As Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, I reaffirm our steadfast commitment to our mission of engaging in the participative production, sharing, and application of knowledge that enhances human capability and agency. Through excellence in teaching, research, community partnership, and advocacy, we strive to advance health and well-being, freedom, and social justice. We are dedicated to forming competent, compassionate, and ethical leaders, professionals, and innovators in both the humanities and the sciences.

Guided by our vision to be a transformational leader in health-oriented education, research, and public service, we continuously strengthen our institutional processes. The College upholds quality and operational excellence through the consistent application of the PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) framework, supported by quality assurance reviews, accreditation, and performance evaluations. By utilizing Office Performance Commitment and Review (OPCRs), Work Instructions, and Student Instructional Reports, and by valuing feedback from students, faculty, and stakeholders, we ensure continuous improvement and sustained academic excellence.

Prof. Ma. Teresa G. De Guzman, PhD

Established as a University Extension Division in 1951, the College has evolved into a college offering ten undergraduate courses and three master's degrees to more than 2,500 students. The present Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences is Dr. Ma. Teresa G. De Guzman of the Department of Behavioral Sciences.

The College of Arts and Sciences started as the University Extension Division on June 21, 1951. Its location was the University's 1908 Manila campus – the original cradle of UP. Its mission was to offer evening classes for working students.

In the beginning, the only courses offered were programs leading to an Associate in Arts or a Bachelor's degree in Arts, Business Administration, Education and Law. There were three graduate programs namely Master of Arts, Master of Education, and the Master in Industrial Management.

In 1970, the Manila unit was elevated to college status with its new name of UP Extension in Manila. The designation of its head was changed from Director to Dean. Prof. David Wico, who was Director from 1958 to 1969 became UP Extension Manila's first dean.

From 1973 - 1978, the College instituted day classes at Rizal Hall. The college underwent an expansion of its core faculty members and administrative personnel. The expansion also led to the creation of three academic committees which later evolved into the Division of Humanities, Division of Physical and Biological Sciences, and the Division of Social Sciences. The BS Biological Sciences program was also instituted.

In response to UP President O.D. Corpuz's Executive Order No. 17, the College emphasized its mission of providing the liberal arts and basic science education in UP Manila. AB Development Studies was also offered.

When Atty. Edgardo J. Angara became the UP president, he created the Committee to Review Academic Programs (CRAP) which re-examined curricular offerings, and the Management Review Committee (MRC) which re-examined the organizational structure and management of the University.

The Board of Regent's approval of a recommendation by MRC made possible the creation of the autonomous University of the Philippines Manila on March 23, 1983, with the College of Arts and Sciences providing the general education curriculum for the health sciences programs.

The Division of Physical and Biological Sciences was renamed the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the BS Biological Sciences became BS Biology. New curricular offerings which included the BA Organizational Communication and BA Philippine Arts were instituted between 1985-1987.

The divisions were increased to five and renamed departments in the period 1987-1994. The Departments were Biology, Arts and Communication (formerly the Division of Humanities), Physical Education, Physical Sciences and Mathematics (formerly the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics), and Social Sciences. As the CAS expanded its vision, the Department of Behavioral Sciences was created in 2002 as the sixth department.

The BS Biochemistry program and the BS Computer Science were instituted in 1996. Effective FS 2011-2012 the BS Applied Physics was also offered by the DPSM. The Master of Management (Public Management and Business Management) was implemented in 1999.

In line with UP's thrust for a revitalized GE Program, the CAS became the forerunner in the General Education Program, revitalizing existing courses and proposing new ones that aligned with UP Manila's role as the Health Sciences Center of the UP System.

The MS Health Informatics, a joint program with the College of Medicine, was approved and implemented in 2005, followed by the Master of Science in Applied Physics (Medical Physics) and then Master of Science in Data Science (Health Data Science) in 2025.

The transformational leader in health-oriented education, research, and public service in the humanities and the sciences

1. To engage in participative production, sharing and use of knowledge that will enhance human capability and agency in teaching, research, community partnership, and advocacy towards health and well-being, freedom, and social justice
2. To produce competent, compassionate, and ethical leaders, professionals, and innovators in the humanities and sciences

Honor, Excellence, Integrity, Social Responsibility, Leadership, Innovation, Global Competitiveness, Nationalism

2015 PAASCU accreditation for the following programs:

• BA Behavioral Science
• BS Biochemistry
• BS Biology
• BS Computer Science

2024 Accredited CPD Provider for professional Teachers

Rizal Hall has a Neoclassic architecture. Its imposing columns express the College of Arts and Sciences' aspiration to reach the summit of academic excellence. It is one of the oldest buildings in UP Manila.

Behind it is a modern building, the Gusaling Andres Bonifacio (GAB) that seems to signify the College's openness to technological innovations and scientific advancement that aid the UP student's education. It houses laboratories, lecture halls, and classrooms.

1. Department of Arts and Communication
2. Department of Biology
3. Department of Behavioral Sciences
4. Department of Physical Education
5. Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics
6. Department of Social Sciences