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Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the Classroom
Beyond the Classroom
Liberal Arts students and faculty complete archeological research.
Liberal Arts students and faculty complete archeological research.
97
%

of students who apply for enrichment funding receive it.

Take your Liberal Arts education outside the classroom

Out-of-classroom experiences—internships, education abroad, research, student organizations, and other professional development—provide you with the opportunity to use the knowledge you learn in the classroom in real-world settings. In addition to getting you career-ready—one of Dean Lang’s top priorities—these experiences allow you to step out of your comfort zones, cultivate intangible skills, and find your passions. 

In the College of the Liberal Arts, our Student Services offices don’t just help you prepare for and find out-of-classroom opportunities; we also support you every step of the way, including financially. Enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network is available to fund internships, education abroad, and research. 

Meet with a career coach in the Career Enrichment Network to learn more about out-of-classroom opportunities. 

Internships

Each year, hundreds of Penn State Liberal Arts students complete internships in the private sector, government, and nonprofits. Internships allow students to gain real-world experience by applying what you’ve learned in the classroom. In recent years, our students have interned everywhere from Fortune 500 companies and the White House to local non-profits and government.  

I think interning somewhere helps you understand what you like and what you don't like in a company. What I learned from [my experience at Amazon] was culture is big to me. I want a company that has a really healthy culture, really healthy work environment and is very team-oriented.
Sarah Stein, who will graduate from Penn State in 2025, poses for a headshot in front of an ivory wall.
Sarah Stein
Taylor Needleman, a Criminology major who interned with the U.S. Marshals Service in the summer of 2022, stands in front of the United States Courthouse where she worked every day
Taylor Needleman, a Criminology major who interned with the U.S. Marshals Service in the summer of 2022, stands in front of the United States Courthouse where she worked every day.
Dan Bransfield, who graduated with master's degree from Penn State, wears a navy jacket and a button down light blue shirt.
InternshipPolitical SciencePublic Policy

Dan Bransfield

’25
Political Science
|
Economics (minor)
|
Public Policy (master's degree)
Political Science
Economics (minor)
Public Policy (master's degree)
In summer 2024, Dan interned with Team Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, working in agricultural policy — a field he had not previously explored. He gained hands-on experience by researching policy topics, visiting facilities and connecting with professionals in the field. One of his most memorable moments was attending a board meeting at Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, where he met Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and other University leaders.
Anna Raquel Duiker, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, smiles while seated, with a flowery wallpaper in the background.
InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Anna Raquel Duiker

’26
Spanish
|
Human Development and Family Studies
Spanish
Human Development and Family Studies
Anna completed her Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) fellowship in Puerto Rico, where she studied how some people switch between English and Spanish when they speak. She looked at how often this happens, how likely people are to switch languages in different situations and how this affects the way they learn and use both languages.
Serenity Myers, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, smiles for the camera wearing glasses.
InternshipPolitical Science

Serenity Myers

’26
African American Studies
|
Political Science
African American Studies
Political Science
In summer 2024, Serenity was a congressional intern for Rep. Dwight Evans in Philadelphia. One of her proudest accomplishments during the internship, was reviving the Youth Advisory Council, a program designed to engage young people in civic leadership. Collaborating with senators from Pennsylvania and a representative from California, she gathered insights and best practices to help relaunch the initiative.
Cara graduated from Penn State in 2025 and will graduate her IUG master's degree program in 2026. She is smiling and wearing a green jacket, white turtleneck blouse and a silver necklace.
InternshipPolitical SciencePublic Policy

Cara Arnoldi

’26
Political Science
|
Communications Arts and Sciences
|
Public Policy (master's degree)
Political Science
Communications Arts and Sciences
Public Policy (master's degree)
Through The McCourtney Institute for Democracy, Cara completed an eight-week Nevins Fellowship at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress in Washington, D.C. During the fellowship, she worked on a variety of projects related to political reform and bipartisanship.
Nick Hotalen, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, stands before a brown curtain, wearing a blue Penn State shirt.
EconomicsInternship

Nick Hotalen

’26
Economics
|
Mathematics
Economics
Mathematics
Nick interned with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development in summer 2024. The experience gave him the opportunity to navigate the complexities of public safety and health initiatives and challenged him to adapt quickly. It also solidified his understanding of workplace dynamics.
Jasmine Upchurch, a 2025 Penn State graduate, smiles while wearing glasses and a white sweater, in a library.
InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Jasmine Upchurch

’25
Psychology
|
Spanish
Psychology
Spanish
A Partnerships for International Research and Education Fellow, Jasmine spent part of summer 2024 conducting behavioral and neural research at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, specifically examining how individuals fluent in both Spanish and English process native and nonnative accents.

Education Abroad

Excavate along the Mediterranean Sea. Research in Australia. Develop language skills in China. Every year, thousands of Penn State students engage the world through academic programs, research, service, internships, and cultural immersion. In the College of the Liberal Arts, we believe that global experiences can play an integral role in personal, academic, and career development. International experiences offer students the opportunity to set themselves apart through intercultural competency, expanded resourcefulness, and experience navigating new contexts. 

Liberal Arts students can choose any program offered by Penn State. However, the College of the Liberal Arts curates education abroad programs to fit with our majors. Interested students can explore our faculty-led embedded programs or see what Penn State has to offer 

Three Liberal Arts students embrace and smile at the camera while studying abroad in Spain.
Three Liberal Arts students embrace and smile at the camera while studying abroad in Spain.
Elisabeth Egeli stands on an interior balcony overlooking a detailed archway in Brussels, Belgium.
CriminologyEducation AbroadSociology

Elisabeth Egeli

’26
Criminology
|
Psychology
|
Sociology (minor)
Criminology
Psychology
Sociology (minor)
This past summer, Elisabeth traveled to the Netherlands as part of the “Dutch Criminal and Social Justice” faculty-led program offered through the College of the Liberal Arts. Over the span of five weeks, Egeli examined the Dutch and American approaches to social problems and criminal justice alongside her classmates and Tim Robicheaux, full teaching professor of sociology and criminology, who has been leading the program for several years.
Teagan Mayr, a Perreault Fellow, standing on a cliffside walking path overlooking the water.
Education AbroadInternshipPolitical Science

Teagan Mayr

’25
Political Science
|
Broadcast Journalism
|
Civic and Community Engagement (minor)
|
Public Policy and Leadership Across Sectors (minor)
Political Science
Broadcast Journalism
Civic and Community Engagement (minor)
Public Policy and Leadership Across Sectors (minor)
Teagan completed an international internship in Ireland as part of the Perreault Fellows Program — a fellowship program that offers Penn State students a global and cross-cultural leadership, ethics, service and mentoring experience focused on health and the betterment of human condition. During her internship with the think-tank for Action on Social Change (TASC) she was able to assist in government-sponsored research.
Monica Pineiro represented the College of the Liberal Arts as its college marshal at summer 2024 commencement.
Classics and Ancient Mediterranean StudiesEducation Abroad

Monica Pineiro

’24
Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
|
History (minor)
Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
History (minor)
Through her major, Monica had numerous opportunities to expand her studies beyond her immediate interests. She studied abroad in Rome through the Study Tour of Roman History and Archaeology offered by the Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies where she discovered a new love of Roman studies.
Nina Castillo Schoonewolff participated in the “Organized Crime in Curaçao” embedded program offered by the College of the Liberal Arts.
Academic AdvisingCareer Enrichment NetworkEducation AbroadGlobal and International StudiesInternational Politics

Nina Castillo Schoonewolff

’24
International Politics
|
Global and International Studies
International Politics
Global and International Studies
With support from her academic advisers and the Career Enrichment Network, Nina spent a semester studying in Milan, Italy. There she took courses in psychology, political science and Italian. “It was such a surreal experience. I was speechless getting to experience and appreciate all the architecture and history.”
Victor Frolenko is a peer mentor in the Roz and Gene Chaiken Center for Student Success in the College of the Liberal Arts.
Campus LeaderChaiken ScholarEducation AbroadFirst-GenSpanish

Victor Frolenko

’25
Spanish
|
Nutritional Sciences
|
Neuroscience (minor)
Spanish
Nutritional Sciences
Neuroscience (minor)
Chaiken Scholar, Victor, connects with other students through his numerous extracurricular involvements, which combine his passions for dance, food and helping others. Originally, only planning to major in the sciences, Victor learned about the flexible curriculum offered by the College of the Liberal Arts from a career coach in the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network. He then added the Spanish major to his academic plan, and it took him beyond the confines of the classroom to Ronda, Spain, for an education abroad experience. There, Victor stayed with a host family in a full cultural immersion and attended classes on Spanish customs, history and language.
Nije’e Patton-Johns will graduate from Penn State in 2025.
Chaiken ScholarEducation AbroadKoreanPsychology

Nije’e Patton-Johns

’25
Psychology
|
Korean Language (minor)
|
Human Development and Family Studies (minor)
Psychology
Korean Language (minor)
Human Development and Family Studies (minor)
Chaiken Scholar, Nije’e won a competitive Gilman Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 for undergraduates to study abroad. She utilized the funds to travel to South Korea, where she continued taking psychology classes. She also practiced the Korean language—in which she hopes to eventually become fluent.

Research

Students and faculty in the College of the Liberal Arts are working on timely and relevant research with impactful, real-world implications. There are many great opportunities for Liberal Arts students to become involved in research with funds available to facilitate or enhance your research project or to work on a meaningful faculty-led research project during the academic year or summer. The experience allows students to develop skills that will be attractive to future employers and can also help students decide whether to pursue a graduate degree.  

Sydney Robinson, an English and Global and International Studies major, completes climate change research in Romania during the summer of 2022.
Sydney Robinson, an English and Global and International Studies major, completes climate change research in Romania during the summer of 2022.
Cameryn Allen, who graduated Penn State in 2025, smiles wearing a long-sleeve white shirt and glasses.
PsychologyUndergrad Research

Cameryn Allen

’25
Psychology
Psychology
Cameryn has worked in several research labs, including the Survey Research Center in the Social Science Research Institute and the Parent-to-Child Anxiety Transmission Lab and the Gene Environment Interplay Across the Lifespan Lab in the College of the Liberal Arts. “Research teaches you so much more than how to collect and analyze data. It builds leadership, communication, teamwork and project management skills — things you can take anywhere.”
Anna Raquel Duiker, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, smiles while seated, with a flowery wallpaper in the background.
InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Anna Raquel Duiker

’26
Spanish
|
Human Development and Family Studies
Spanish
Human Development and Family Studies
Anna completed her Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) fellowship in Puerto Rico, where she studied how some people switch between English and Spanish when they speak. She looked at how often this happens, how likely people are to switch languages in different situations and how this affects the way they learn and use both languages.
Cara graduated from Penn State in 2025 and will graduate her IUG master's degree program in 2026. She is smiling and wearing a green jacket, white turtleneck blouse and a silver necklace.
Political ScienceUndergrad ResearchWomen's Studies

Cara Arnoldi

’26
Political Science
|
Communications Arts and Sciences
|
Public Policy (master's degree)
Political Science
Communications Arts and Sciences
Public Policy (master's degree)
In summer 2024, Cara took her research efforts abroad during WMNST 399: The Quest for Reproductive Justice in South Africa, a faculty-led education abroad program through the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies in the College of the Liberal Arts. The group worked on several research projects, and Cara focused her research on the inadequacy of adoption services in South Africa, contrasting it with the United States’ emphasis on improving foster and adoption services.
Jasmine Upchurch, a 2025 Penn State graduate, smiles while wearing glasses and a white sweater, in a library.
InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Jasmine Upchurch

’25
Psychology
|
Spanish
Psychology
Spanish
A Partnerships for International Research and Education Fellow, Jasmine spent part of summer 2024 conducting behavioral and neural research at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, specifically examining how individuals fluent in both Spanish and English process native and nonnative accents.
Cherish Graham, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, wears a turquoise jacket and gold necklace with a continent of Africa pendant.
PsychologyUndergrad Research

Cherish Graham

’26
Psychology
Psychology
Cherish works in an obsessive-compulsive disorder study lab with a team of other assistants under the direction of psychology graduate student Valerie Swisher. In the lab, Cherish is responsible for recruitment and psychological assessments, and she said she is learning a lot about mechanisms that maintain obsessive-compulsive symptoms to inform future research and interventions.
Banerjee_Nicholas
Undergrad Research

Nicholas Banerjee

University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
Nicholas spent a summer in Scotland conducting workplace behavioral research, blending his backgrounds in psychology and labor and human resources. His work centered on fostering innovation and creativity in professional environments.

Professional Development

It’s never too early to start assessing your strengths and taking steps to develop the skills and tools you need to prepare for your future. By taking advantage of all of the resources the Career Enrichment Network provides to students, you will be better prepared to go out into the world and succeed. 

The Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program connects current undergraduate students with an alumni mentor. Students meet regularly with their mentor who helps them navigate academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences. 

Explore the Alumni Mentor Program

Celebrate and explore the endless possibilities of a liberal arts degree.

From discovering careers in the romance languages and navigating the federal government job market, to learning how to advocate for yourself in the job search and pursuing further education, these events are designed to help you uncover your passions, gain practical skills, and connect your liberal arts education to meaningful opportunities. Join us for workshops, panels, and activities that empower you to turn your passions into purpose and shape your future.

Learn more about Love Liberal Arts Week

The Career Enrichment Network also provides resources to help you develop self-knowledge around career paths, explore occupational and educational information, and strategize your career planning through job applications, interview assistance, and negotiation.

Find more professional development opportunities

A Liberal Arts student networks with an employer at Liberal Arts Career Week 2020.
A Liberal Arts student networks with an employer at Liberal Arts Career Week 2020.
Kenzie Flanders, president of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, leads a meeting of the organization in the fall of 2022.
Kenzie Flanders, president of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, leads a meeting of the organization in the fall of 2022.

Student Organizations

Students in the College of the Liberal Arts can be found in leadership positions of student organizations across campus, including academic, international, multicultural, philanthropic, and political organizations, as well as student government, honor societies, and Greek life.  

Additional Opportunities

Paid and volunteer work through student organizations or part-time jobs can be valuable ways to spend time outside the classroom and develop your professional skills.

English classroom photo

Connect with the Career Enrichment Network on social media: 

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