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Learn what a Liberal Arts degree can do for you.

The College of the Liberal Arts is the place to find your place.
Unlimited options and unwavering support to prepare you for life and any career you choose.
It all starts here.

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The place to find your place

Unlimited options and unwavering support to prepare you for life and any career you choose.

It all starts here.

Explore Undergraduate Degrees

Get
Funding

Visit
Student Services

Meet our community

Get to know some of our talented Liberal Arts students, alumni, and faculty members. These stories highlight the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of our community and the impact they are making.

David Gross named Liberal Arts marshal for fall 2025 commencement

Economics and classics and ancient Mediterranean studies student, David Gross, was recently named Liberal Arts college marshal for the fall 2025 commencement ceremony. “The liberal arts taught me how to think, how to learn and how to keep going. That’s what I’m taking with me into my career.”

Learn More About Fall 2025 Commencement

Research in CAT Lab guides student’s career path

Psychology student Miguel Morazan found a meaningful way to connect his academic interests with real-world research after joining the Department of Psychology’s Cognition, Affect, and Temperament (CAT) Lab, working with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) while contributing to a project on parent-to-child anxiety.

Learn More About Undergraduate Research

Schwartz Fellow researches education in Angola

2024 Schwartz Fellow, Lakeysha Graças de Deus, traveled to Angola to research education in their primary schools. Over 10 months, she visited a dozen schools, observed classrooms, interviewed teachers and families, and listened to students share their struggles and aspirations. “What I envision is an education system that gives students more than skills. I want it to give them hope.”

Learn more about Liberal Arts research

Students gain hands-on policy experience at Local Government Expo

More than 50 Penn State students explored careers in public service during the School of Public Policy’s inaugural Local Government Expo, which featured a career fair, networking opportunities, and a policy simulation. The event connected students with local officials while giving them firsthand experience in decision-making and civic leadership.

Advance justice and democracy through a liberal arts major

Aspiring Paterno Fellow’s DC internship provides valuable public service experience

Criminology student Kathryn Kearney applied her Liberal Arts education during a summer internship in Washington, D.C., supported by funding from the Paterno Fellows Program.

Learn more about the Paterno Fellows Program

First-gen student builds community for Liberal Arts students

Iyana Burrows has found purpose and passion in building spaces where students feel seen, supported, and empowered. For her efforts as an advocate for first-generation students and her own academic accomplishments, Iyana received the 2025 Liberal Arts Outstanding First-Gen Student Award.

Learn about first-generation support

Exploring Ireland through art and literature

A group of Penn State students stepped into the heart of Irish culture as part of the faculty-led program, Dublin, Ireland: Representing the Irish Landscape, Literature, and Visual Arts, this past summer.

Explore education abroad opportunities

Kleppinger Interns gain experience in law, policy, and advocacy

The first cohort of Kleppinger Interns, Hunter Steach, Miranda Nace, and Evelyn Chick, spent the past summer exploring the world of government policy, discovering new perspectives, and building professional relationships.

Learn more about enrichment funding

Student gains leadership skills through role as LAUC President

“LAUC was the first organization I joined at Penn State, and it’s been pivotal in shaping who I am as a student and leader,” Isabelle Ems said. “To now be president during its 50th anniversary year is an incredible honor.”

Explore our student orgs

Pursue your passions

The College of the Liberal Arts is home to nearly 150 undergraduate majors, minors, integrated undergraduate-graduate degrees (IUGs), associate degrees, and certificates.
There is truly something for everyone.

Explore by Interest

Social Data Analytics

Anthropology
Anthropological Science
Communication Arts and Sciences
English
Psychology (Life Sciences Option or Neuroscience Option)
Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)
Women’s Studies

A liberal arts major helped recent graduate John Miller develop a greater worldly perspective, improve his communication skills, and see how people experience life in different ways—traits that have benefitted the Paterno Fellow on his unique path to medical school. Read his story.

Explore by Discipline

Students in the humanities study how people process and document the human experience. Most majors in the humanities build widely transferable skills that employers appreciate and go on to be writers, counselors, event organizers, social media managers, fundraisers, travel bloggers, and more.

Explore humanities majors

The social sciences examine the relationships between individuals and societies, as well as the development and operation of societies. The critical thinking, research, and analytical skills gained in a social science major help prepare graduates for diverse job titles, including economist, psychologist, political scientist, historian, postsecondary teacher, museum curator, and social worker.

Explore social science majors

Intercultural communication, critical thinking and reasoning, cultural adaptability, information and trend analysis, and the other skills that drive the global economy, are in high demand today. Language graduates find jobs in tourism, international development, marketing, policy making, journalism, government, and more.

Explore language majors

Pursue your interests

Transforming Industry and Business

Leveraging AI and Other Technologies

Helping People

Creating Healthy Communities

Influencing
Culture and Media

Advancing
Justice and Democracy

Enacting
Social Change

Stewarding
our Planet

Building Global
Connections

Explore our Research

Discover how Liberal Arts research is making a difference across disciplines, and explore the impact we’re creating together.

Mark your calendar

The College of the Liberal Arts hosts more than 200 events
throughout the year for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the community.
Visit our events calendar to see the full list of upcoming events.
Below are the annual student events.