UNCW's Division of Academic Affairs consists of the following components: the three professional schools, The Cameron School of Business, The School of Nursing, and The Watson School of Education; The Graduate School; and The College of Arts and Sciences.

The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest academic unit within the Division of Academic Affairs. According to academic year fall 2004 statistics, the College of Arts and Sciences supports and produces 76 percent of the total credit hours generated within the university. The college employs 412 full-time faculty;36 administrative faculty, including 21 department chairs; 147 part-time faculty and 64 administrative and professional staff out of a total budget of approximately $40 million.

The 26 academic departments and programs withing the College offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs leading to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts in creative writing, Bachelor of Music Performance, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Arts, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, Master of Science, Master of Social Work and Doctor of Philosophy in marine science degrees. A Two-Plus-Two Engineering Program offered jointly by UNCW and North Carolina's three state-supported colleges of engineering, and a Three-Plus-Two program in environmental science and environmental engineering leading to dual degrees from both UNCW and North Carolina State University is also available. Specialized curricula leasing to Master of Arts in Teaching degrees are offered jointly by the College of Arts and Sciences and the Watson School of Education. Health-related pre-professional programs in chiropractice, dentistry, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry and veterinary medicine are pre-law are also offered. The College offers undergraduate certification in professional writing and geographic information science; post-baccalaureate certificates in environmental studies, gerontology, and Hispanic studies are also offered.

The following is a sample of interdisciplinary, interdepartmental programs that the departments also support: African-American studies, American studies, classical studies, European studies, Latin American studies, leadership studies, Middle East studies, Native American studies, women's studies. Please see the university on-line catalogue for a more complete description of programs and requirements. The college also shares joint oversight with the Watson School of Education for the Science and Math Education Center, a regional service center designed to strengthen public school instruction in science and mathematics and to encourage public school students to pursue careers in these disciplines.

The College of Arts and Sciences strives in all of its degree programs to nurture creative thinking, intellectual curiosity, and academic integrity in our students while providing them with a solid foundation of knowledge in their chosen field. Upon completion of their degree program, students will have the necessary preparation for their chosen career or advanced studies.

The Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is the chief academic officer with the final decision-making authority for the college in the areas of budget administration, curricular and program approval, faculty and staff actions, academic facilities, planning and use, and fundraising initiatives. The dean is assisted by three associate deans, a budget manager, an assistant to the dean for research support and grant development and a communications specialist. The dean and the associate deans are supported by a one executive assistant, two administrative secretaries, and a computing consultant.

The associate dean of faculty policy and enrollment management; the associate dean of student policy and curriculum coordination; the associate dean of graduate programs, research, and infrastructure are assigned areas of supervision and responsibility related to the multiple functions and goals of the college.

The budget manager is responsible for oversight of the college’s fiscal resources, which total more than $40 million annually, as well as broad oversight of SPA personnel assigned to the college.

The communications specialist assists the dean and the 26 department chairs and program directors in promoting outreach, publications, web site development and events as well as public relations and marketing initiatives that will advance the mission, programs and priorities of the College's strategic plan.

The executive assistant to the dean coordinates the dean’s calendar, facilitates the processing of faculty actions, such as rank and tenure applications, and generates reports required by Academic Affairs and UNC’s Office of the President. An administrative secretary oversees the assignment of classrooms, the class scheduling procedure, and fixed asset inventory and an administrative secretary with matters of student policy and curriculum coordination.

See the College of Arts and Sciences SACS Self-Study Report (PDF 261k)

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