College of Arts & Sciences

Dean's Office Staff

Welcome from Grady Ballenger, Dean of the College

2009 Reading for Dean's Dinner

Welcome to the College of Arts and Sciences! We are a community of learners: faculty nationally recognized not only for their scholarly and creative accomplishments but for their dedication to teaching, and students actively committed to knowing as much as possible about themselves, others, and the world. We pursue knowledge together, in small classes (averaging 16 students), seminars, and tutorials. At the heart of education in the College is the one-to-one collaboration between two individuals, a professor and a student.

For every student at Stetson, the College provides liberal education, a liberating education that prepares women and men to live bravely and creatively, initiating change, not merely reacting to it. The College offers general education courses for all Stetson University students; we also provide advanced study in all the traditional disciplines of the liberal arts and sciences--such as Physics, History, Biology, Psychology, Political Science, Mathematics, Philosophy, Religious Studies, and English--and we also teach newly emerging disciplines like Computer Science, Digital Arts, Biochemistry, and Environmental Studies. Our Teacher Education programs prepare graduates as classroom teachers in these disciplines and as educational leaders.

All fields of study in the College involve students in fundamental questions: "Who am I?" "What is my place in the world?" "What does it mean to live well?" "How can I know something is true?" "What does it mean to live in community?" What responsibilities come with freedom? These kinds of questions help us to consider the values that bring out the best in women and men, values that are vital to any profession or life's work, because they are vital to reaching our fullest potential as humans. Through active participation in these conversations, students examine their own and others values, make ethical judgments about important social issues, and become courageous and compassionate citizens. The work that we do together is further shaped by our shared commitment to academic honesty and integrity. (See our Honor Code for more details.)

You can get a sense of what we accomplish in the College and at Stetson by checking out our evaluation in national publications or noting our national accreditations (by the American Chemical Society or by NCATE). We're especially proud to have been awarded a chapter of PhiBeta Kappa, the first private university in Florida to have a chapter of this prestigious honors society. But it is the work of our students that best illustrates what education in the College is all about. Each student in the College is an active and independent learner, and each student undertakes a Senior Project that brings together the skills and knowledge he or she has acquired in a major discipline.

We invite you to take a virtual tour of the College, Stetson's campus, and Central Florida. Better still, arrange to visit our campus and sit in on some classes, and talk to faculty and students. We think you'll find that we're a remarkably friendly campus--our President is known to students by his first name--and that DeLand is a pleasant small town, just far enough removed from the glitter of Daytona Beach (did we mention the beach?) and the bustle of Orlando (did we mention professional sports and spring training, major concerts and cultural events, world-class shopping, Disney World, and Universal Studios?) You'll find a comfortable place in which to take on a challenging education that can change the course of your life.

If you need more information about applying to Stetson or want to know more about our generous scholarship and financial aid support, visit these sites or contact our Admissions Office and Financial Aid Office. If the Dean's Office can help in any way, please don't hesitate to contact us by e-mail (rcarter@stetson.edu), phone (386-822-7515), fax (386-822-7514), or post (College of Arts and Sciences, 106 Elizabeth Hall, Stetson University, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida 32723).