Welcome from Michael J. O'Brien, Dean

Welcome to the College of Arts and Science - the art and soul of this institution. Since the origin of the University of Missouri in 1839, we have offered core classes to students of all disciplines. With 9,000 undergraduate and graduate majors, A&S is the largest and oldest of the thirteen schools and colleges of the University of Missouri and the largest college in the state of Missouri.

Our 450 tenured and tenure-track faculty – many with national reputations – and 200 staff inspire students to thrive in their chosen fields of study and to grow as tomorrow's leaders. We offer our students enlightenment and discovery while challenging them to become problem-solvers. The process works. MU is one of the few universities whose students – all in A&S – won recognition as national Truman, Goldwater, and Udall scholars in the same year.

Students of the arts, sciences and humanities choose from a broad range of departments, programs, and schools that offer a vast array of courses of study leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. These units are housed in 60 buildings across the 1,400 acres of our striking campus, which is officially designated as a botanical garden.

We appreciate your interest in the College of Arts and Science and invite you to visit in person to understand what sets us apart from the rest. Your questions and comments are always welcome.

Information about the University and the Town

Value Ranking for the University of Missouri:

MU is highly ranked in quality and value by U.S. News & World Report, The Fiske Guide to Colleges, Peterson's Competitive Colleges, Barron's Best Buys in College Education and Money magazine.

“A value is a combination of what you pay and what you get. And what you get at Mizzou is a world-class education for a reasonable cost.”
-MU Chancellor Emeritus Richard Wallace

About Columbia, MO:

National magazines and newspapers consistently list Columbia, Mo., among the top cities in the nation for its excellent quality of life. In 2008 Forbes ranked Columbia 11th in its “America's Smartest Cities” list. Money magazine included Columbia in a 2006 “Top 100 Best Places to Live” study that analyzed factors such as housing, student test scores, air quality and commute time. In 2009, Forbes listed Columbia as the 5th “Best Small Metro for Business and Careers,” the tenth year in a row Columbia has ranked in the top 60. In 2007 Forbes listed Columbia as one of the top 20 American cities to educate children.