College of Arts & Humanities

College of Arts and Humanities

 The College of Arts and Humanities is dedicated to the study of the human experience. It offers a diverse community of students the opportunity to develop skills in research, communication, critical thinking, and creativity.  The college also provides its students exposure to the latest technologies that enhance and expand human relationships and engages them in an exploration of ethics, aesthetics, human behavior, global relationships, and the meaning of independent, responsible citizenship.  At its core, the College of Arts and Humanities is committed to developing the life-long learning habits of its students and empowering them with the ability to secure happiness and success both personally and professionally.   

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Featured Program | Game and Interactive Media Design

Housed in the Art Department, the Game and Interactive Media Design degree introduces students to the cutting edge of visual communication arts and the latest in the interactive digital technology sciences. The program prepares students for work in the video game and entertainment industries as well as a broad range of fields requiring skills in animation, simulation, programming, web design, editing, mobile application development, interactive environment construction, and story formation.

 

 

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Here's the list of degree programs housed under the College of Arts and Humanities.

BACHELOR OF ARTS

  • Art
  • Art Education
  • Communication
  • English
  • English Education
  • Foreign Language-phasing out
  • Foreign Language Education-phasing out
  • History
  • Journalism
  • Music
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Social Studies Education

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS

  • Creative Writing

BACHELOR OF MUSIC EDUCATION

  • Music Education

ASSOCIATE OF ARTS

  • General Education**

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

  • Criminal Justice

 ATU Academic Catalog | College of Arts & Humanities

 

COLLEGE OF ARTS & HUMANITIES MINORS

  • Anthropology
  • Art
  • Creative Writing
  • Criminal Justice
  • English
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • History
  • Japanese
  • Journalism
  • Latin American Studies
  • Military Science
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Speech Communication
  • Strategic Studies
  • Teaching English as a Second Language
  • Theatre

The college also supervises the pre-professional curriculum in law and is extensively involved in the General Education program.

 

**General Studies

The Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies is currently being advised by the Academic Advising Center. To make an appointment to see an advisor, please call: (479) 964-0843.

The program is designed primarily for continuing education students who enroll on a part-time basis in the University's evening school. This degree offers students the background, knowledge, and academic preparation necessary to pursue career opportunities not requiring the traditional four-year degree while at the same time providing the foundation for continued study toward a bachelors degree. To qualify for the associate of arts in general studies, the student must satisfy the University's Requirements for Associate Degrees (Click Here) and complete the following curriculum:

  • General Education Courses 37 Credit Hours
  • Electives 25 Credit Hours
  • Total 62 Credit Hours

 

High Impact Learning

 

Welcome! The College of Arts and Humanities is the human core of Arkansas Tech. Our students and faculty are dedicated to the study of human expression and human relationships. We invite you to explore our many opportunities for creative expression, service learning, study abroad, and interdisciplinary collaboration and hope you will join us at the human core of ATU.


Dr. Jeffrey Cass

Dr. Jeffrey Cass

Dean, College of Arts & Humanities

 

Video Resources

Arkansas Studies

Art

Emergency Preparedness

English and Literature

Foreign Languages

Geography

 History

Music

Philosophy

Political Science / Government

Sociology

Speech / Rhetoric

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The K-12 Initiative

 

Overview

The College of Arts and Humanities at Arkansas Tech University has developed an outreach program, the K-12 Initiative, whose purpose is to partner with interested public schools. The primary goal of the K-12 Initiative is to provide intensive content coverage to the public schools upon their request. The content areas of the K-12 Initiative include English, History, Political Science, Art, Music, Geography, Literature, Sociology, and Philosophy. The K-12 Initiative is not an educational pedagogical program which emphasizes enhanced methods for classroom delivery of materials, but rather a content-oriented program whose aim is to increase and enhance the level of partnership between higher education and the public schools while improving student learning, comprehension, and written expression at all levels of the educational experience.

All K-12 Initiative videos are now viewable online by clicking on the Subject links located to the right.

By developing this content oriented outreach program, the College of Arts and Humanities at Arkansas Tech hopes to develop closer ties with our colleagues working in the public schools. This increased collegial relationship will be a great benefit to both the public school and college faculties by fostering a greater understanding of each other's educational expertise, by further enriching the content depth of the course offerings, and by fostering expanded opportunities for student learning. In short, we want to expand our services to our fellow educators working within the public schools and build a bridge of educational partnership in order to better achieve our reciprocal goals.

How the K-12 Initiative Works

There are two basic parts to the K-12 Initiative:

The first part involves a simple request for a faculty member from Tech's College of Arts and Humanities to create a video on a particular topic as requested by the public school teacher. Once created, the video will be posted on the K-12 Initiative website for use by classroom teachers. Some examples of possible topics include a discussion of the Red Scares of 1919-1920 and 1950-1954, or America's involvement in Vietnam, or a lecture on English poets, or a presentation on a particular genre of art. These are simply examples. These presentations could come from any of the subject disciplines within Arkansas Tech's College of Arts and Humanities.

The purpose of these coordinated presentations would primarily be enrichment of the subjects being covered in the public school classrooms. The classroom teacher would simply request a presentation on a particular subject, note the time frame allowed, offer a reasonable range of possible dates, and send the request to the K-12 Liaison several weeks in advance. The K-12 Liaison would coordinate the implementation of the presentation between an appropriate faculty member from Tech's College of Arts and Humanities and the public school classroom teacher. It is hoped that this level of coordination between higher education faculty and secondary faculty would benefit both in a greater appreciation of their professional efforts as well as assist in enhancing the educational environment for all concerned and further student interest and learning opportunities.

The second part of the K-12 Initiative involves a summer program open to all interested public school classroom teachers. The entire College of Arts and Humanities K-12 Summer Institute will last for three to five days over a one week period in either late-June or early-July. Each day of this Summer Institute will focus on content area only. Each day's sessions will provide for subject content delivery and presentations. Every effort will be made to see to it that the content element can "work with" the Common Core or be a designated portion of the curriculum demands from the Common Core.

A classroom teacher may choose to attend as many of the Summer Institute's day long workshops as they wish OR they may choose to attend the entire Institute. Professional Development credit will be offered for each one-hour session attended. 

 

Participant Costs

For a public school classroom teacher or employees of a public school to participate in the K-12 Initiative, both Part One and/or portions of Part Two, there is zero monetary costs. The cost of these programs will be paid by the College of Arts and Humanities of Arkansas Tech University through a generous donation that was made to the ATU Foundation. The participants' time, interest, and desire to be involved in this program is their only cost. The public school system will incur zero costs for their involvement. The only costs to the participant or his school will occur should the participant enroll in the entire ten days of the Summer Institute and wish to earn graduate credit for so doing. There will be a tuition cost payable to Arkansas Tech University by these classroom teacher participants (which may possibly be reimbursed by their school district based on the personnel policies of their respective schools) for the granting of graduate Humanities credit IF they attend the entire ten days of the Summer Institute. There will be zero costs for the Professional Development credit.

 

Philosophy Behind the Arts and Humanities K-12 Initiative

For decades there has existed a growing gap between the professional educators of public schools and higher education. This distance is detrimental to all concerned with education and learning. Both the public schools and higher educational institutions serve many of the same students during the course of their matriculation. If higher education can assist overly burdened public school personnel in highlighting specific content in order to enhance the overall educational milieu and thus help with the delivery of public school programs, it not only helps the public schools and their students, but it also helps the higher education institution as well by having slightly better prepared students who have at least been introduced to a somewhat enriched content of subject. The K-12 Initiative helps everyone more effectively do their jobs as educators. By doing so, as partners in education the public school educators and their higher education partners working together toward an enriched course content can improve overall student learning, educational attainment, and educational performance at all levels.

If this program can be tailored so as to allow overly burdened public school teachers who have little free time during their ever constrained summer vacation to participate in a meaningful Summer Institute for which they received Professional Development credit or possibly plus 3 hours of Graduate credit, then the K-12 Initiative is functioning within the contemporary real world of public education in a useful and manageable manner. Furthermore, by developing a true partnership between public school and college faculty members bridged by their mutual interest in a content area plus their desire to further student learning the greater educational objectives of all parties can be advanced.

The College of Arts and Humanities K-12 Initiative is based on the firm conviction that faculty members working in public schools and college can work together as partners to advance student learning. The approach does not mandate what content will be presented because this Initiative must be a truly equitable partnership. The public school classroom teacher will articulate his content needs and the college faculty will endeavor to delivery that which has been requested. As much as is possible the details of time and place will be made mutually beneficial. Furthermore, this Initiative does not involve excessive paperwork, red tape or costs for the public school to participate in this Initiative. A simple, direct, streamline approach is the model for content delivery and partnership and the service is free to the public schools and their participating educators.

The College of Arts and Humanities of Arkansas Tech University wants to deliver a useful, student learning multiplier Initiative based on subject matter content which will develop a professional working relationship with our colleagues in the public schools. This approach can assist public school teachers and administrators, public schools, and public school students as well as ultimately assisting college faculty, colleges, and college students. Therefore, we believe that an equitable educational partnership between the College of Arts and Humanities of Arkansas Tech University and the public schools and their teachers and administrators offers a desirable "win win" for all parties. We hope you agree and will join with us in making the K-12 Initiative a part of your approach in the upcoming year. We are here and ready and anxious to work with you as equal educational partnership.

WAYS TO GIVE

The Arkansas Tech University Foundation promotes future development and the welfare of Arkansas Tech University students. With the help from private gifts and donor contributions from ATU alumni and friends, students and departments of Arkansas Tech University have benefited from more than 250 scholarship accounts, student study abroad opportunities and national-level competitions. Departmental gifts are vital to supporting the operation of our programs, and our ability to continue to provide the best opportunities for our students.

Donate Now - Arts and Humanities Programs

 

ARTS & HUMANITIES SCHOLARSHIPS

The ATU Foundation also supports a number of scholarship programs. To find out more about our scholarship programs and how you can support them, visit the links below.

Donate Now - Study Abroad Scholarships

COLLEGE OF ARTS & HUMANITIES ADVISORY BOARD

The College of Arts and Humanities College Advisory Board is a group of alumni and other supports who assist the Dean in developing and executing a strategy for the College.  The College Advisory Board assists in identifying areas of need for the College, and helps to fulfill those need.

 

 

CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS

LUKE BRADSHAW

Founder and CEO, A. W. Bravis Agency

Area of Interest: Art & Music

PHILIP ELMORE 

Attorney, Quattlebaum, Grooms and Tull Law Firm, Fayetteville

Area of Interest: History

VICKIE HENDERSON

VICKIE HENDERSON

Chief Medical Officer, St. Mary’s Hospital

Vickie Henderson, M.D. practiced OB/GYN at Millard Henry clinic for 20 years and delivered 5,000 babies in the River Valley before her retirement. She now serves as Chief Medical Officer at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center. A national speaker at faith-based and healthcare events, she is also an author.

She is an active member of the community, and in addition to being an advisory board member, she serves on the Main Street Russellville Board and the Friendship Foundation Board. 

 
AMBER HODGES

 

Assistant Principal, North little Rock High School

Area of Interest: History

JULIE MORGAN

Retired

Area of Interest: Music

RACHEL PATTON 

Rachel Patton

Executive Director, Preserve Arkansas

Rachel Patton is a native of northwest Arkansas and holds a Bachelor of Arts in History/Political Science from Arkansas Tech University as well as a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Arkansas. Rachel has more than a decade of historic preservation experience. In July 2016, she became the executive director of Preserve Arkansas, the statewide nonprofit advocate for historic preservation. Prior to this, she was preservation outreach coordinator for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Rachel serves on the boards of Preservation Action, the Arkansas Historical Association, Pulaski County Historical Society, and the Arkansas Women’s History Institute. She and her husband, Drue, live in North Little Rock’s Argenta Historic District. 

DANIELLE STEWART

DANIELLE STEWART

ESL Supervisor, Russellville School District

Danielle Stewart has been the ESL and Title III Supervisor for the Russellville School District for the past six years.  Prior to her appointment, she taught for twelve years, in subjects such as Spanish, English, Speech, Theatre, ESL, and Journalism. At present, she is also a Visiting Lecturer of Teaching, Learning and Leadership and has previously been a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of English and World Languages.  She is an ATU alumna with a BA in Spanish and a Masters of Liberal Arts & English from Arkansas Tech.

Her professional accomplishments include the formation of the Russellville School District Language Academy Program, as well as service on the DESE team for ACSIP, the Arkansas Biliteracy Committee at the State Department of Education, and the ARKTESOL Board.

CORA WILSON

Owner & Head Instructor, Forca

Area of Interest: Theatre

WAYNE YOUNG

Partner, Friday Law Firm, Little Rock

Area of Interest: History & Political Science

 

Faculty & Staff Awards

 

The College of Arts and Humanities is proud of the excellence and dedication of our faculty and staff. Each year we give out awards in recognition of our exemplary faculty and staff.  

ADJUNCT FACULTY AWARD

  • 2021 Mr. Don Lee
  • 2022 Ms. Kristina Buck
  • 2023 Ms. Donna Ogle
  • 2024 Ms. Ashley Kinsey
  • 2025 Mr. Philippe van Houtte

DEAN’S CHOICE AWARD 

  • 2020 Dr. Erin Clair and Dr. Julie Mikles-Schluterman 
  • 2021 Dr. Nate Chapman and Dr. Alejandra Carballo
  • 2022 Dr. Daniel Belongia and Ms. Belinda Hilliard
  • 2023 Ms. Frances Roberson
  • 2024 Dr. Phoebe Robertson and Valli Wanzer
  • 2025 Dr. Brendan Toner and Ms. Sylvia Cooper

MENTOR AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED STUDENT ADVISING

  • 2017 Dr. Sarah Stein
  • 2018 Dr. Michael Brodrick
  • 2019 Dr. Erica Wondolowski
  • 2020 Dr. Alexis Johnson
  • 2021 Dr. Jason Ulsperger
  • 2022 Dr. Chih-Hsin Hsu
  • 2023 Ms. Megan Toland
  • 2024 Dr. Julie Mikles-Schluterman
  • 2025 Dr. James Stobaugh

STAFF AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE

  • 2018 Ms. Pat Bullard
  • 2019 Ms. Susan Johnson
  • 2020 Ms. Belinda Hilliard
  • 2021 Ms. Bonnie Heathcock
  • 2022 Ms. Kimberly Hilliard
  • 2023 Ms. Janet Carnahan-Lee
  • 2024 Ms. Christine Kirkland
  • 2025 Ms. Abigail Butler

Dr. Jeffrey Cass

DR. JEFFREY CASS

DEAN, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

College of Arts & Humanities
Witherspoon Building Suite 240
407 West Q Street
Russellville, AR 72801
Phone: (479) 968-0274
E-mail: jcass@atu.edu

EDUCATION

  • B.A. - University of Dallas
  • M.A. - University of California, San Diego
  • Ph.D. - University of California, San Diego

 

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