College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS)

LAS is home to a third of students and faculty members on the Urbana-Champaign campus. More than 99 percent of Illinois students take a class in our college, and we offer about 1,500 unique classes each semester. Learn more about LAS.

For more than 100 years, the college of Liberal Arts & Sciences has played a pivotal role in education and research on the University of Illinois campus. Across our more than 60 units, faculty and students are pursuing cutting-edge research that's changing the world.

LAS offers more than 70 majors, 60 minors, and numerous certificates, and our 14,000 students develop a broad perspective and the skills employers seek.

Our 600-plus faculty members lead their fields; they also share their scholarship with students in the classroom and through research opportunities. They continue to create innovative courses and programs that prepare our students for a constantly changing world.

Our 180,000+ alumni are accomplished people who change the world every. They include Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners, as well as business leaders, public servants, entrepreneurs, teachers, and researchers who serve as the core of many companies and organizations.

Many LAS courses and office spaces are located in the iconic Lincoln Hall. The building was completed in 1911, with an addition in 1929. An example of Renaissance Revival architecture, the building also features strong horizontal banding and extended eaves that suggest the Prairie School. W. C. Zimmerman served as architect. The statue of Abraham Lincoln greets students entering the building from the Main Quad. Legend has it that rubbing his nose will bring good luck!