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
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
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.
Ethan Sten
The guidance and assistance from academic advisers and faculty within the college helped me navigate the logistics of studying abroad, ensuring a smooth transition and empowering me to make the most of this transformative experience. Their support has been invaluable in shaping this impactful academic journey.
Nina Castillo Schoonewolff
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.”
Nina Castillo Schoonewolff
The Career Enrichment Network is an underrated resource that I would advise Liberal Arts students to take advantage of. They’ll help you narrow down career choices to find those that align with your passions and help you determine a future that is really meant for you. They’ve even helped me with my resume and interviewing skills. The College of the Liberal Arts has really prepared me.
Alexis Kauffman
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.”
Acadmic 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.
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
The Paterno Fellows Program has emphasized the importance of building a global perspective which motivated me to make the decision to study abroad. I was also able to utilize resources, such as academic advising and career coaching, in the process of applying to the program.
Morgan Zipfel
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.
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.
Chapel InternsInternshipPaterno FellowsSchreyer Scholar
Paris Pavelchik
’26
Architechtural Engineering
|
French and Francophone Studies
|
Mathematics (minor)
|
Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation (minor)
|
Music Performance (minor)
Architechtural Engineering
French and Francophone Studies
Mathematics (minor)
Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation (minor)
Music Performance (minor)
Paris, a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, spent her summer in Midland, Michigan as a performance building solutions intern with DuPont. She said her internship experience has allowed her to obtain the knowledge and connections she needs to further her career and work toward her professional goal of working historic restoration projects throughout Europe following graduation.
Chapel InternsEconomicsInternshipPaterno FellowsSchreyer Scholar
Katelyn Davis
’24
Economics
|
Mathematics
Economics
Mathematics
A Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar, Katelyn, used Penn State and College of the Liberal Arts resources to secure a summer internship with Bates White Economics Consulting in Washington, D.C. The Chapel Executive Internship Program provided her with $5,000, which helped cover the cost of living during her summer. “I could fully participate in after-work events as a result of being able to live in a close area. Bates White was unique in the fact that they had a lot of activities and a very tight-knit culture. It made being away from home more comfortable while I was there this summer.”
Paterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarSociologySpanishStudent Organizations
Sean Eden
’25
Sociology
|
Deafness and Hearing Studies (minor)
|
Spanish (minor)
Sociology
Deafness and Hearing Studies (minor)
Spanish (minor)
Sean has found numerous ways to pursue his goals and grow personally during his time at Penn State, from his classes to the organizations he’s involved with, to the content he creates on social media. In addition to amassing over half a million followers on TikTok, Sean is deeply involved in THON and the Penn State Sign Language Organization. He hopes his unique combination of interests will lead him to law school after graduation.
Paterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarStudent Organizations
Brooklynn Jones
’25
Criminology
|
Psychology
|
Sociology (minor)
Criminology
Psychology
Sociology (minor)
Brooklynn has been involved in voting work since attending high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she founded her school’s first voting registration club. When she came to Penn State, she joined the newly formed League of Women Voters. She also informs and activates student voters through her sorority Delta Sigma Theta. “Being politically engaged allows you to be knowledgeable and open to change. At the end of the day, we are the future, and we will be the people in these elected offices later in life. Going out and getting educated about the importance of voting or who’s on the ballot, whether it’s a general election or a primary, is very important.”
