Public and Applied Liberal Arts

Major

How our liberal arts degree delivers results for employers, communities and you

Our new public and applied liberal arts degree is a truly innovative major designed for undergraduate students eager to impact the world's biggest issues with even bigger ideas. This pioneering approach to liberal arts education merges the foundational skills employers want with practical experiences (including internships) that allow you to apply, test and improve classroom concepts in real-world situations. 

The transdisciplinary nature of the program is its secret sauce. Rather than being guided by the concerns of any one academic discipline, the specific issue or problem being tackled guides the teaching, tools and tactics you receive. From big-picture analysis to creative problem-solving, empathetic listening to the craft of storytelling, you’ll put liberal arts skills to work from day one, working in community while also training in an applied field.

Our first two applied fields are Entrepreneurship and Resilient Environments (with future applied fields like Fashion/Interior Design and Game Studies in development).

In practice, you'll pick an area to focus on — like saving the planet (Resilient Environments) or being your own boss (Entrepreneurship). You might use your critical thinking skills to assess ideas for making your organization more eco-friendly, or your writing skills to create a killer business plan!

By the time you graduate, you will have already taken the essential first steps in a rewarding career that makes a real  difference in the lives of others — and your own! 

Highlights of our first-of-its-kind liberal arts program

• Foundation for your future: Master key skills taught in the humanities and social sciences, including cross-cultural awareness, writing, research, storytelling, and textual analysis.
• Apply your learning: Throughout the program — and particularly through internships — you'll have opportunities to put classroom concepts to work as you address contemporary problems with practical solutions.
• Collaboration and communication: Courses prioritize collaborative learning activities, emphasizing the teamwork and problem-solving skills essential for professional success.
• Professional development: Each course integrates elements of professional development, ensuring acquired knowledge translates into relevant career skills and experiences.
• 360° support: All CMU students have access to robust student resources (including academic advising and scholarships) to help you stay on track to graduation.