Department website: http://www.odu.edu/al
9000 Batten Arts & Letters Building
(757) 683-3925
(757) 683-5746
Laura Delbrugge, Dean
Martha Daas, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Administration
Dale E. Miller, Associate Dean for Research, Graduate Studies, and Faculty Affairs
Mission
The College of Arts and Letters is committed to the ideals of the liberal arts. Its curriculum introduces students to the full range of human experiences through the study of cultural heritage, forms of artistic and literary expressions, patterns of social and political behavior, and methods of critical inquiry. The mission of the College of Arts and Letters is to prepare students for rigorous, intellectual and creative inquiry leading to their full development as human beings and to their responsible engagement with society. We accomplish this mission by:
- Endowing all students with the essential skills of critical reading and thinking, effective oral and written communication, and proficient use of technology
- Providing foundational knowledge in the arts, humanities and social sciences for all undergraduates
- Offering excellent disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs of study and training that introduce students to accumulated knowledge, scholarly debate, and innovations in the field
- Fostering global awareness and sensitivity to the breadth and diversity of the human condition, which includes acquiring an understanding of the roles of gender, race, ethnicity, and culture
- Providing an environment for the free exchange of ideas among faculty and students, and by vigorously defending academic and intellectual freedom
- Promoting research projects, collaborative learning experiences, and challenging internships that connect our students to the community and prepare them for the world of work
- Supporting a broad array of cultural experiences that enrich the lives of students, faculty, the University, and the community
Overview
Graduate programs in the College of Arts and Letters foster the scholarship and creativity of individual students through close personal contact between faculty and students. Arts and Letters faculty members dedicate themselves to excellence in teaching; take pride in their achievements in research; and commit to enhancing in every way possible the exciting and stimulating environment that is Old Dominion University. The College of Arts and Letters has graduate programs in Applied Linguistics, Applied Sociology, Creative Writing, Criminology and Criminal Justice, English, History, Humanities, International Studies, Lifespan and Digital Communication, and Music Education. The College offers M.A. degrees in Applied Linguistics, Applied Sociology, English, History, Humanities, Lifespan and Digital Communication, International Studies, and Music Education; the M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing; and Ph.D. degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice, English, and International Studies.
Centers and Institutes
China Center
The China Center's mission is to promote and coordinate research, cultural exchanges, and academic programs in China-related Studies; to enhance mutual understanding of the two cultures; and to facilitate economic and business cooperation between China, other Chinese societies, and the United States with particular emphases on the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Gay Cultural Studies
ODU's Gay Cultural Studies Advisory Council has established a program, unique in Virginia's academic community, that focuses on the contributions, concerns, and challenges associated with LGBT culture. The Gay Cultural Studies program promotes academic research and provides graduate and undergraduate educational opportunities, and engages the local Hampton Roads LGBT community through ongoing dialogue and community involvement.
Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs
The Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs seeks to raise awareness and stimulate discussion of the ethical dimension of matters of public concern within the campus community and the larger Hampton Roads community; to strengthen moral community and foster a commitment to ethical ideals in public life; to facilitate reflection on the ethical standards that govern the professions; and to highlight the unique and valuable contribution that philosophical reasoning can make to practical decision making.
Institute for the Humanities
The Institute for the Humanities offers a Master of Arts degree in the Humanities that fosters cross-disciplinary learning and interdisciplinary research outcomes with a primary focus on humanistic methodologies. The program allows students to pursue individualized programs of study that incorporate classes from across the College of Arts and Letters. In alignment with the mission of the college and university, the program aims to develop students' skills in critical thinking, effective communication, and creative problem solving. Students will become engaged citizens and stewards of the value of the human experience to transform the world and improve their own lived experiences. You can peruse our catalog and visit our website.
Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding
In 2002, with a $300,000 matching grant from the Dudley Cooper Trust, Old Dominion University announced the establishment of an Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding dedicated to the idea that interfaith understanding involves both an appreciation of Judaism’s historic role in the development of Western civilization and an understanding of the cross-cultural development of the world’s religions. To this end, the Institute coordinates lectures, symposia, and reading groups related to Jewish history and thought, as well as Judaism’s continuing dialogue with Christian, Islamic, and Asian faith traditions. Presenting information about the world’s religious and ethnic diversity in a University setting of open dialogue to thoughtful students, young and old, can enrich overall understanding of the issues and challenges that confront us in the twenty-first century.
Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity
In support of the mission of Old Dominion University to place special emphasis upon understanding the perspectives of women, minorities, and non-Western cultures, the Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity (ISRE) seeks to develop, promote and implement academic, research and public service programs that focus on the study of race and ethnicity in the region, the nation, and globally. The political, social, economic, and cultural experiences of African Americans, Filipino Americans, and other communities of color are emphasized in the work of the institute. ISRE seeks to establish itself as a major archive and research center in Virginia and the southeastern region of the United States by providing archival resources through its Resource Center and engaging in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of data and research.
Institute of Asian Studies
Old Dominion University seeks to promote an expanded awareness and understanding of the nations and cultures of Asia, to support and encourage research on Asia, and to make resources available to foster better understanding and more effective interaction between organizations and individuals in the Hampton Roads area and those in Asia. To achieve these goals, the Institute of Asian Studies coordinates special programs and administers a major and minor in Asian studies. It also facilitates cooperative relationships with higher education institutions and other organizations within the United States and throughout Asia. The Institute director works closely with the Office of International Programs regarding scholarships and study abroad programs and opportunities.
Model United Nations
The Old Dominion University Model United Nations Society is ODU's window on the United Nations and international activism. The Society's mission is promoting global, multicultural education and leadership experience through experiential learning, stressing student participation in simulation conferences and academic courses. The Society represents the university at model U.N., European Union, NATO and crisis simulation conferences around the country, and by organizing major simulations of its own, including U.N. Day in October and ODUMUNC, held every February. Membership is open to students from all colleges and disciplines at the university.
Monarch Institute for Game Design and Development (MIGDD)
The Monarch Institute for Game Design and Development (MIGDD) supports the college’s Game Design, Development, and Criticism majors, which are housed in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies. Its mission includes promoting collaborative gaming research and interdisciplinary cooperation between existing colleges and departments, encouraging the translation of research into product development and commercialization, providing students with internships and other experiential learning opportunities, and facilitating community engagement and outreach.
Social Science Research Center
The Social Science Research Center is located on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. The SSRC has been in operation since 1998 and is staffed by two, full-time research and management professionals, a full-time project coordinator, and several part-time research assistants. The SSRC has successfully managed a variety of research and evaluation projects involving several national, regional and statewide surveys, and many program evaluations.
