College of Arts + Sciences: Indiana University

Make way for the leaders, creatives, and groundbreakers of tomorrow

We prepare students for an ever-changing future by providing a foundational liberal arts and sciences education that is more relevant than ever. Here, breakthroughs are fueled by unfiltered imaginations and unconventional ideas. Whether in the classroom or in the lab, on stage or in the field, you’ll gain the skills and experience you need for what’s new, next, and not-yet-imagined.

Undergraduate experience

Learn about our degree programs, the admissions process, experiential learning, research opportunities, and career preparation.

Graduate experience

Find information about graduate degree programs, admissions, funding opportunities, research, and career preparation.

Prof Sidney Shaw elected to AAAS

Sidney Shaw, professor of Biology in the College, has been elected to The American Association for the Advancement of Science’ (AAAS) 2024 Fellows’ class. This is a lifetime honor within the scientific community, and those chosen are honored for their scientific and scholarly achievements throughout their careers.

Read about Sidney Shaw

4+1 Pathway aids early Criminal Justice master’s degree attainment

Drawn to issues of justice and humanitarianism early in her life, senior Shamaria Thomas (B.A. '25, Criminology and Criminal Justice) has been pursuing her major in Indiana University Bloomington’s College of Arts and Sciences under the Criminal Justice Accelerated Master’s Program, also known as the 4+1 Pathway.

Read about Shamaria

Prof Karen Bush elected to AAAS

Karen Bush, a Professor of Practice Emerita in the Department of Biology (Biotechnology Program), within the College, was elected to The American Association for the Advancement of Science 2024 Fellows’ class. This is a lifetime honor within the scientific community, and those chosen are honored for their scientific and socially distinguished achievements throughout their careers.

Read about Karen Bush

Study challenges ‘publish or perish’ culture

The longstanding “publish or perish” culture in academia is coming under renewed scrutiny, as a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences argues that current incentives in academic publishing can hinder scientific progress and knowledge sharing.

Read about the study

GenAI in the classroom

Vivian Halloran thinks so highly of IU's GenAI in the Classroom Canvas course that she wrote the below feature on it (after she and her co-instructor used it to boldly redesign their Human Dilemmas course). For her, it proved to be a timely resource for bridging the knowledge-gap between faculty and students about the uses and dilemmas posed by rapidly proliferating generative AI (GenAI).

Read about the course

A hub for curiosity + diverse thought

The College of Arts and Sciences values diversity, equity, and inclusion as core strengths and essential elements in the success of its educational mission. Our commitment is grounded in our aspiration to cultivate intellectual rigor and curiosity among our students and to prepare them to thrive in and contribute to a globally diverse, complex, and interconnected world.