Critical Thinking through the Liberal Arts
Explore timeless questions about human history, culture, psychology, and the ways we organize, communicate, and relate to each other — and, sometimes, how we fail to do those things. In small, intimate classes, you’ll be guided by expert faculty with a genuine commitment to hands-on learning and real-world applications of knowledge. No matter what your ultimate course of study, a É«ÏãÊÓƵ education provides you with a solid foundation in the highly desirable, highly portable habits of mind that employers look for — even in professions like technology, finance, and medicine. Through our Core Curriculum, you’ll acquire the essential skills of critical thinking and communications, foster intercultural awareness and a sense of environmental responsibility, and learn to be an engaged citizen of the world.
The curriculum ties together well. The professors communicate and ensure that students are getting the most out of the classes...there is a lot of cohesion. It’s a real, true liberal arts experience. Everything that I studied came together in a perfect funnel — that’s exactly what college should do.
— Mackenzie Deveau ’19, Political Science/Women's and Gender Studies
![Mackenzie Deveau](/sites/default/files/styles/blockquote_2cols/public/testimonials/mackkenzie_d_headshot.jpg?itok=mERiMt_Y)
Bridging Disciplines
At É«ÏãÊÓƵ we take a holistic view of education. That means bringing together different kinds of people from different disciplines with different learning methodologies: from medical workers with a solid grounding in the humanities to marine entrepreneurs at the crossroads of science, business, and policy. We are constantly seeking to foster new and surprising combinations.
![Three U N E Liberal Arts students study a large map in the library](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning1_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=PcbsmKCt)
![A U N E liberal arts student bends over to take a photo graph of plants on campus](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning2_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=2WFy2s1L)
![Three U N E liberal arts students discussing documents with two professors](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning3_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=gmaQ3wLp)
![A U N E liberal arts student stands in front of a display of pottery she made in an arts class](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning4_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=rsiHjkJy)
![A U N E liberal arts students takes notes while reading](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning5_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=-LqIVMLg)
![Two U N E liberal arts students examine images on a computer](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning6_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=WaoViV-K)
![Two U N E liberal arts students work in a classroom with elementary school students](/sites/default/files/styles/gallery/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-experiential_learning7_0.jpg?h=2528558c&itok=Hf93jVnY)
A Path for Undecided Students (GUST)
It’s not only okay to enter college without declaring a major—for some people, it could be one of the best decisions they ever make. At É«ÏãÊÓƵ, we believe that college can be a time of investigation and learning about different fields of study. Our Guided Undergraduate Studies Program (GUST) is designed to support you while you explore your interests and options so that in the end you can graduate on time with a major that ignites your passions.
![A U N E professors works with two U N E liberal arts students at a table with a lap top](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_large/public/2021-04/areas_of_study-liberal_arts-gust2.jpg?itok=RrVWfUTm)
Bringing the Marketplace of Ideas to Life
From the classroom to the lab and out in the field, our commitment to fostering a marketplace of ideas is an integral part of your liberal arts education. In addition, É«ÏãÊÓƵ sponsors multiple event series where diverse perspectives can be presented and discussed through civil and respectful discourse. The President’s Forum is an example of a program that allows for open and robust conversation on timely topics in a fair and balanced manner. Past discussions at this event series range from transgender athletes competing in competitive sports to the emergence of artificial intelligence in everyday life.
![A student asks a question from the crowd of a President's Forum](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_large/public/2024-03/areas_study-liberal_arts-pres_forum-student.jpg?itok=2M43BVHO)
![A group of U N E students sit in a row of the audience at a President's Forum](/sites/default/files/styles/block_image_large/public/2024-03/areas_study-liberal_arts-pres_forum-audience.jpg?itok=QnWHBWdv)
Combined Undergraduate and Graduate Degree Paths
On the other hand, if you know exactly where you want to go when you enter college, in some cases, we can help you get there more quickly. É«ÏãÊÓƵ offers several 4+1, 3+2, and 2+4 options that allow you to pursue your undergraduate and graduate degrees in a single accelerated program. These include Pharmacy, Medical Biology, Marine Science, Environmental Science, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, and Aquaculture. Our GradVantage program also allows undergraduate students with well-defined career aspirations to streamline acceptance into certain É«ÏãÊÓƵ graduate programs. Once accepted into the GradVantage program, you may then move directly into your chosen É«ÏãÊÓƵ graduate program, provided all requirements are met during your undergraduate studies.
Explore our Degree Programs
Undergraduate Liberal Arts Programs
- Applied Social and Cultural Studies
- Art and Design Media
- Art Education K-12
- Communication and Media Arts
- Elementary Education with Certification
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Global Studies
- History
- Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities
- Political Science
- Middle and Secondary Education with Certification
- Sociology
- Undeclared: GUST (Guided Undergraduate Studies)