Graduate & Professional Study
The interdisciplinary research and writing skills built through the CLS contract and capstone essay prepare students well for graduate study across a range of fields.
Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities
Comprehensive Liberal Studies
Department Chair: Dr. Loren Marquez
Comprehensive Liberal Studies is for students whose interests don't fit neatly into a single department. Rather than choosing from a fixed course list, CLS students design their own 44-hour program of study spanning three of the university's four academic schools, built around a clear intellectual theme they define themselves.
The major is governed by a formal contract negotiated with a faculty advisor and approved by the CLS Director — outlining the specific courses planned, the student's academic goals, and how the program satisfies oral communication and computer proficiency requirements. In the final semester, students write a reflective essay revisiting the goals laid out in their original declaration and exploring how those goals were realized over the course of the major.
Because the major is self-designed, it rewards students with a clear sense of purpose — whether that's a specific career goal, a research interest spanning multiple disciplines, or a course of study no single department offers on its own.
Requirements
CLS is a contract major: there is no fixed course list. Students design an individualized 44-hour program across three academic schools, in consultation with a faculty advisor and the CLS Director. The contract must include a course list, a declaration essay articulating the major's unifying theme, and a statement showing how oral communication and computer proficiency requirements will be met. The contract is approved by both the advisor and the CLS Director, and may be renegotiated if listed courses become unavailable. A reflective essay reviewing the major's goals and themes is required in the final semester, along with the final written project from the WES 300 seminar (whether or not WES 300 counts toward the major) for assessment purposes.
School Distribution
16 semester hours in each of two academic schools, and 12 semester hours in a third academic school
44 hrs total
Upper-Level Coursework
At least 24 of the 44 total hours must be at the 300/400 level, distributed across at least two academic schools
Departmental Limit
No more than half of the hours from any one school may be taken in the same department or discipline
Interdisciplinary (INST) Course
One INST course may be included, counted as either humanities or social sciences — not as natural sciences and mathematics
optional
Lab Science Requirement
At least one laboratory science course is required. If Brock School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is not one of the three schools in the contract, the lab science course may still be listed under any one of the schools chosen, with its credits counted toward that school's total.
4 hrs (within total)
General Education Note
English and foreign language courses used to satisfy core General Education requirements may not be included in the major; courses satisfying other General Education requirements may be included.
Total Hours Required
44
A 2.5 GPA in all courses included in the CLS major is required for graduation. Students must file a Declaration of Major at least two semesters before graduation.
Career Outcomes
Because CLS is self-designed, career paths vary as widely as the programs students build — the outcomes below reflect common directions rather than a single trajectory.
Nonprofit & Public Service
Students who design their CLS contract around social issues, policy, or community work often pursue careers in nonprofits, government, and public service.
Business & Communications
A self-directed program spanning multiple disciplines builds the adaptability and communication skills valued in business, marketing, and communications roles.
Education & Advocacy
Students who build their contract around education, social justice, or specific advocacy interests often pursue careers or further study in those fields directly.
Faculty
Abdullah Al-Alaj
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Jacob Balot
Head Cross Country and Assistant Track and Field Coach
Amanda L. Barker
Assistant Office Manager, Kaufman Center for Enrollment
Soraya Bartol
Professor of Marine Biology
Chair of Biology
Kenneth R. Perry Dean, Joan P. Brock School of Mathematics ,& Natural Sciences
Baylor Baxley
Head Field Hockey Coach
Paul Beach
Maintenance Technician, Aramark Facilities Management
Heather Beatty
General Manager, Sodexo Dining Services
Brian Becker
Navy Preparatory Program and NROTC Coordinator
Larry Belcher
Director of Innovative Partnerships and Enrollment, Batten University Global Campus
Megan Belo
Head Women's Basketball Coach
Clair T. Berube
Associate Professor of Education
Director of Education Programs
Charline Bess
Office Manager, Kaufman Center for Enrollment
Jennifer Bishop
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
David Black
Executive in Residence
Bernice Bledsoe
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Richard Bond
Associate Professor of History
Chair of History
Nathan Boudreaux
Groundskeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Jeffrey Bowers
Head Women's Soccer Coach
Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Dana Bradshaw
Accounts Payable Coordinator
Teresa Bremby
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Kimberly Brown
Manager, Scribner University Store
Kristin Burney
Lecturer in Mathematics
Heather Campbell
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success
Hannah Carmona
Student Success Administrative Assistant
Leslie A. Caughell
Associate Professor of Political Science
Chair of Political Science
Rachel Chintawongvanich
Academic Manager, Tidewater Collegiate Academy
Maria Clark
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Donald Clark
Maintenance Technician, Aramark Facilities Management
Maria Clemons
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Shelby Clinedinst
Cashier/Food Service Worker-Harbor Grill
Jennifer Cohen
Assistant Vice President for Campus Life
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Adjunct Faculty
Kelly R. Cordova
Chief of Staff and Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
Tyler Costello
Director of Athletic Communications
Jana Cowan
Assistant to the Senior Vice President
Vincent Cox
Groundskeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Terry Critser, Jr.
Director of Enterprise Information
Karissa Cumberbatch
Director of Men's and Women's Volleyball
Anthony Daniels
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Ryann Darling
Athletic Trainer
Shay Deckler
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Javier Delgado
Groundskeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Joseph Delpo (Trey)
Director of the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center
Instructor of Theatre
Daniel Demarte
Groundskeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Sarah deRosa
Research & Electronic Resources Librarian
Elaine Dessouki
Assistant Professor Emerita of Management, Business, and Economics
Benjamin D. Dobrin
Professor of Social Work
Director of Social Work and Human Services
Patricia Doherty
Administrative Assistant/Business Manager, Athletics
Shelby Edwards
Transfer Enrollment Counselor
Brandon Elliott
Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
Head Softball Coach
Steven M. Emmanuel (Steve)
Professor of Philosophy
Chair of Philosophy
Paige Evans
Enrollment Counselor, SCOHS of Batten University
Sandra Ewell
Student Success Coach
Coordinator of Comprehensive Liberal Studies
Shavon Fanfair
Gift Entry and Records Coordinator
Linda A. Ferguson
Professor Emerita of Management, Business, and Economics
Emily Fluck
Director of Catering & Conference Services
Angela Formica
Online Student Success Coordinator
Christian Francis
Head Baseball Coach
Shawn Frazier
Lecturer in Mathematics
Frank Futyma
Lecturer in Management, Business, and Economics
Alain Gabon
Associate Professor of French
Darlene Garcia-Najera
Cashier/Food Service Worker, Sodexo Dining Services
Drian Glyde
Assistant Professor of Management, Business ,and Economics
Dean, Global Campus
Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson
Provost and Vice President
Professor of Biology
Philip Guilfoyle
Professor of Art
Manager of Ceramics and Sculpture Studios
Adrianna M. Gunther
Enrollment Counselor
Sarah Guzzo
Director of Stewardship
Nicole . Hagan
First-year Enrollment Counselor
Gebremedhin Haile
Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
J. Christopher Haley (Chris)
Professor of Earth Science
Chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Thomas Hall
Director of Men's and Women's Golf
Benjamin Haller
Professor of Classics
Chair of Foreign Languages and Classics
Katrina Hamilton-Lawal (Katrina)
Student Success Coordinator
Anna Harrington
Assistant Professor Psychology
Marilyn Harris
Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator
Lori L. Harris
Executive Assistant to the President
Michele Hedspeth
Director of Student Accounts
H. R. Hite
Professor Emeritus, Theatre/Communications
Stephen G.B. Hock
Associate Professor of English
Kellie Holzer
Batten Professor of English
Chair of English
Lambuth M. Clarke Chair in English Literature
Rebecca Hooker
Associate Professor of English
Maury Howard
Professor of Chemistry
Felipe Antonio Hugueño
Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies
Shelley Hunter
University Affairs and Presidential Events Coordinator
Kelly T. Jackson
Associate Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center
Craig Jackson
Associate Professor of Psychology
Dean, Birdsong School of Social Science
Kathy Merlock Jackson
Professor of Media and Communication
Tammy Jacob-Perez
Nurse Practitioner, Sentara Medical Group
Chase James
Assistant Baseball Coach
Hunter Jenkins
Maintenance Technician
Aramark Facilities Management
Brice D. Johnson
First-year Enrollment Counselor
Eric Johnson
Professor of Biology
Director of the Greer Center Greenhouse
Angie Johnston
Office Administration, Sodexo Dining Services
Alice Jones
Director of Career Development
Brianna Jones
Enrollment Counselor, Batten University Online
Felipe . Juarez
Athletic Events and Student-Athlete Experience Coordinator
Prashikshya Karki
Coordinator of Accreditation, Data Collection, and Reporting
Verne M. Keefer
Professor Emeritus, Biology
Lydia Kennedy
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Doug Kennedy
Professor Emeritus of Sport and Recreation Professions
Kevin Kittredge
Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Chair of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Shane Kohler
Head Men's Soccer Coach
Beth Koroleski
Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Planning
Carly Laidlaw
Head Athletic Trainer - Sentara Outreach
Sentara Sports Medicine
Harry Lake
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Michelle Lampley
Advancement Operations Coordinator
Shalyn Lapke
Assistant Professor of Management, Business, and Economics
Latosha Lester
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Richmond Letterio
Assistant Track and Field Coach
Terrence Lindvall
Professor of Religious Studies
C.S. Lewis Endowed Chair in Communication and Christian Thought
Malcolm Lively (Malcolm)
Associate Professor of Education
Thomas Liverman
Associate Professor of Criminal Justice
Chair of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Lauren Lock
On-Call Catering Service Worker
Braden Long
Assistant Men's Lacrosse Coach
Adjunct
David Macedo
Head Men's Basketball Coach
Elizabeth Malcolm
Batten Professor of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
Director of Sustainability
Travis Malone
Batten Professor of Theatre
Anne B. Shumadine Dean, Batten Honors College
Stephen Mansfield
Archivist
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Kenneth R. Perry Dean of the College Emeritus
Heath Marton
Senior Enrollment Counselor
Eric Mazur
Professor of Religious Studies
Gloria and David Furman Endowed ,Professorship
Religion, Law, and Policy Fellow of the Robert Nusbaum Center
Bill McConnell
Batten Professor of Education ,Dean, D. Henry Watts School of Professional Studies
Will McGuire (Will)
Chief Information Officer
Ethan McQuade
Systems Administrator
Darrell Meadows
Electrician Maintenance Worker, Aramark Facilities Management
Scott Miller
President of the University
Professor of Leadership Studies
Laurie Miller
Accountant
Stuart C. Minnis (Stu)
Batten Professor of Media and Communication
Chair of Media and Communication
Kayla Monroe
Branding and Design Manager
Keith Moore
Senior Vice President
Assistant Professor of Education
Bryson Mortensen
Director of Batten University Online
Director of Choir
James Moskowitz
Batten Lecturer in Political Science
,Interim Director of Men's and Women's Tennis
Coordinator of NATO Partnership
Diandra Mundle
Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
Nicanor C. Muniz (Crit)
Associate Vice President for Student Success
Taryn Myers
Professor of Psychology
Chair of Psychology
Abraham . Nemon
Instructional and Online Learning Librarian
Revenia Neufville
Duplication and Postal Services Manager, Scribner University Store
Nikki Nieves
Director of Enrollment, Batten Honors College
Christian Norton
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Brooke Novkovic
Director of Global Engagement
Devin Ortiz-Hoffman
Outreach and Access Services Librarian
Modupe Oshikoya
Associate Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of International
Studies
Sai Palepu
ERP Programmer and Business Analyst
Arthur Pantelides
Associate Professor of Management, Business and Economics
Lauren Paxton
On-Call Catering Service Worker
Lisa Lyon Payne
Batten Professor of Media and Communication
Nicole Peller
Assistant Director for Student Professional Development
Career & Professional Development, the Athenaeum H.C. Hofheimer II Library 114
Rene' Perez-Lopez
Vice President Emeritus, Information Systems and Director of Library
Michael D. Pettry (Mike)
Director of Purchasing
Bt Pham
Director of Men's and Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
Kayleigh Poggioli
Director of Alumni Engagement
Wayne Pollock
Associate Professor Emeritus of Sport and Recreation Professions
Zion . Purvis-Allen
First-year Enrollment Counselor
Annika Quick
Batten Assistant Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Kristina Raines
Executive Director of Marketing & Communication
Paul Rasor
Joan P. and Macon F. Brock Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of
Religious Freedom and Professor Emeritus, Interdisciplinary Studies
Nancy Rechkemer
Coordinator of University Advising Services
Margaret Reese
Thomas R. Fanney Distinguished Professor of Mathematics
Chair of Mathematics
Tiffany Reniva
Co-Teacher, Tidewater Collegiate Academy
Joanne Renn- Barnes
Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Emeritus
Michael Rigby
Assistant Director of Facilities Management, Grounds ,Aramark Facilities Management
Catherine Roache
Student Accounts Coordinator
Elyse Rosen
Director of Residence Life
John Rudel
Professor of Art
Director of Undergraduate Research
Curator of Exhibitions for the Neil Britton Art Gallery
Jennifer Sands
Assistant Director of Financial Aid/ VA Certifying Official
Malleri Santiago (Mal)
Director of Admissions
Maynard Schaus
Professor of Biology and Environmental Science
Director of Academic Effectiveness and Accreditation ,Chair of Computer Science and Cybersecurity
Coordinator of Sustainability Management
Sylvia Schelly
Acting Chief Financial Officer
Antje Schwennicke
Associate Professor of Political Science
Coordinator of NATO Partnership
Wendy Scott
Director of the Laboratory School
Assistant Professor of Education
Anja Serby-Wilkens
Assistant to the President
Martha Smith Sharpe
Accreditation Consultant
Arin Shatto
Director of Civic Engagement and Service Learning
Ehsan S. Salek
Professor Emeritus, Management, Business, and Economics
Adjunct Faculty
Sally Shedd
Batten Professor of Theatre, Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies
Dean, Susan S. Goode School of Arts and Humanities
Beverly Sheppard
Cashier/Food Service Worker - Harbor Grill, Sodexo Dining Services
Boyd Dining Center
Britni Sherrill
Senior Accountant
Jessica Simmons
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Michael Skipper
Director of Web Services
Jennifer Slivka
Associate Professor of English
Coordinator of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
Dante Smith
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Steven Sparks
Maintenance Technician, Aramark Facilities Management
Jason Squinobal
Associate Professor of Music
Chair of Fine and Performing Arts
Harold Stallings
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Utility, Sodexo Dining Services
Lauren Stephens
Assistant Professor of Sport & Recreation Professions
Caitlin Stewart
Director of Enrollment, SCOHS of Batten University
Jill Sturts
Batten Associate Professor of Sport and Recreation Professions
Chair of Sport and Recreation Professions
Assistant Dean, Batten Honors College
Levi Tenen
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Coordinator of the Ethics Bowl
Vivian Teter
Lambuth M. Clarke Professor Emerita of English
Laynee H. Timlin (Laynee)
Content and Media Manager
Stephanie Timmerman
Administrative Assistant for Academic Affairs
Jeffrey G. Toussaint
Associate Professor of Sociology/Criminal Justice
Rebecca Tovar
Director of Recreation and Wellness
Victor Townsend
Professor of Biology
Assistant Provost
Michelle Vachris
Professor of Management, Business and Economics
Director of Management, Business, and Economics Programs
Virginia Videll
Facilities Support Coordinator
Management
Craig Wansink
Batten Professor of Religious Studies and Leadership ,Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Robert Nusbaum Center ,Chair of Religious Studies
Marquianta Washington
Payroll Accountant
Stephen Watson
HVAC Maintenance Worker, Aramark Facilities Management
Jerome White
Instructional Technologist
Director of Continuing Education
Kiandra Wilder
Student Accounts Coordinator
Malesia Williams
Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Marcia Williams
Information Security Officer
Network Manager
Rachel A. Wilson
Assistant Women's Soccer Coach
Garrett Wood
Assistant Professor of Management, Business, and Economics
Director of Management, Business, and Economics Programs
Jamal Wood
Groundskeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Brian Wright
Assistant Athletic Trainer - Sentara outreach.
Joyce Young
Lead Housekeeper, Aramark Facilities Management
Kerri Zamora
Assistant Athletic Trainer