College of Arts and Science

About College of Arts and Science

The College of Arts and Science is the largest academic unit at the University of Saskatchewan, located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Established in 1908, the college serves as the foundational academic core of the university, offering undergraduate and graduate education across a broad spectrum of disciplines. The college provides degree programs in the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences. As an integral component of the University of Saskatchewan, a major Canadian public research university, the college operates under provincial legislation and holds institutional accreditation through the University of Saskatchewan Act.

The academic structure of the College of Arts and Science is divided into four main areas: the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and sciences. It encompasses more than 20 departments and interdisciplinary programs, offering over 60 subject areas for study. Key academic departments include Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English, History, Mathematics and Statistics, Physics and Engineering Physics, Psychology, and Sociology. Students can pursue Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), and Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) degrees, as well as joint, honors, and interdisciplinary degree options. Advanced research degrees, including Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.Sc.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs, are administered in conjunction with the College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

The college is situated on the main University of Saskatchewan campus along the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon. Facilities utilized by the college include historic and modern academic buildings such as the Arts Building, the Thorvaldson Building, the Geology Building, and the Spinks Addition. Academic infrastructure includes specialized research laboratories, computer facilities, performance spaces, and art galleries such as the Kenderdine Art Gallery and the Gordon Snelgrove Gallery. Students and faculty also have access to the University of Saskatchewan Library system, which includes the Murray Library, the Science Library, and specialized archival collections supporting humanities and scientific research.

Research capabilities within the College of Arts and Science are enhanced by proximity and integration with major national research centers located on or adjacent to the campus. These include the Canadian Light Source, Canada's national synchrotron light facility, and the Sylvia Fedoruk Canadian Centre for Nuclear Innovation. College faculty and students engage in basic and applied research across disciplines such as atmospheric physics, green chemistry, indigenous studies, digital humanities, subatomic physics, and environmental social science. Research funding is drawn from major Canadian granting agencies, including the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Academic programs within the college incorporate interdisciplinary learning, undergraduate research opportunities, and community-engaged learning initiatives. Indigenous engagement is a structural priority, reflected in course offerings, language programs, and dedicated support services designed to promote the inclusion of Indigenous perspectives and scholarship. The college also maintains study abroad and international exchange agreements, allowing students to complete portions of their academic degree programs at partner institutions worldwide.

Enrollment in the College of Arts and Science accounts for approximately half of the total student population at the University of Saskatchewan. Graduates from the college transition into diverse professional sectors, including scientific research, education, public policy, healthcare, information technology, creative industries, and graduate or professional professional studies such as law and medicine. The college operates under the governance of the University of Saskatchewan University Council and Senate, ensuring its curriculum and academic standards align with national and international higher education frameworks.