The College of Arts and Sciences, also known as the College of Arts and Sciences or the College of General Studies, originated in the United States and is one of the important types of American universities.

Generally speaking, it refers to a small but sophisticated university that pursues liberal arts education and focuses on undergraduate education. The college of arts and sciences pays attention to comprehensive education, emphasizing the exploration of students' thinking potential and realizing the all-round development in the true sense. Its curriculum is based on basic disciplines, covering humanities, arts, natural sciences, social sciences and other categories, which is different from comprehensive universities or vocational and technical colleges oriented to vocational training or scientific research.

The liberal arts colleges in the United States are the most developed, with Williams College, Amherst College, Swarthmore College and Wellesley College ranking ahead of many famous Ivy League schools in China, followed by Canada.

It was once listed as one of the top ten liberal arts colleges in Asia by Forbes. Yuanpei College of Peking University, Tsinghua University Xinya College and Boya College of Sun Yat-sen University also followed the principle of Boya College.