A liberal arts degree provides the skills necessary to excel in fields like communication, digital marketing, content creation, and language services. By developing strong writing, analytical, and interpersonal skills, you can craft compelling messages, navigate diverse media landscapes, and bridge cultural gaps. Additionally, the broad cultural and historical insights gained through a liberal arts education enable you to create impactful content and strategies that resonate with varied audiences and shape cultural narratives.
A liberal arts degree blends creative expression with critical analysis, fostering key transferable skills essential for influencing culture and media, such as:
- Oral and Written Communication
- Interpersonal and Social Skills
- Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
- Critical Thinking
- Observation and Analysis
- Data Application and Practical Decision-Making
Related Interests
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Interested in learning more about what you can do with a liberal arts degree?
Future Students
Current Students
Majors
Explore our degrees designed for those interested in influencing culture and media.
While this page shows many opportunities and examples of what our students and alumni have done related to this area of interest, this is not an exhaustive list of majors or experiences.
Out-of-Classroom Experiences
Internships
- Minnesota Women’s Press
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Crate and Barrel
- The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
- Hershey Entertainment & Resorts
- Penn State Digital English Studio
- Barash Media
- Mid-State Literacy Council
- Penn State University Press
- Penn State University Libraries
Research Spotlights
Education Abroad Destinations
South Korea
Students spent two weeks in Seoul, South Korea, learning about the country’s rich and ever-evolving culture. “Sociology and Culture in Korea” provided students with a cross-cultural immersion study experience that paired them with students from Seoul’s Konkuk University.
Read the Story
France
Students in FR/JST 197 France and the Holocaust in Film and Literature traveled to Paris for a week.
Read the Story
England
Students spent a month in London studying British works, including those focused specifically on crime and justice, through the “Literary London” faculty-led program.
Read the Story
Chile
Germany
Post-Graduation Opportunities
Continuing Education
- Law school
- MBA
- Graduate school to study journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations, digital media and design, cultural studies, creative writing, film and television production, and sociology
Job Titles
- Journalist
- Travel Blogger
- Podcaster
- Influencer
- Digital Content Strategist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Entrepreneur
- Community Outreach Coordinator
- Social Media Manager
- Cultural Program Manager
- Language Services Specialist
- Nonprofit Communications Director
Industries
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Public Relations and Media Firms
- Digital Marketing and Advertising
- Education
- Government and Public Sector
- Media and Broadcasting
- Cultural Institutions and Museums
- Corporate Communications
- Health and Wellness
- Consulting Firms
Employers
- The New York Times
- National Public Radio
- Wieden+Kennedy
- BBC Media Action
- World Wildlife Fund
- Nike
- Cultural Services of the French Embassy
- HBO
- United Nations Communications
Alumni Career Conversations
Careers in...
Student Organizations
Kyla Pritchett
’25
Psychology
|
Media Studies
Psychology
Media Studies
Kyla is the director of music and audio for “Culture Central,” a student-led television talk show that highlights the experiences of students of color at Penn State. Produced in the Bellisario Media Center and partnered with The Lion 90.7 FM, “Culture Central” fosters collaboration and celebration among students from different backgrounds. Pritchett manages the audio control board for each segment and curates music that reflects the diversity of student experiences.
Sociology
Jamie Nguyen
’24
Sociology
|
Film Production
|
Horticulture (minor)
Sociology
Film Production
Horticulture (minor)
Jamie’s degree in sociology has helped her navigate the entertainment industry. “My pulse in the industry has been uplifting voices of color and just making sure people can share their stories and have that experience.”
Faculty Research
Claire Bourne
Associate Professor of English
Associate Professor of English
Claire M.L. Bourne’s research focuses on book history, textual studies, and how readers—including literary giants like John Milton—interacted with texts over time. She has helped authenticate two rare books as having belonged to Milton, revealing how his marginalia reflect the development of his political and literary thought. Her work sheds light on the lived histories of books and deepens our understanding of early modern reading practices.
Undergrad Research
Caden Vitti
Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) Fellowship Program
Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) Fellowship Program
The PIRE fellowship allowed Caden to travel to Puerto Rico to conduct research on how Spanish-English speakers who use both languages process the use of nonbinary pronouns.
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.
AlumniGlobal and International StudiesSpanish
Gabrielle Chappel
’16
Spanish
|
Journalism
|
Global and International Studies (minor)
Spanish
Journalism
Global and International Studies (minor)
While on the reality cooking show “Next Level Chef”, Gabrielle channeled her Penn State experience and prepared a meal inspired by her education abroad experience in Spain. “Food is a vehicle for learning about other cultures. You can learn a whole history lesson through someone’s cultural dish.” Gabrielle went on to win the cooking competition.