Academics

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

Coming to the College of the Liberal Arts has really helped ease the stress of paying for college because no one wants that to be their main worry while they're [in Egypt]. I’ve been able to take advantage of so many more opportunities thanks to Liberal Arts enrichment funding and academic scholarships.

Lauren Fetterhoff

Through resume review events and one-on-one career coaching with Career Enrichment Network staff members like Dayna Wenger and Lauren Granese, he was able to refine his graduate school application. “Lauren Granese was especially helpful with my personal statement. The network played a huge role in my application process.”

Nathan Noel

Cameryn joined the Liberal Arts First-Generation Committee, which quickly became a cornerstone of her experience. “Getting involved with the First-Gen Committee changed everything. It gave me community, leadership experience and honestly, I think it’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve been so successful academically."

Cameryn Allen

Being a Chaiken Scholar provides me with another community because as a college student, especially at such a big university, you want to find different spots where you belong. I feel like the Chaiken Center is somewhere where I can just pop in and connect with Chaiken Scholars and other students alike.

Serenity Myers

A lot of the resources from the Chaiken Center have helped me greatly. I know they’ve helped my friends, too. It has been awesome being able to stop by Sparks Building for anything I need from the Student Services offices — whether it’s reviewing my resume or getting extra help with classes.

Jedily Alvarado

Laci serves as vice president of the newly formed Liberal Arts Chaiken Center Pre-Law Group, where she draws on experience working at a law firm and resources she’s gained along the way. With guidance from an alumni mentor — an attorney in New Jersey — she was eager to contribute to the group’s development and support students navigating their pre-law journey.

Laci Moore

Career Enrichment Network

Nathan Noel

’25

Psychology

Sociology (minor)

Psychology

Sociology (minor)

Chaiken CenterFirst-Gen

Cameryn Allen

’25

Psychology

Chaiken CenterStudent Organizations

Laci Moore

’25

Criminology

Psychology

Criminology

Psychology

Career Enrichment Network

Charis Liu

’25

International Politics

Comparative Literature

International Politics

Comparative Literature

The College of the Liberal Arts was integral to making Charis’s internship with the National Bureau of Asian Research happen. She found this opportunity with the help of the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network, and she also received enrichment funding through the Career Enrichment Network to support her time living in Washington, D.C.

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.

The great thing about the Paterno Fellows Program is it provides a great backbone and structure that encourages students to excel and push themselves. It can be hard in a regular environment to approach a professor about a research opportunity, apply for that leadership position you’re not sure you’re cut out for or take the more rigorous class at the risk of a higher workload. With a program like Paterno Fellows, there is a clear, defined goal with the necessary support to reach that goal, which makes it that much easier to take those risks and strive to succeed.

Owen Perry

There were conversations I had through the college that really impacted the way I have conversations now with my peers and with my supervisors. It makes me feel like I’m competent and capable.

Jamie Nguyen

I did a lot of civic engagement back in Philly, so I really found a passion for politics. My academics have allowed me to gather a greater sense of the world around me, both of the world itself, as well as the systems we live under. I’ve really been able to understand how culture impacts us, and I’ve been able to discover the world outside of my circle.

Zion Skyes

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

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.

Campus LeaderPaterno FellowsSchreyer ScholarStudent Organizations

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)

For Cara, a Paterno Fellow and Schreyer Scholar — Penn State was more than just a college choice — it was a legacy. Her parents met as Penn State students in the Blue Band, making it no surprise that she now leads the organization as president during its milestone 125th anniversary.

CriminologyPaterno FellowsPsychologySchreyer Scholar

Kara Stover

’26

Criminology

Psychology

Criminology

Psychology

Kara’s work as a firefighter and her academic path have opened new doors for her future, blending her skills in criminology and psychology with a deep commitment to public service. She said she’s considering fire investigation as a potential career, a path that would allow her to unite her academic background and real-world experience in a meaningful way.

Global and International StudiesPaterno FellowsPolitical ScienceSchreyer Scholar

Zion Skyes

’25

Political Science

Global and International Studies

Political Science

Global and International Studies

With a strong foundation in the liberal arts, Zion is charting a path toward a career in governmental consulting or international law. His leadership as UPUA president and transformative experiences at Penn State have prepared him to make a lasting impact, with plans to further his education at law school.

Campus LeaderPaterno FellowsPolitical ScienceSchreyer ScholarStudent Organizations

Zion Skyes

’25

Political Science

Global and International Studies

Political Science

Global and International Studies

Zion’s desire to get involved and passion for civic engagement led him to joining University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) to learn about the issues that mattered most to the Penn State community. “When I first joined, I served as the State College Borough Council liaison, which allowed me to understand how we as the University interact with the town. I was able to deliberate with people who cared about a variety of issues.” Now, UPUA president, he has two main goals he would like to accomplish: update the 19-credit surcharge at Penn State, which he said will assist in making sure education is accessible to all students and help transition Penn State’s Fostering Lions Program, an organization that aims to “improve postsecondary education outcomes for students entering Penn State from the foster care system,” to a different area of the University where it may be able to more effectively assist students.

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.

Academics

Step inside the classroom

Degree Programs

Departments

Student Services

Nathan Noel

Cameryn Allen

Laci Moore

Charis Liu

Ima Bazan

Ethan Sten

Honors Education

Cara Arnoldi

Kara Stover

Zion Skyes

Zion Skyes

Elisabeth Egeli

Lenneya Murray

Academics

Admissions

Academics

Funding

Beyond the Classroom

Professional Development

Student Services

Admissions

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