Transforming Industry and Business

Transforming Industry and Business
Transforming Industry and Business

A liberal arts major offers a unique perspective in business, combining critical thinking, creativity, and insights into human behavior.

We prepare you to excel at analyzing market trends, crafting compelling marketing strategies, and promoting inclusive workplace cultures. This interdisciplinary approach fosters innovation and adaptability, equipping you to shape the future of business with key transferable skills like:

  • Communication and Listening
  • Decision Making and Analytical Thinking
  • Attention to Detail
  • Computer and Technology Skills
  • Interpersonal and Social Skills
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Interested in learning more about what you can do with a liberal arts degree?

Future Students

Majors

Explore our degrees designed for those passionate about finance, management, marketing, and more. Our programs will equip you with the skills to excel and turn your business interest into a rewarding career.

Provides a holistic understanding of human cultures and societies. Equips students to address cultural injustices, design equitable policies for diverse populations, and engage in community advocacy with a nuanced perspective.

Explores the justice system, criminal behavior, and societal impacts of crime. Equips students to reform criminal justice policies, advocate for fair treatment, and address systemic inequalities in the legal system.

Analyzes economic systems and their societal impacts. Prepares students to design equitable economic policies, address financial disparities, and advocate for systemic economic justice.

Studies global political systems and diplomacy. Equips students to navigate international justice efforts, advocate for human rights, and shape policies promoting equitable global governance.

Focuses on workplace equity and organizational behavior. Prepares students to advocate for fair labor practices, design inclusive workplace policies, and address systemic inequities in employment.

Analyzes political systems, governance, and public policies. Prepares students to develop equitable legislation, advocate for justice reforms, and contribute to systemic social change through political action.

Studies human behavior and mental processes. Equips students to address social injustices through behavioral insights, develop equitable mental health policies, and advocate for community well-being.

Examines social structures and systemic inequalities. Prepares students to design policies addressing injustice, advocate for marginalized communities, and promote equity in societal systems.

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

  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Highmark Health
  • Amazon
  • Salesforce
  • Volvo Group
  • IBM
  • Consulting firms like Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company

Education Abroad Destinations

Greece

Students enrolled in LHR 499 spent a week in Greece as a part of the “Comparative Labor and Human Resources: The Greek Experience” embedded program. The students explored comparative labor relations and human resource policies between the United States and Greece.
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Sweden

Italy

Spain

United Kingdom

Australia

Post-Graduation Opportunities

  • Law school
  • MBA
  • Graduate school to study clinical psychology, education theory, human resources, human rights, marketing communication research, public administration, and international affairs
  • Entrepreneur/CEO
  • Business Development Manager
  • Human Resources Professional
  • Market Research Analyst
  • Innovation Consultant
  • Corporate Strategist
  • Career Counselor
  • Brand Manager
  • Management Consultant

 

  • Financial Services
  • Technology and Innovation
  • Consumer Goods and Retail
  • Health Care Administration
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Media and Entertainment
  • Energy and Utilities
  • Manufacturing and Industrial Design
  • Real Estate Development
  • E-commerce and Digital Marketing
  • Deloitte
  • UPMC
  • Google
  • Vanguard
  • Amazon
  • Merck
  • Penn Medicine
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
  • U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
  • University of Pittsburgh
Sureaya Inusah

Sureaya Inusah

’23
Economics
|
Art History
Economics
Art History
Sureaya fused tech and product design at an Adobe summer internship. She finds empowerment in people-focused businesses, especially those that cater to their clients in a creative way. She knew from her first year at Penn State that she wanted to go into a professional career that merged data-driven technology with imaginative design.
DanRisser (1)

Dan Risser

’23
Political Science
|
Labor and Human Resources
Political Science
Labor and Human Resources
Dan secured a full-time position at Southwest Airlines after completing a leadership training program internship with the company. Dan explained that the duality of his degrees benefitted him greatly in his internship role. He said, “I attribute all my success to the College of the Liberal Arts.”
Khadesia “Keke” Walker, a 2019 Penn State Liberal Arts alumna.
AlumniEconomicsEntrepreneur

Khadesia “Keke” Walker

’19
Economics
Economics
Keke used her Penn State experience to build an online boutique and create workshops that teach young girls about women’s empowerment. After being diagnosed with ADHD, Keke said there were moments when she felt overwhelmed and alone, but that the experience fueled her purpose as well. “I did not know who to open up to about it, but when I did begin opening up more and sharing my experiences, I realized that many young people were going through the same feelings. My workshops are like an interactive roadmap that leads young girls toward self-confidence, self-discovery and career objectives.”
Alumna Gabrielle Chappel graduated Penn State in 2016 and was a contestant on the reality cooking show “Next Level Chef”.
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.
Taylor Nelson is a 2017 criminology alumnus.
AlumniBusinessCriminology

Taylor Nelson

’17
Criminology
|
Information Systems and Statistical Analysis minor
Criminology
Information Systems and Statistical Analysis minor
One day I might be reading legal contracts and trying to negotiate operating agreements, and then the next I am trying to build a complex financial model in SQL and Excel. I find that in my career I do a whole lot of different things with different skills, but they all come back to critical thinking and problem solving. The College of the Liberal Arts’ flexible curriculum was beneficial.
William Dexter Fowler was selected to represent his major — organizational and professional communication — at the College of the Liberal Arts’ spring 2024 commencement ceremony.
Organizational and Professional CommunicationWorld Campus

William Dexter Fowler

’24
Organizational and Professional Communication
Organizational and Professional Communication
William fulfilled a 20-year-old promise to his dad to complete his college education following his retirement from professional baseball in spring 2024. Studying organizational and professional communication through Penn State World Campus provided William with skills he will use at his production company, Fowlball Productions and 400 Ventures.
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