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Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the Classroom
Beyond the Classroom
Liberal Arts students and faculty complete archeological research.
Liberal Arts students and faculty complete archeological research.
97
%

of students who apply for enrichment funding receive it.

Take your Liberal Arts education outside the classroom

Out-of-classroom experiences—internships, education abroad, research, student organizations, and other professional development—provide you with the opportunity to use the knowledge you learn in the classroom in real-world settings. In addition to getting you career-ready—one of Dean Lang’s top priorities—these experiences allow you to step out of your comfort zones, cultivate intangible skills, and find your passions. 

In the College of the Liberal Arts, our Student Services offices don’t just help you prepare for and find out-of-classroom opportunities; we also support you every step of the way, including financially. Enrichment funding through the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network is available to fund internships, education abroad, and research. 

Meet with a career coach in the Career Enrichment Network to learn more about out-of-classroom opportunities. 

Internships

Each year, hundreds of Penn State Liberal Arts students complete internships in the private sector, government, and nonprofits. Internships allow students to gain real-world experience by applying what you’ve learned in the classroom. In recent years, our students have interned everywhere from Fortune 500 companies and the White House to local non-profits and government.  

My Washington, D.C., internship was invaluable and inspiring. The experience deepened my understanding of policymaking, connected me with professionals across sectors, and showed me the path I want to follow. I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity Penn State made possible.
Savannah Powder Morris, International Politics and Spanish, Schreyer Scholar
Taylor Needleman, a Criminology major who interned with the U.S. Marshals Service in the summer of 2022, stands in front of the United States Courthouse where she worked every day
Taylor Needleman, a Criminology major who interned with the U.S. Marshals Service in the summer of 2022, stands in front of the United States Courthouse where she worked every day.
Delany Moreno stands in front of a tree at Penn State University Park.
Internship

Delany Moreno

’26
Criminology
|
Political Science (minor)
|
Sociology (minor)
Criminology
Political Science (minor)
Sociology (minor)
Delany completed two internships in the past year. The first was with the Gross Law Firm, a workers’ compensation law firm in Allentown, where she attended court hearings, organized medical records, facilitated litigation cost documentation and provided Spanish translation. The second was with the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, where she helped run a detention hotline connecting detainees with legal staff, translated legal documents and helped with client intakes.
Ahmed Al Saleh stands outside Sparks Building in University Park on a fall day.
Internship

Ahmed Al Saleh

’26
Political Science
Political Science
This past summer, Ahmed had the opportunity to translate his academic studies into real-world experience through an internship with the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco at the United Nations in New York City. There, he assisted senior diplomats in their day-to-day activities, helping to draft reports and summaries for high-ranking officials.
Gianna Martinelli wears a gray sweater while standing against an outdoor backdrop.
InternshipSpanish

Gianna Martinelli

’26
Spanish
|
International Politics
Spanish
International Politics
This past summer, Gianna interned at Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS), a pro bono organization offering legal support to victims of domestic violence. One experience that stood out involved a guardianship intake she shadowed entirely in Spanish, where she realized how critical language skills can be in making legal aid accessible. At DVLS, Gianna found a purpose that merged her interests in law, justice and empathy.
Kayla Lynch holds a graduation cap while standing outside Old Main in a white dress.
Chapel InternsEconomicsInternship

Kayla Lynch

’25
Economics
Economics
Kayla was a participant in the Chapel Executive Internship Program the last two years, which gave her the opportunity to work at future employer Marex. In 2024, she served as a risk management intern, where she worked under senior leadership at the world’s largest privately owned nonbank futures commission merchant and monitored and analyzed the risk of large portfolios while producing daily risk reports of each portfolio.
Morgan Overman stands in front of green, red, and yellow trees while wearing a navy Schreyer Honors College quarter-zip at Penn State University Park.
Internship

Morgan Overman

African Studies
|
Finance
|
International Business (minor)
African Studies
Finance
International Business (minor)
Morgan had a summer analyst internship with Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. (TPH&Co.), the energy-focused business of Perella Weinberg Partners (PWP). As a summer analyst, Morgan was responsible for creating materials for management presentations, organizing due diligence tracking and responses, and conducting background research across verticals.
Ben Lindgren stands in front of the Whole Foods Market logo at company headquarters in Austin, Texas.
Chapel InternsInternship

Ben Lindgren

’26
International Politics
|
Community, Environment, and Development
|
Spanish (minor)
International Politics
Community, Environment, and Development
Spanish (minor)
Ben spent this past summer in Austin, Texas, working in corporate sustainability as an intern with Whole Foods Market and Amazon. In his role, he assessed the sustainability practices of Whole Foods’ private-brand suppliers, from farm operations to processing facilities, in support of Amazon’s company-wide decarbonization strategy.

Education Abroad

Excavate along the Mediterranean Sea. Research in Australia. Develop language skills in China. Every year, thousands of Penn State students engage the world through academic programs, research, service, internships, and cultural immersion. In the College of the Liberal Arts, we believe that global experiences can play an integral role in personal, academic, and career development. International experiences offer students the opportunity to set themselves apart through intercultural competency, expanded resourcefulness, and experience navigating new contexts. 

Liberal Arts students can choose any program offered by Penn State. However, the College of the Liberal Arts curates education abroad programs to fit with our majors. Interested students can explore our faculty-led embedded programs or see what Penn State has to offer 

Three Liberal Arts students embrace and smile at the camera while studying abroad in Spain.
Three Liberal Arts students embrace and smile at the camera while studying abroad in Spain.
Camren Boyogueno stands by the entrance to Sparks Building.
Education Abroad

Camren Boyogueno

’26
Psychology
|
Biology (minor)
Psychology
Biology (minor)
This past summer, Camren expanded her academic horizons abroad, studying in Italy, both in Florence and on the Tuscan island of Elba. The program focused on the effects of climate change on coastal marine life, a departure from her usual focus on human biology.
Penn State student Fatoumata Doumbia stands in a white Schreyer Honors College sweatshirt in front of trees at Penn State University Park in autumn.
Education AbroadSchreyer Scholar

Fatoumata Doumbia

’27
Global and International Studies
|
African Studies
Global and International Studies
African Studies
During winter break her second year, Fatoumata studied sustainable urban redevelopment in Sydney, where she explored how growing cities balance modernization with equity. That spring, she joined other Schreyer Scholars in Bulgaria to examine history, identity and propaganda in media — a course that helped her understand how narratives shape political realities across continents.
Penn State student Fatoumata Doumbia stands in a white Schreyer Honors College sweatshirt in front of trees at Penn State University Park in autumn.
Education Abroad

Fatoumata Doumbia

’27
Global and International Studies
|
African Studies
Global and International Studies
African Studies
As a first-year student, Fatoumata traveled to Benin in West Africa to study linguistics and the struggle to preserve local languages in a country where French remains dominant. The program challenged her prior beliefs about spiritual traditions. One of the most memorable moments, was “a day spent cooking and sharing a traditional meal that highlighted Benin’s strong communal values.” That experience contrasted with the individualism she often experiences in the United States and reminded her of the collectivist traditions she cherishes in Mali.
Gianna Martinelli wears a gray sweater while standing against an outdoor backdrop.
Education AbroadFaculty-Led CourseSpanish

Gianna Martinelli

’26
Spanish
|
International Politics
Spanish
International Politics
During her first year, Gianna’s initial interest in minoring in Spanish quickly grew into a passion. Encouraged by faculty, she applied to a six-week-long summer language immersion program in Ronda, Spain, where she lived with a host family and earned nine credits of Spanish through the College of the Liberal Arts’ Spanish Language and Culture faculty-led course.
Lucy Schilling plays the trumpet in her Blue Band uniform at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Education AbroadSpanish

Lucy Schilling

’26
Spanish
|
Advertising/Public Relations
|
Journalism (minor)
Spanish
Advertising/Public Relations
Journalism (minor)
Lucy hopes to combine public relations and Spanish in her future career, similar to the independent study course she took during her summer education abroad experience in Cadiz, Spain. For the course, she managed the social media page of the faculty-led program she was part of — Spanish Language and Culture — including creating content, scheduling posts and making videos about the group’s experiences abroad.
Zachary Graaf stands on a lawn between Ford Building and Welch Building wearing a blue Penn State t-shirt.
ArabicEducation AbroadEmbedded Course

Zachary Graaf

’25
Political Science
|
Economics (minor)
|
Arabic (minor)
|
Politics and public policy (minor)
Political Science
Economics (minor)
Arabic (minor)
Politics and public policy (minor)
Over spring break this year, Zachary joined the embedded course ARAB 99/499: Youth Life in Egypt, which gave him the chance to immerse himself in the history and culture of Cairo while practicing his language skills. “Studying abroad in Egypt was transformative. It deepened my understanding of the region I’ve been fascinated with for so long and reminded me why I chose Arabic as one of my minors.”

Research

Students and faculty in the College of the Liberal Arts are working on timely and relevant research with impactful, real-world implications. There are many great opportunities for Liberal Arts students to become involved in research with funds available to facilitate or enhance your research project or to work on a meaningful faculty-led research project during the academic year or summer. The experience allows students to develop skills that will be attractive to future employers and can also help students decide whether to pursue a graduate degree.  

Photo of a student holding a device and taking notes.
Seunghee Ham doing research in the Parent-Child Dynamics Lab.
Penn State student Miguel Morazan stands in front of trees at Penn State University Park.
PsychologyUndergrad Research

Miguel Morazan

’26
Psychology
Psychology
Miguel joined the Department of Psychology’s Cognition, Affect, and Temperament (CAT) Lab, he found a meaningful way to connect his academic interests with real-world research. In the CAT Lab, he worked with technologies such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG) while contributing to a project on parent-to-child anxiety. The project resonated with him, offering a chance to better understand how anxiety can be transmitted across generations and how the developing brain responds to connection, resilience and fear.
Simone Warren stands outside with fall trees in the background at Pattee Mall.
Undergrad Research

Simone Warren

’27
Psychology
|
Neuroscience (minor)
Psychology
Neuroscience (minor)
Simone is an undergraduate research assistant at the Dismantling Racial inEquities Around Mental Health (DREAM) Lab. By working on a project examining how discrimination and other cultural stressors impact the mental health of Black and Hispanic youth, Simone has gained hands-on experience and valuable skills that have strengthened her passion for pursuing research roles.
Diana Lopez, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, stands outside wearing a gray zip-up and sporting long black hair parted in the middle.
PsychologyUndergrad Research

Diana Lopez

’26
Psychology
Psychology
Diana began working in the Laboratory for Anxiety and Depression Research during her second year and has since become involved with the Development, Risk, and Resilience Laboratory as well. “It’s really helpful to get research experience and get a taste of what grad school would look like research-wise. Being a research assistant kind of opens up your eyes to what it actually looks like and how the research process is done.”
Cameryn Allen, who graduated Penn State in 2025, smiles wearing a long-sleeve white shirt and glasses.
PsychologyUndergrad Research

Cameryn Allen

’25
Psychology
Psychology
Cameryn has worked in several research labs, including the Survey Research Center in the Social Science Research Institute and the Parent-to-Child Anxiety Transmission Lab and the Gene Environment Interplay Across the Lifespan Lab in the College of the Liberal Arts. “Research teaches you so much more than how to collect and analyze data. It builds leadership, communication, teamwork and project management skills — things you can take anywhere.”
Anna Raquel Duiker, who will graduate Penn State in 2026, smiles while seated, with a flowery wallpaper in the background.
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.
Cara graduated from Penn State in 2025 and will graduate her IUG master's degree program in 2026. She is smiling and wearing a green jacket, white turtleneck blouse and a silver necklace.
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.

Professional Development

It’s never too early to start assessing your strengths and taking steps to develop the skills and tools you need to prepare for your future. By taking advantage of all of the resources the Career Enrichment Network provides to students, you will be better prepared to go out into the world and succeed. 

The Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program connects current undergraduate students with an alumni mentor. Students meet regularly with their mentor who helps them navigate academic, professional, and extracurricular experiences. 

Explore the Alumni Mentor Program

Celebrate and explore the endless possibilities of a liberal arts degree.

From discovering careers in the romance languages and navigating the federal government job market, to learning how to advocate for yourself in the job search and pursuing further education, these events are designed to help you uncover your passions, gain practical skills, and connect your liberal arts education to meaningful opportunities. Join us for workshops, panels, and activities that empower you to turn your passions into purpose and shape your future.

Learn more about Love Liberal Arts Week

The Career Enrichment Network also provides resources to help you develop self-knowledge around career paths, explore occupational and educational information, and strategize your career planning through job applications, interview assistance, and negotiation.

Find more professional development opportunities

Students connect with Dean Lang at the Love at First Sip event during Love Liberal Arts Week.
Students connect with Dean Lang at the Love at First Sip event during Love Liberal Arts Week.
Kenzie Flanders, president of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, leads a meeting of the organization in the fall of 2022.
Kenzie Flanders, president of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, leads a meeting of the organization in the fall of 2022.

Student Organizations

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.  

Additional Opportunities

Paid and volunteer work through student organizations or part-time jobs can be valuable ways to spend time outside the classroom and develop your professional skills.

English classroom photo

Connect with the Career Enrichment Network on social media: 

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