College of
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
DISCOVER YOUR PASSION
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been the intellectual heart of Villanova since the University’s founding in 1842. With more than 40 academic departments and programs offering undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as doctoral programs in Philosophy and Theology, CLAS provides a rich, rigorous and diverse educational experience.
Faculty in the College are teacher-scholars. They are thought leaders in their fields, pursuing research at the forefront of knowledge creation, and are equally committed to excellence in teaching—integrating their research into the classroom and inviting students to partner with them on studies and publications.
The College’s multidisciplinary curriculum encourages creativity and innovation. Students develop critical thinking and strong communication skills, preparing them to be ethical leaders with a passion for making a positive impact on the world.
EXPLORE OUR PROGRAMS
THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
STORIES OF DISCOVERY
Villanova’s world-renowned lizard expert has built a scientific family tree —one discovery, and one student, at a time. Aaron Bauer, PhD, has described 320 new species of reptiles, more than any other living scientist and fifth-most of all time and mentored generations of students. MORE...
Elizabeth Schrader Polczer, PhD, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, and Anthony Lagalante, PhD, Chemistry and Biochemistry, gained rare access to the Catacombs of Priscilla. With grant support from Villanova and permission from the Vatican, the researchers were able to collect data on two frescoes within the catacombs’ third-century Greek Chapel. MORE...
Ireland’s prime minister, the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, was met with céad míle fáilte—a hundred thousand welcomes—as he arrived on Villanova’s campus on March 14 as a guest of the Center for Irish Studies. MORE...
COLLEGE NEWS
Villanova Professors Named to Endowed Chairs in Biology and English
Professor of Biology Samantha Chapman, PhD, and Professor of English Megan Quigley, PhD, have been appointed to endowed chair positions in recognition of their scholarly contributions to their fields and in support of their continued research and teaching.
October 09, 2026
Villanova Theology Professor Examines Pope Leo XIV’s Papacy and the Global Church in New Book
In his new book, Leo XIV and the Global Church: Unity and Peace, Massimo Faggioli, PhD, professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University examines the significance of Pope Leo XIV’s historic election as the first American and Augustinian pope, placing it within the broader evolution of the papacy and the Catholic Church’s growing relationship with the world.
October 01, 2026
Villanova Biology Professor Awarded NIH Grant to Advance Understanding of RNA Decay
Villanova University Biology Professor Sarah Fritz, PhD, has been awarded a $396,941 grant from the National Institutes of Health to support her research examining how cells identify and eliminate defective RNA, enhancing our knowledge of gene expression regulation and potentially informing the development of advanced therapeutic strategies for genetic diseases.
September 22, 2026
Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD, the William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, to retire as dean
Villanova University President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, has announced that Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD, the William and Julia Moulden Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is retiring after nearly 40 years of service to Villanova University. Dr. Lindenmeyr, who has led the College since 2014, will retire in June 2028 after a sabbatical during the 2027-28 academic year.
September 17, 2026
AT A GLANCE
60+
GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENT AT ACADEMIC CONFERENCES EACH YEAR
92%
OF THE CLASS OF 2025
SECURED OPPORTUNITIES
8
STUDENTS OR ALUMNI EARN FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2026 – 2027
83%
OF STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2025 SEEKING A RESEARCH EXPERIENCE PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE
86%
OF STUDENTS FROM THE CLASS OF 2025 SEEKING AN INTERNSHIP PARTICIPATED IN AT LEAST ONE
93%
of students from the class of 2025 seeking a service experience participated in at least one