College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

The College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences is home to 9 academic departments, offering 25 undergraduate degree options, 6 master’s and 2 doctorates. In addition there is a wide array of minors, concentrations, certificates and other options from which to choose.

The College exemplifies the University’s Promise of providing a global, integrated, and personal learning environment. Unique to the College is the context under which the Promise is provided. The College is the place to explore the social and historical context underlying our current world system; to celebrate the artistic nature and cultural diversity; to understand what it means to be human in the 21st century. The College builds on its unique strengths to offer interdisciplinary courses and programs reflecting the needs and complexities of our world. Beyond that we provide real-life settings and skills so that our graduates move into a variety of careers that allow them to build on the breadth and depth of knowledge they have acquired.

The College has nationally recognized faculty and combines traditional liberal arts studies with real-world, integrative learning experiences through immersion with other cultures, internships, fieldwork, research with faculty, applied learning opportunities, creative endeavors, and Capstone projects.

Founding Dean: Dr. Norah Shultz, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education and Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences.

Campuses and centers: American Graduate School of International Relations and Diplomacy in Paris, France, and Nyerere Centre for Peace Research in Arusha, Tanzania, in cooperation with the East African Community; Behavorial Research Institute; main campus in Glenside, Pa.

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences provides

• Preparation for graduate school, teaching, and careers that contribute to a global society.
• Opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to participate together in service learning and global experiences.
• Opportunities to study abroad at some of the top universities around the world in every discipline (both undergraduate and graduate), including Majors Abroad Programs with a year of study abroad.
• Opportunities to exhibit, perform and publish on campus, with an Art Gallery, a MainStage Theater, online literary magazine, and campus media outlets.
• Integrated study of language and cultures around the world and in the United States, including intensive language programs and immersive culture programs.
• Graduate programs that prepare teachers, writers, artists and international leaders with a global perspective on real-world issues.
• Distinct opportunities for graduate students to engage in problem-solving at the international level and to integrate study abroad into their discipline.
• Expert faculty known nationally and internationally in literary, education, art and international disciplines.
• Internships in a variety of majors and settings.  Students in communications have had internships at Philadelphia Magazine, The City Paper, Radio One, Wired 96.5, WXTU Radio, The Philadelphia Eagles, The Flyers and the Sixers as well as NFL films. The major in Political Science offers opportunities for internships in  Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., British Parliament, Scottish Parliament and more.
• Arts@Arcadia, with a culturally rich menu of internationally known speakers, writers, artists and theater productions—for the campus, for alumni and for the local community.

Contact Us

Phone: 215-572-4009

Academic Affairs
Fall 2009 Newsletter