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.
Fatmah Almeer
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.
Elisabeth Egeli
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.
Diana Lopez
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.
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.
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.
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.
