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.
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
College Factual
Top 15%
best schools for psychology, drama and theatre arts, and visual and performing arts
College Factual
College Factual
Top 20%
best colleges for communication
niche
niche
Top 25
Justice Studies, Music and neuroscience Programs by earnings one year out of college
GradReports
GradReports
Top 100
history and sociology graduate programs
U.S. News and World Report
U.S. News and World Report
95%
Recent COLA alumni employed or enrolled in further education
First Destination Survey
First Destination Survey
63%
Recent COLA alumni who participated in at least one internship at UNH
First Destination Survey
First Destination Survey
Student Spotlights
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Computer Science Major Working in Psychology LabIn the summer 2025, Daniel Sixon had the opportunity to conduct research in the UNH Vision Lab with psychology professor Ömer Dağlar Tanrikulu. Using a Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP) grant, this computer science student brought his experience and expertise to the Vision Lab demonstrating the cross-collaboration that is possible (and likely to happen!) at UNH.Learn More -
Officer Chloe Scott spent the day back in UNH Professor Kirk Trombley’s Intro to Justice Studies class—a course she once took as a UNH student!She walked students through real-life scenarios covering the 4th and 5th Amendments, including post-arrest…Learn More -
The 2025 New England Museum Association Conference was in Manchester, New Hampshire this year. Current UNH Museum Studies students attended, along with several Museum Studies alumni! Visit the link below to learn more about NEMA.Learn More -
Dr. Trica Peone, project director for New England's Histories in the Congregational Library & Archives, studies early witchcraft cases and was recently featured in an article in the Boston Globe.Boston Globe Article: Tricia…Learn More -
Linda Upham-Bornstein, Research Assistant Professor in the Department of History, was recently interviewed about “tax strikes” during the Great Depression for an article in Mother Jones: “Sorry Geese: If You Don’t Pay Your Taxes, Uncle Sam Might Have You Plucked.”Learn More
Alumni Spotlights
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English Major | Retired U.S. Military GeneralFollowing 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 -
Philosophy Major | Bioinformatics Scientist at NIHWhy 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 so damn weird? How do conscious experiences relate to brain processes…Learn More -
Communication: Media Practices Major | Content Coordinator, VimeoI'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 B2B social media channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest).Learn More -
Geography Major | Aerospace Research AnalystWhat 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…Learn More -
Psychology and Justice Studies Majors | Director of the Mental Health Community Supervision ProgramsWhat 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 I should have been and eventually came to the conclusion that I needed…Learn More
Recent Stories
Mayer Receives Distinguished Professor Award for 2025
Mayer Receives Distinguished Professor Award for 2025
Psychology professor dubbed 'a bit of a rock star' by colleague in nomination
Article
A Space to Heal: How a ‘Lifeline’ of Support at UNH Helped Student Rebuild After Crisis
A Space to Heal: How a ‘Lifeline’ of Support at UNH Helped Student Rebuild After Crisis
Belanger ’26 grateful to basic needs program, donors for helping her thrive in the face of significant challenges
Article
New UNH Certificate Prepares Social Workers to Support Student Mental Health
New UNH Certificate Prepares Social Workers to Support Student Mental Health
CHHS launches online trauma-informed graduate certificate to help address statewide workforce gap
ArticleUpcoming Events
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Feb19
3:40pm - 5:00pm, Location: McConnell Hall, 220. Featured Speaker: Dr. Kate Nussenbaum, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University.Topic: TBDTeams: Join the meeting now Reception to follow in MCC 456.
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Feb197:00pm - 7:00pm, THE 2026 UNH DANCE COMPANY CONCERTDirected by Assaf Benchetrit & Gay Nardone; Choreographed by Assaf Benchetrit, Susan Endrizzi, Mary Beth Marino and Gay Nardone Three distinct dance works come together to explore transformation, resistance, and release. In Pirates, women rise against myth and history in a bold retelling of rebellion at sea. Peter and the Wolf reimagines a childhood classic as a coming-of-age tale, where innocence meets bravery. Lady and Bird traces th...
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Feb207:00pm - 7:00pm, THE 2026 UNH DANCE COMPANY CONCERTDirected by Assaf Benchetrit & Gay Nardone; Choreographed by Assaf Benchetrit, Susan Endrizzi, Mary Beth Marino and Gay Nardone Three distinct dance works come together to explore transformation, resistance, and release. In Pirates, women rise against myth and history in a bold retelling of rebellion at sea. Peter and the Wolf reimagines a childhood classic as a coming-of-age tale, where innocence meets bravery. Lady and Bird traces th...
