College of Liberal Arts

Explore the College of Liberal Arts

There are a million reasons why you should choose UNH’s College of Liberal Arts. Find out why you belong here.
Undecided on a major?

No problem. Our faculty and staff will help you discover the path that’s perfect for you. Learn more about resources for undeclared students.
Join Your Passion to Purpose

Mel Nagashima ‘22 pursued his passion for supporting diversity by interning at a Boston organization that empowers Asians and new immigrants to thrive. Watch video.
Discover Your Possibilities

Alumna Katie Bouton ’96 was an English and women’s studies major who is now the co-founder and CEO of an executive search firm. COLA taught her to think big for what her life could be. Watch video.

College of Liberal Arts

SOCIAL SCIENCES • HUMANITIES • FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS • EDUCATION

Bring your imagination to life at the College of Liberal Arts (COLA) at the University of New Hampshire. Explore your passions and create your very own path from dozens of majors, minors and graduate programs in the social sciences, humanities, fine and performing arts and education. Immerse yourself in an engaged, innovative community of academic excellence with some of the world’s best faculty leading the way.

Think it sounds amazing? It is.

Programs of Study

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Choose an undergrad program

Choose a grad program

Choose a minor

SEE COMPLETE LIST OF PROGRAMS

DEPARTMENTS

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Find your Future in the College of Liberal Arts

In COLA, you will learn deeply and explore boldly within a collaborative, caring community of thinkers, creators and doers. You’ll connect the dots and put things into a larger context while developing skills that employers want — like critical thinking, complex problem solving and communication. You’ll learn to be creative, nimble and ready to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Get the Facts

Top 10%

best schools for communication, journalism and Music
College Factual

Top 15%

best schools for psychology, drama and theatre arts, and visual and performing arts
College Factual

Top 20%

best colleges for communication
niche

Top 25

Justice Studies, Music and neuroscience Programs by earnings one year out of college
GradReports

Top 100

history and sociology graduate programs
U.S. News and World Report

95%

Recent COLA alumni employed or enrolled in further education
First Destination Survey

63%

Recent COLA alumni who participated in at least one internship at UNH
First Destination Survey

Student Spotlights

Bryson Badeau ‘22

Secondary Theatre Education and Design & Theatre Technology Major

Hometown: Dedham, Mass. What made you choose UNH? I was looking for schools that had a secondary theatre education major and when I visited UNH I fell in love with the campus! I found a place where I could pursue a career in theatre education and, hopefully someday, become a professional theatre...

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Bryson Badeau ‘22

Secondary Theatre Education and Design & Theatre Technology Major

Hometown: Dedham, Mass. What made you choose UNH? I was looking for schools that had a secondary theatre education major and when I visited UNH I fell in love with the campus! I found a place where I could pursue a career in theatre education and, hopefully someday, become a professional theatre...

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Nikki Harnett ‘23

Sociology Major

Hometown: Plymouth, Minn. What made you choose UNH? I play on the Women’s Ice Hockey team here at UNH, so recruitment was a big part of my choosing process. I stepped onto the UNH campus when I was 15, and it just felt like home. I knew I was going to spend my college years here. Durham is awesome...

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Nikki Harnett ‘23

Sociology Major

Hometown: Plymouth, Minn. What made you choose UNH? I play on the Women’s Ice Hockey team here at UNH, so recruitment was a big part of my choosing process. I stepped onto the UNH campus when I was 15, and it just felt like home. I knew I was going to spend my college years here. Durham is awesome...

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Maxwell Lalos '25

Music Education Major

Why did you choose UNH? I chose UNH because it was a school I felt very comfortable with. There was so much vibrant energy when I first visited UNH, and it helped me fall in love with the program. As well, I loved that I could get involved in anything and everything. It feels like there is a club...

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Maxwell Lalos '25

Music Education Major

Why did you choose UNH? I chose UNH because it was a school I felt very comfortable with. There was so much vibrant energy when I first visited UNH, and it helped me fall in love with the program. As well, I loved that I could get involved in anything and everything. It feels like there is a club...

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Thomas McDonough '22

Political Science and International Affairs Majors

Originally from Lowell, Mass., Tom McDonough selected UNH for its inviting sense of community. A political science and international affairs major, he will also be pursuing a master’s degree in political science at UNH. “I decided to study political science and international affairs because they...

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Thomas McDonough '22

Political Science and International Affairs Majors

Originally from Lowell, Mass., Tom McDonough selected UNH for its inviting sense of community. A political science and international affairs major, he will also be pursuing a master’s degree in political science at UNH. “I decided to study political science and international affairs because they...

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Kasey Birth '22

History Major

During her time in COLA, Kasey Birth has parlayed her passion for World War II history into a multi-year internship, fascinating research opportunities, academic recognition and more. The history major interned for a full year at the Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro, N.H., her hometown....

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Kasey Birth '22

History Major

During her time in COLA, Kasey Birth has parlayed her passion for World War II history into a multi-year internship, fascinating research opportunities, academic recognition and more. The history major interned for a full year at the Wright Museum of World War II in Wolfeboro, N.H., her hometown....

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Alumni Spotlights

Alumni

Lori Robinson '81

English Major | Retired U.S. Military General

Following in her father’s footsteps, General Lori Robinson ‘81 came to the University of New Hampshire and developed newfound confidence and lifelong connections. Watch Video.

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Alumni

Lori Robinson '81

English Major | Retired U.S. Military General

Following in her father’s footsteps, General Lori Robinson ‘81 came to the University of New Hampshire and developed newfound confidence and lifelong connections. Watch Video.

Learn More
Alumni

Eric Thomson '93

Philosophy Major | Bioinformatics Scientist at NIH

Why did you major in philosophy? I majored in philosophy because it was the only discipline where we could explicitly tackle certain meta-level questions that don’t get addressed elsewhere. For instance, what is science and how do we differentiate it from other disciplines? Why is quantum mechanics...

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Alumni

Eric Thomson '93

Philosophy Major | Bioinformatics Scientist at NIH

Why did you major in philosophy? I majored in philosophy because it was the only discipline where we could explicitly tackle certain meta-level questions that don’t get addressed elsewhere. For instance, what is science and how do we differentiate it from other disciplines? Why is quantum mechanics...

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Alumni

Bridget Keaveney '19

Communication: Media Practices Major | Content Coordinator, Vimeo

I'm currently working as the content studio coordinator on the social team at Vimeo, a SaaS video company and platform based in NYC. (Well, we're a global company. But that's where our headquarters is located!) My job is to manage and execute the social media strategy for all of Vimeo's core and...

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Alumni

Bridget Keaveney '19

Communication: Media Practices Major | Content Coordinator, Vimeo

I'm currently working as the content studio coordinator on the social team at Vimeo, a SaaS video company and platform based in NYC. (Well, we're a global company. But that's where our headquarters is located!) My job is to manage and execute the social media strategy for all of Vimeo's core and...

Learn More
Alumni

Jake Lamontagne '14

Geography Major | Aerospace Research Analyst

What are you currently doing for work and how did you get to this point? I'm a research analyst at MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace. I perform research activities for one of the largest manufacturers of aerospace bearings in the world. These activities include compiling monthly reports for 9 factories in 5...

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Alumni

Jake Lamontagne '14

Geography Major | Aerospace Research Analyst

What are you currently doing for work and how did you get to this point? I'm a research analyst at MinebeaMitsumi Aerospace. I perform research activities for one of the largest manufacturers of aerospace bearings in the world. These activities include compiling monthly reports for 9 factories in 5...

Learn More
Alumni

Blair Rowlett '05

Psychology and Justice Studies Majors | Director of the Mental Health Community Supervision Programs

What were you doing 1 year out of college? One year out of college I was working as a correctional officer at the Strafford County House of Corrections. I had been working on campus while I attended classes, but when I graduated I had no prospective job offers in my field. I was aiming higher than...

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Alumni

Blair Rowlett '05

Psychology and Justice Studies Majors | Director of the Mental Health Community Supervision Programs

What were you doing 1 year out of college? One year out of college I was working as a correctional officer at the Strafford County House of Corrections. I had been working on campus while I attended classes, but when I graduated I had no prospective job offers in my field. I was aiming higher than...

Learn More

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Upcoming Events

Jul

07

COLA Fellow Presentations

Please join us as we hear from our COLA Fellows from the Global Racial and Social Inequality Lab. Students will present their work that they completed at our partnering host sites below. Event is ...