admission procedures and requirements, or contact the Office of University Admissions at (203) 837-9000.