Students can tailor their academic plan by combining the Liberal Arts major with one or more minors.
Drawing on the Mount's nearly one hundred years of excellence in teaching, the Liberal Arts major is an experience that challenges students to explore intellectual interests and talents with the support of community on campus and beyond. Our community of faculty scholars from a variety of disciplines guide students as they mature into broadly educated writers, speakers and learners prepared to embrace the diverse opportunities of twenty-first century life, work and service. Our graduates are rooted in the past, engaged with the present, and empowered to thrive in the future. Students take classes in history, literature, philosophy, and religious studies, as well as the introductory Foundations of the Liberal Arts course, three interdisciplinary seminars, and a culminating class in which they work with faculty on a final project.
The Liberal Arts major combines the fundamental disciplines of English, history, religious studies and philosophy into an intellectual program that enables students to develop research, writing and critical thinking skills. This interdisciplinary degree includes:
- Upper-level, seminar courses and individualized research experiences
- Flexibility in course offerings for easy acquisition of general requirements and chosen electives, as well as co-op experiences
- Group of faculty from a variety of academic disciplines alongside a diverse group of fellow students
- A tailored academic plan that allows students to combine the LA major with one or more minors.
The Liberal Arts major is also listed as a popular choice among adult students as it provides a customizable curriculum applicable to a specific career path with flexible scheduling options, and it works as a great segue into graduate programs. Whether an adult student is looking to finish a degree, enhance his or her education, or change careers, our programs provide flexible learning formats, strong career outlooks, and preparation for graduate school to meet future goals.
Featured Courses:
The centerpiece of the Liberal Arts major is the 300-level seminar. A small group of students work with department faculty to explore topics and issues related to faculty members' expertise. Among popular seminars are the following:
- Addiction and the Spiritual Life
- Aesthetics: The Philosophy of Beauty
- America at Play: Baseball, Bare Knuckles, and Back Seats
- Seriously Funny: The Liberal Art of Humor
- The Loving Friends: The Bloomsbury Group.
Career Potential:
According to a recent article in Fortune magazine, "Employer surveys confirm, year after year, that the skills employers value most in the new graduates they hire are not technical, job-specific skills, but written and oral communication, problem-solving and critical thinking," the very skills and habits of mind the Liberal Arts major develops.
Hands-On Experience:
One or more cooperative education placements enable students to test their skills in a professional environment and gain work experience that will be attractive to employers upon graduation.
Sasha, a junior liberal arts major, co-ops on campus in University Communications. "I craft stories to be published as news posts on the Mount's website or in print publications," she says. "To do this, I attend university events, conduct interviews, and handle professional correspondence. I am asked to use and improve my writing and research skills, professionalism, and creativity."
Liberal Arts students with minors in English or history take education courses and student-teach as they pursue careers in secondary education under the guidance of faculty from the Liberal Arts and Education Departments.
Talented and Dedicated Faculty:
Award-winning teachers, noted scholars, and committed academic advisors--meet the Mount's Liberal Arts faculty. Beyond the classroom, they actively engage students through a variety of clubs and activities, including the online student newspaper and literary magazine, the Drama Club with its annual production, the Ethics Bowl, and yoga sessions. Mount students are their number one priority.
Liberal Arts FAQs
What career options will this degree open up for me? What if I want to teach high school English or history?
Find answers to these questions and more in our Liberal Arts major FAQs.
Related Programs
The Liberal Arts program can be concentrated with one of these minors:
- English Minor
- History Minor
- Creative Writing Minor
- Religious Studies Minor
- American Studies Minor
- Ethics Minor
- Philosophy Minor
- Legal Studies Minor
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Additional Resources
Elizabeth Bookser Barkley
Department of Liberal Arts Chair, Professor of English
Jeffrey Hillard
Professor of English
Elizabeth Taryn Mason
Associate Professor of English
Drew Shannon
Associate Professor of English, Program Director of English minor
John Trokan
Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies
Iris Spoor
Assistant Professor of Philosophy
Michael Sontag
Dean of Arts & Humanities, Associate Professor of Philosophy
Timothy Lynch
Program Director of History minor, Professor of History
Jennifer Morris
Professor of History
Peter M. Robinson
Professor of History
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View a complete listing of tuition, fees, and other costs associated with undergraduate study at the University.
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View a complete listing of tuition, fees, and other costs associated with undergraduate study at the University.
Department Page
Department of Liberal ArtsEmbrace a variety of disciplines to become broadly educated writers, speakers, and learners prepared for diverse opportunities.