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. In addition to the student organizations listed below, which are popular among Liberal Arts students, Penn State has more than 1,000 student organizations. Log into OrgCentral with your Penn State credentials to browse through the directory of student organizations.
Liberal Arts Ambassadors
The Liberal Arts Ambassadors serve as representatives of the College of the Liberal Arts to prospective undergraduate students and alumni. They work closely with the college’s recruitment services to develop programming and messaging that give prospective students and alumni a better understanding of what it looks like to be a student in the College of the Liberal Arts.
Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council
For nearly fifty years, the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) has served as representatives of all undergraduate students in the College of the Liberal Arts. The council creates programming and hosts events to foster the experience of Liberal Arts students.
Minorities in the College of the Liberal Arts
The Minorities in the College of the Liberal Arts (MCLA) helps minoritized students in the college access resources and build a college community.
The Asian Student Association aims to create a welcoming environment for those of Asian heritage here at Penn State University. We encourage cultural awareness, acceptance, and visibility and strive to create a home for the Asian community at University Park.
CIES fosters a creative, innovative culture within Penn State’s community. Our aim is to strengthen the academic and professional network of students interested in corporate innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Creative Writing Club is a community of young writers interested in telling stories. Our mediums include novels, short stories, poetry, screenplays, music pieces, and more!
The Economics Association is an organization of students with a passion for economics, who wish to grow both academically and professionally outside of the classroom. We enrich the educational experience of our members with academic presentations, written publications, economic simulations, and various other activities.
The French Club promotes greater awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the French language and francophone culture. We provide cultural, linguistic, and networking opportunities for students and community members alike through a weekly beginner-friendly conversation hour, monthly cultural events, educational and social field trips, and more!
The mission of the German Club at Penn State is to create opportunities to achieve a greater sense of cultural and social awareness. We serve as a place to support the cultural and social interest of students with a Germanic heritage, as well as those who are curious to learn about the culture. Through a unified and collaborative effort, we work with other cultural organizations to ensure diversity and representation remain prevalent in our institution.
Global Brigades is an international nonprofit that works to empower underprivileged communities through a holistic model that includes Medical, Business, Engineering, and Legal Brigades. During the Legal Empowerment Brigades, students provide access to legal resources and education in urban and rural communities alongside local lawyers.
The International Affairs and Debate Association is dedicated to increasing the awareness and knowledge of international relations and diplomacy, the function of international bodies, and the diversity of the world’s population by hosting and participating in Model United Nations conferences.
Triota is the women’s, gender, and sexualities studies honor society. We are a feminist club that aims to improve our community and ourselves through activism, education, and support.
The Italian Student Society provides an interactive environment at Penn State through social and cultural programs in order to educate the University community on Italian traditions.
The Justice Association is an active student organization dedicated to educating undergraduates on the American justice system. While the majority of club members major in Criminology, students of all other majors are welcome to join.
Kalliope is a student organization that meets first to form a community; then to solicit submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art; then to form committees that will read and select pieces to publish in the annual print journal in the spring.
The Mock Trial Association encourages and promotes an appreciation of the skills necessary to successfully practice trial advocacy through courtroom workshops, intramural competitions, and intercollegiate competitions. The organization is designed to be a competitive organization with the ultimate goal of winning the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament each year.
MULA’s mission is to increase diversity in the field of law by promoting multiculturalism; to that end, we strive not only to help our members get into the law school of their choice but also to help our members succeed in the law school of their choice.
Our mission is to be a support network created to enhance professional development and leadership skills for young women of diverse backgrounds. We are business women who work to address cultural and gender issues within the corporate world.
Pi Sigma Alpha is for students majoring in Political Science in the United States. Pi Sigma Alpha’s mission is to promote excellence in the study of political science through a variety of programs that provide awards, scholarships, lecture funding, and other benefits for members, chapters, and political scientists.
Psi Chi, founded in 1929, is the international honor society in psychology. The society exists to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship and to advance the science of psychology.
The purpose of the Russian Studies Club is to create a network to facilitate communication among students interested in Russian language and culture and, beyond that, to get in touch with alumni of Russian studies in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literature. We have weekly meetings called Russian Tea Hour, where we serve treats and dedicate time to various activities such as conversation practice, games, presentations by club members and invited speakers. We also organize various events such as Russian movie nights, field trips, and guest lecture events.
SHRM is committed to serving as a bridge between the academic and professional human resource communities. We seek to bring together students in HR-related disciplines and provide them with professional practices through guest speakers, networking, and resources.
The Sociology Club is a place for students in related liberal arts majors. We aim to help find support in peers, as well as assist with finding internships, research positions, current classes, and the job search for post-graduation.
In the Spanish Club, you will find that we have built a community of diverse individuals all coming together to share their love for speaking Spanish. We encourage all levels of Spanish speakers to participate in meetings in a relaxed setting to share conversations and engage in other activities such as Spanish-language games, dance lessons (salsa, bachata, etc.), study abroad info sessions, crafts, holiday celebrations, and more.
At the Penn State Speech & Debate Society, our mission is to cultivate a space for structured, insightful debates and discussions. It’s not just about winning arguments; it’s about honing your advocacy skills and becoming a well-informed citizen.
State of State is a student-run organization committed to facilitating a dialogue about important Penn State-related issues. This dialogue culminates every year in a spring conference at which we bring together student, faculty, administration, alumni, and community leaders to speak about a variety of Penn State and State College topics.
The Women in Economics Society is an organization and resource for women at Penn State who have an interest in economics. Our goal is to increase the amount of women in the field as well as unite women on campus who are interested in economics.