The Liberal Arts Student Experience
The College of Liberal Arts fosters intellectual development and growth, preparing students to pursue their profession of choice, with more than 170 faculty members and degrees offered in 19 disciplines. Discover what the College of Liberal Arts has to offer to help you achieve your personal and professional goals.
What is Liberal Arts?
The term “liberal arts” comes from the Latin phrase (ancient Greece) “artes liberales” which, when translated, means learning and practicing skills freely. “Artes” or art, should be understood as learned, practiced, and principled skill rather than the colloquial understanding of the term “art” which refers to fine art. The term “liberal arts” refers to fully learning and understanding of a wide range of skills and subjects freely.
The College of Liberal Arts (COLA) offers a rich variety of programs in the humanities and the social sciences.
Being well-educated involves developing an array of intellectual skills, having the ability to use a variety of methods to understand our ever changing world, and having a broad base of diverse knowledge. COLA’s courses and programs are designed to provide such a foundation by creating lifelong learners who can and will adapt to the inevitably changing environments they will encounter.
Five Skills You Can Obtain Through a Liberal Arts Education at UNLV
Communication (Written and Verbal)
Learn to articulate complex ideas with clarity and precision. Through essays and papers, classroom debates and discussions, you will master the art of crafting persuasive arguments and conveying information effectively to diverse audiences.
Critical Thinking
Develop the ability to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and question assumptions. By engaging with diverse perspectives in humanities and social sciences you learn to navigate a world of complex information.
Problem-Solving
Take your knowledge out of the classroom and apply it in real-world settings. A liberal arts education equips you to synthesize ideas from different disciplines, while fostering innovative and resourceful solutions to real-world problems.
Public Speaking
Gain the confidence and skill to present your ideas compellingly in front of an audience. Through seminars, presentations, and collaborative projects, you learn to organize your thoughts, engage listeners, and communicate with poise and conviction.
Community and Cultural Awareness
As a minority-serving institution rich in diversity, students and stakeholders gain access to world-class educational experiences that are tailored to their needs. Situated in vibrant Las Vegas, UNLV provides a unique environment to appreciate difference, foster empathy, and become an engaged citizen.
Explore Experiential Opportunities
College of Liberal Arts students thrive through rigorous classroom experiences as well as robust co-curricular opportunities, including student engagement programs, internships, mentoring, and experiential learning.
Student Involvement and Professional Growth Opportunities
Dean’s Student Advisory Council
Gain leadership experience with this student-led group that serves as the voice for undergraduate liberal arts students in the college.
Internship Programs
Learn about the real world in COLA 402, a course that simultaneously allows students to have an internship while developing their skills in the classroom.
Mentorship Programs
Explore the various mentorship programs the college offers to support liberal arts students throughout their time at UNLV.
Student Support
Career Development
Career Services & Workforce Development provides comprehensive career services and fosters workforce development opportunities that empower students and alumni.
Scholarships
The College of Liberal Arts offers annual department scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a liberal arts degree.
Wilson Advising Center
The Wilson Advising Center provides academic guidance to support student progression in all academic programs within the college.
Writing Center
The Writing Center is designed to help students and staff develop, improve, and transfer writing skills into their academic, personal, and professional lives.
"Thank you, UNLV COLA internship program, for providing me with this opportunity and connection to the Nevada Community Enrichment Program (NCEP). It has changed my life.”Zach Wilcox, ‘25 B.A. Psychology
NCEP Case Manager and Former Intern
Ready to Apply?
Learn more about the admissions process according to the type of student you identify as.
Contact
For more information about the College of Liberal Arts, connect with Mary Rose Stark, our assistant director of student and community engagement, at maryrose.stark@unlv.edu.