Step inside the classroom
The College of the Liberal Arts provides our students with the opportunity to pursue a transformative, globally respected Penn State education. Led by world-class scholars and teachers working within the humanities, social sciences, and languages, our departments, programs, and research institutes will provide you with a classic liberal arts education that also puts you on the path to a gratifying career.
During your education, you’ll be instilled with all the core liberal arts values—communication, critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and appreciation for other cultures and other times—while having the opportunity to pursue out-of-classroom experiences like internships, education abroad, and research that allow you to apply your skills in real-world contexts and grow personally and professionally. You’ll get to work with scholars leading their respective disciplines, collaborate with students with similar interests, and connect with our vast network of college and University alumni who can serve as mentors and help you build your professional network.
Degree Programs
With nearly 150 undergraduate majors, minors, integrated undergraduate-graduate degrees (IUGs), associate degrees, and certificates to choose from, the College of the Liberal Arts truly has something for everyone no matter what your academic or career aspirations are. Taught by first-rate faculty with deep research and professional experience, our programs are intellectually rigorous and constantly evolving to meet the needs of an ever-changing workplace.
Departments
Our college is made up of highly accomplished teachers and researchers devoted to their individual focuses within the humanities, social sciences, and languages. Each department and program promotes and nurtures your academic journey through in-person and online instruction and research, all with the goal of producing graduates well-prepared to be exemplary professionals and global citizens. Meanwhile, our centers and institutes facilitate interdepartmental and interdisciplinary research and outreach geared around numerous subjects of academic and societal importance.
Student Services
Committed to developing deep interpersonal relationships with students, the college’s Student Services staff will connect you with all the resources and opportunities you’ll need to succeed before and after you receive your degree. Located in Sparks Building, the college’s academic and administrative home, our Students Services include the following offices:
- Academic Advising
- Academic Scholarships
- Career Enrichment Network
- Chaiken Center for Student Success
- Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity
- Paterno Fellows Program
I have received extensive support from the Career Enrichment Network through career coaching and workshops, as well as by taking the LA 103 professional development course this semester, which has been an amazing opportunity to learn more about beginning a career post-graduation.
Felicity Sarnoff
The peer advising sessions in Sparks Building have been incredibly helpful. The peer advisers and academic advisers I’ve worked with have guided me in getting involved with research, selecting and scheduling my classes and exploring other opportunities within the college.
Elisabeth Egeli
Through my education, I want to learn how to make an impact. My academic adviser within the college was the one who told me to pursue an advanced degree to make an immediate impact. I’ve learned so much about professional development and have gained so many transferable skills through this IUG degree program.
Maddie Hindman
Fortunately, I've been awarded multiple scholarships from Penn State, the National Federation of the Blind, Team See Possibilities and the American Council of the Blind, enabling me to pursue my continued education. Coming from a family unable to afford college funding or loans, I comprehensively apply for every scholarship I qualify for each semester to sustain my education and collegiate success.
Tyler Hoppe
With support from the Career Enrichment Network, both financial and social, Ima was able to land an internship with Justice Desk Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. The human rights nonprofit empowers everyday activists to fight gender-based violence and toxic masculinity and provide positive role models for individuals throughout South African townships. As part of his internship, Ima focused on the iNtsika yeThemba Project, which works with boys affected by gender-based violence.
Ima Bazan
Academic Advising has been extremely helpful every time I have used them, especially my academic adviser, Mia Parise. She has gone above and beyond to help me with my academic planning.
Reese Hays
Career Enrichment NetworkGlobal and International StudiesInternational PoliticsInternship
Ima Bazan
’24
International Politics
|
Global and International Studies
|
International Affairs (master’s)
International Politics
Global and International Studies
International Affairs (master’s)
With support from the Career Enrichment Network, both financial and social, Ima was able to land an internship with Justice Desk Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. The human rights nonprofit empowers everyday activists to fight gender-based violence and toxic masculinity and provide positive role models for individuals throughout South African townships. As part of his internship, Ima focused on the iNtsika yeThemba Project, which works with boys affected by gender-based violence.
Career Enrichment Network
Ethan Sten
’23
Psychology
|
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Psychology
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
With enrichment funding support from the Career Enrichment Network, Ethan traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Society for the Study of Human Development conference. The funding covered conference fees, travel expenses and his hotel reservation. While there, Ethan presented one of his research projects from the Cole Development of Emotion Regulation Lab. Ethan also received enrichment funding to support an internship with Cornerstone Coordinated Health Care.
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.”
Academic AdvisingCampus LeaderCareer Enrichment NetworkCivic and Community EngagementFirst-GenGlobal and International StudiesLabor and Human ResourcesPaterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarSpanish
Amanda Mohamed
’24
Labor and Human Resources
|
Global and International Studies
|
Spanish
|
Civic and Community Engagement (minor)
Labor and Human Resources
Global and International Studies
Spanish
Civic and Community Engagement (minor)
Graduating with three degrees, Amanda, the spring 2024 Liberal Arts college marshal, made the most of her time as an undergraduate student. Her love of learning took her abroad to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, which in turn helped her land a human resources internship with First National Bank Corporation. On campus, she conducted research as a fellow for The Brain Tracking Lab and was a Lion Ambassador. Amanda is pursuing a master’s degree in higher education at the University of Maryland, College Park.
Career Enrichment NetworkCommunication Arts and SciencesEducation AbroadEnglishEnrichment FundingPaterno FellowsPhilosophyResearch
Daniel Zahn
’20
English
|
Philosophy
|
Communication Arts and Sciences
English
Philosophy
Communication Arts and Sciences
As a student, Daniel, a Paterno Fellow alumnus, participated in a linguistics research project in Bassila, Benin made possible by the Career Enrichment Network, where his research focused on everyday language use.
Career Enrichment NetworkEconomicsPolitical Science
Mitchell Wootten
’19
Political Science
|
Economics minor
Political Science
Economics minor
Mitchell, a policy specialist for Google, advises current students to take advantage of Penn State’s career resources, including the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network. Mitchell says his Liberal Arts education provided analysis tools needed to be an effective leader and communicator.
When I learned about the Paterno Fellows Program, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to push myself academically and personally. It has enriched my Penn State experience by exposing me to opportunities I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise, like honors classes that challenge me to think in new ways.
Elisabeth Egeli
The Paterno Fellows Program challenged me by placing me into honors courses that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills. These are valuable skills that can benefit me not only in my academic pursuits but also in my personal and professional life. Becoming a Paterno Fellow has also granted me the amazing opportunity to join the esteemed Schreyer Honors College.
Brooklynn Jones
What I think is great about honors education is that you’re part of the larger Penn State community but you’re also a part of an honors community that helps one another succeed in whatever you want to pursue. Being in this community has also allowed me to meet other student leaders and make connections that are useful in building community.
Emmanuel Kraft
The Paterno Fellows Program and Schreyer Honors College allowed me to have so many opportunities of self-exploration. I am currently working on my honors thesis where I am analyzing fashion during the Black Panther movement versus the Black Lives Matter movement and looking at what messages were displayed through the fashion.
Alana Nesmith
Penn State provided me with an understanding of how academia works. Completing an undergraduate thesis was huge for me since it is like a mini dissertation. So very early on in my grad program, I already had an idea of how to do dissertation research and how to write a dissertation, which has been super helpful.
Harrison Brennan
Having the experience of writing a thesis through the Paterno Fellows Program and Schreyer Honors College was incredible practice for my career. The wide breadth of classes taught me to be open-minded and to see an issue from so many angles.
Chloe Connor
Honors Education
Pursuing an honors education not only demonstrates your commitment to a quality college experience but it could very well put you at an advantage when the time comes to apply for a job or graduate school. Available to students within and aspiring to the University’s Schreyer Honors College, the Paterno Fellows Program is the college’s signature honors experience and includes enhanced out-of-class requirements. The college also has a couple departmental honors programs.
CriminologyPaterno FellowsPsychologySchreyer Scholar
Elisabeth Egeli
’26
Criminology
|
Psychology
|
Sociology (minor)
Criminology
Psychology
Sociology (minor)
From a young age, Elisabeth has been driven by one of her biggest passions: understanding the psychology of crime. “I’ve always been fascinated by human behavior, particularly about criminals. I want to understand why people commit crimes and how psychology and societal factors intersect in shaping those decisions.”
Campus LeaderPaterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarStudent Organizations
Lenneya Murray
’25
Criminology
|
Sociology (minor)
Criminology
Sociology (minor)
Lenneya is a Paterno Fellow, Schreyer Scholar, Bunton-Waller Fellow and first-generation student who channels her leadership skills into advocacy and empowerment. Throughout her undergraduate journey she has gotten involved on campus and has embraced numerous leadership roles to maximize her experience at the University, including being the former president of Penn State’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and now the second vice president of Pennsylvania’s NAACP Youth and College Division, where she oversees all of the NAACP college chapters across the state.
Chapel InternsInternshipPaterno FellowsSchreyer Scholar
Sabrina Knox
’26
Philosophy
|
English
|
International Affairs (IUG master's degree)
Philosophy
English
International Affairs (IUG master's degree)
A Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, Sabrina developed a passion for the energy industry, while interning at Westinghouse Nuclear. She became especially interested in the development of nuclear technology and the role it will play in the future of the global energy landscape. She has decided to pursue an energy policy concentration as part of her Master of International Affairs degree and hopes to continue working in the industry after graduation.
InternshipPaterno FellowsSchreyer Scholar
Julia Welp
’24
History
|
Political Science
|
Middle East Studies
|
Global Security (minor)
History
Political Science
Middle East Studies
Global Security (minor)
During her eight-week John W. Kluge Center internship at the Library of Congress, Julia collaborated with two Kluge Center Scholars with similar research interests. During her internship, Julia contributed to research examining the Palestinian women’s movement during the 1930s and 1940s, and detailed the life of Dorothy Darby, a Black parachutist and aviator from the 1930s.
AlumniGlobal and International StudiesPaterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarStudent Organizations
Srishti Ponnala
’21
Global and International Studies
Global and International Studies
Srishti graduated from Penn State with an undergraduate degree in global and international studies and is pursuing her juris doctorate at the University of Wisconsin Law School. While at Penn State, the Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar was heavily involved in World in Conversation — an initiative launched at the University in 2002 to spark meaningful dialogue on public diplomacy and advance human capacity to address and resolve societal issues.
Campus LeaderPaterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarStudent Organizations
Lenneya Murray
’25
Criminology
|
Sociology
Criminology
Sociology
A Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, Lenneya has become a leader within the student community since coming to Penn State. She is involved as a member of the Penn State Mock Trial Association and the Penn State Speech and Debate Society, in addition to serving as president of Penn State’s NAACP chapter.
