A liberal arts degree is highly beneficial for pursuing a career abroad—fostering adaptability and a global perspective—to allow you to navigate diverse cultural contexts and engage with international communities. Through a broad understanding of global issues, languages, and social dynamics, you can effectively work in roles such as international relations, global marketing, or cross-cultural consulting. The ability to analyze complex problems and communicate across cultures enhances your effectiveness in various international settings, making you an asset in a global workforce.
A liberal arts degree develops cultural awareness and adaptability, fostering key transferable skills essential for living and working abroad, such as:
- Cultural competency
- Effective communication
- Critical thinking
- Adaptability
- Research and analytical skills
- Interdisciplinary knowledge
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Interested in learning more about what you can do with a liberal arts degree?
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Current Students
Majors
Explore our degrees designed for those interested in building global connections. Our programs will equip you with the skills to excel and turn your passions into a rewarding career.
While this page shows many opportunities and examples of what our students and alumni have done related to this area of interest, this is not an exhaustive list of majors or experiences.
Out-of-Classroom Experiences
Internships
- Deloitte
- Microsoft
- United Nations
- U.S. Department of State
- Syngenta Global
- Traveler’s Insurance
- UNESCO
- National Security Innovation Network
- Jewish Cultural Historical Museum
- Philadelphia Museum of Art
- US-ASEAN Business Council
Education Abroad Destinations
Germany
Students enrolled in GER 003/197 spent a week in Munich, Germany, as part of the “Experiencing German Language and Culture in Munich” embedded program.
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Poland
Students taking HIST/JST 426 spent a week in Poland as part of “The Holocaust and History" embedded program deepening their understanding of key issues surrounding the Holocaust and pre-war Jewish life through visiting historical sites in Poland.
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Greece
Students taking CAMS 15U spent a week in Athens, Greece, as part of the “Wonders of the Ancient World” embedded program. The course focused on the famed “Seven Wonders” and other achievements dating back to 3,000 B.C.E.
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Georgia
Students enrolled in RUS 197 spent a week in Tbilisi, Georgia, as part of the “Cultural Immersion in Post-Soviet Georgia” embedded program.
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France
A faculty-led summer French language program in Besançon, France, offered beginner to advanced-level students of French an immersive experience to rapidly improve their fluency.
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Post-Graduation Opportunities
Continuing Education
- Law school
- MBA
- Graduate school to study international relations, global studies, cultural anthropology, language and linguistics, public policy, development studies, comparative literature, and global business
Job Titles
- International Development Officer
- Cultural Program Coordinator
- Global Communications Specialist
- International Trade Analyst
- Diplomatic Liaison Officer
- Cross-Cultural Trainer
- Global Marketing Manager
- Foreign Policy Analyst
- International Human Resources Manager
- Global Nonprofit Coordinator
Industries
- International Relations and Diplomacy
- Global Nonprofits and NGOs
- International Education
- Multinational Corporations
- International Marketing and Advertising
- Cultural Heritage and Preservation
- Global Tourism and Hospitality
- International Trade and Logistics
- Cross-Cultural Consulting
- Media and Journalism with a Global Focus
Employers
- United Nations
- Peace Corps
- World Trade Organization
- National Geographic Society
- International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
- U.S. Department of State
- Amnesty International
- Global multinational companies, such as Google or Microsoft
- International publishing houses, such as Penguin Random House
- Education abroad organizations, such as CIEE or IES Abroad
Alumni Career Conversations
Careers in...
LinguisticsRussian
Katherine Percival
’28
Mathematics
|
Linguistics
Mathematics
Linguistics
I find the intellectual approach to math and language to be very similar. My interest in linguistics led me to take Russian for my foreign language requirement, and this program was a wonderful opportunity to travel to a country [Armenia] where many people speak Russian.
EnglishMedieval Studies
Fiona Combs
’25
English
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Spanish
|
Medieval Studies
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Art
|
Global and International Studies (minor)
English
Spanish
Medieval Studies
Art
Global and International Studies (minor)
In Ireland, Fiona’s studies centered on art and English with medieval ruins lurking in the background — several of her core academic interests. Walking through ancient ruins and engaging with centuries-old artifacts added dimension to her coursework in ways a textbook couldn’t replicate.
EnglishGlobal and International StudiesMedieval StudiesSpanish
Fiona Combs
’25
English
|
Spanish
|
Medieval Studies
|
Art
|
Global and International Studies (minor)
English
Spanish
Medieval Studies
Art
Global and International Studies (minor)
Throughout her time at Penn State, Fiona has embraced every opportunity to explore her wide-ranging interests — in the classroom and around the world. “I decided to pursue a quadruple major because I have a wide range of interests and enjoy reading and writing. My summer study abroad experiences allowed me to take more classes within my four years at Penn State.”
Spanish
Victor Frolenko
’25
Spanish
|
Nutritional Sciences
|
Neuroscience (minor)
Spanish
Nutritional Sciences
Neuroscience (minor)
Victor is teaching his own course this semester through Students Teaching Students, with fellow student Elana Laing. The one-credit course — SPAN 197 Merengue and More: Latin Dance Lessons and Artist Study — explores the rich world of Spanish music and culture by combining two main elements: dance instruction and lyrical analysis. “My Liberal Arts education has helped me think very individually and out of the box, so that is why I’m approaching Spanish teaching in this sense. This course is something fun and unique.”
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.
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.