Auburn College of Liberal Arts 2023 Viewbook
Liberal Arts
Everything we do in the College of Liberal Arts—everyone that passes through our halls, every class taught, every impact that we have on the world—shapes our future. We are the new definition of liberal arts. We are the leaders of it. And we own it together.
We value the pursuit of knowledge because the world is more than just technology and material things. We possess the ability to shape the way technology itself influences and changes society. We construct informed arguments, which consider multiple viewpoints and seek to dissect the cultural and social forces that influence our world.
Students can choose from 46 majors in a range of fields, including the fine and performing arts, communication, humanities, social sciences, health services and aviation.
More than ¼ of CLA students also declare a minor. With 43 to choose from, CLA offers a wide variety of minors to complement any major.
With classrooms featuring clustered seating, glass boards and monitors, students in the Mell Classroom Building at RBD Library can connect their mobile devices and use web-based resources throughout the learning process, creating a more active and personal learning experience.
Majors
- Anthropology
- Art
- Art History
- Art – Studio/Fine Arts
- Aviation Management
- Aviation – Professional Flight
- Communication
- Economics – Primary Track
- Economics – Quantitative Track
- English – Creative Writing
- English – Literature
- English – Professional & Public Writing
- French
- French International Trade
- German
- German International Trade
- Health Services Administration
- History
- International Studies
- Journalism
- Journalism – Sports Production
- Law & Justice
- Media Studies
- Media Studies – Film
- Music
- Music – Commercial Music
- Music – Composition (Technology)
- Music Performance – Instrumental
- Music Performance – Piano
- Music Performance – Voice
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Relations
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Spanish International Trade
- Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences
- Theatre
- Theatre – Design/Technology
- Theatre – Management
- Theatre – Music Theatre
- Theatre – Performance
Minors
- African American & Africana Studies
- Anthropology
- Art – Animation
- Art – Studio Art
- Art History
- Asian Studies
- Aviation Management
- Classics
- Communication
- Dance
- Economics
- English
- English – Creative Writing
- English – Technical & Professional Communication
- French
- French Linguistics
- German
- German Linguistics
- Global Cultures
- History
- Information & Cyber Analysis
- Intercultural Communication
- Italian Studies
- Journalism
- Latin American Studies
- Leadership
- Linguistics
- Media Studies
- Medieval & Renaissance Early Modern Studies
- Philosophy
- Philosophy & Religion
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Relations
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Spanish Linguistics
- Sport Communication
- Sustainability
- Theatre
- Women’s & Gender Studies
Defining Opportunities
“I was always told you’d have to make yourself known to your professors, that they’re not going to know you unless you go talk to them. But I found it to be the opposite. I expected the classes to be so big that they would never know you, but my professors knew all their students. It’s much more personal than I expected it to be.”
— Madison Ogletree, English and History
Photo Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
Photo Editor, The Auburn Plainsman
There are more than 40 CLA student organizations that foster leadership development, enhance the classroom experience and build community.
With a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, CLA students receive personalized attention typical of much smaller liberal arts colleges.
We produce successful business leaders, industry professionals and faculty researchers who work around the world. Internships and practicums enhance your résumé with practical experience desired by employers. Undergraduate research allows access to cutting-edge facilities and the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at the forefront of their respective fields.
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines partner with Auburn to identify, select and develop the next generation of pilots through competitive career placement programs.
A partnership between the School of Communication & Journalism and Auburn Athletics allows students the opportunity to learn about sports production and contribute content to the SEC Network.
Defining Collaboration
Psychology faculty and the Auburn University MRI Research Center are using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology to study how the brain processes emotions and forms memories to better understand disorders like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The health administration program has placed students in prestigious internships with Johns Hopkins, one of the nation’s top hospitals.
“Undergraduate research in the humanities gives students valuable perspectives and skills while they make real contributions to the public good. Archival research explores the history of people and ideas, and how they were remembered (or forgotten). Digital projects allow us to make those communities live again, for our time, and for the future.”
— Dr. Emily Friedman, Associate Professor of English
We foster a culture of creativity in and out of the classroom through a strong belief in the importance of the arts. The arts teach us compassion, speak directly to our emotions and make us more observant of the world around us. The arts encourage new thinking, bold conversations and creative actions necessary for careers in the 21st century.
Defining Creativity
Auburn Theatre productions are free for all students.
From intimate recitals to large concerts, more than 100 music events are held annually.
There are more than 2,500 works of art in the Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art.
The $65 million state-of-the-art Jay and Susie Gogue Performing Arts Center provides students with access to superior artistic programming and world-class performances.
“I have been given the creative liberty to intertwine two seemingly different fields of expertise in a way that has opened up more doors of opportunity than I ever expected. Not only have the arts been an outlet for the stresses of my college life, but they have also presented me with rewarding experiences including travel, performances, continued education and awards for creative research and scholarship.”
— Anne Nelson, Dance and Nursing
We value different backgrounds, unique perspectives and diverse experiences. Because of a deeper understanding of humanity, we thrive in unexpected circumstances and welcome new challenges. We strengthen our ability to solve problems in today’s society by learning how the world’s greatest minds of the past dealt with failure, success, adversity and privilege.
Learning another language enhances your cognitive and analytical abilities and gives you a competitive advantage in today’s global job market. CLA students can receive a minor in a foreign language with as few as 15 credit hours.
The Department of World Languages, Literatures & Cultures offers courses in Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Latin and Arabic.
According to Erasmus Student Network, 64% of employers consider study abroad experience to be important, and 92% of employers look
for transferable skills that are typically gained from the experience, such as flexibility and adaptability.
for transferable skills that are typically gained from the experience, such as flexibility and adaptability.
Defining Global Fluency
CLA offers study abroad and exchange programs in some of the world’s most incredible cities: London, Paris, Vienna and Madrid.
“I studied abroad twice, and it allowed me to experience different cultures through learning, speaking and immersion. Education abroad is a great change of pace that opens your mind to the vast world that we live in while also allowing you to learn about yourself. It presents challenges you cannot find anywhere else, which forces you to grow and develop skills that will be useful throughout your personal and professional life.”
— Isaiah Boaz, German
“I studied abroad twice, and it allowed me to experience different cultures through learning, speaking and immersion. Education abroad is a great change of pace that opens your mind to the vast world that we live in while also allowing you to learn about yourself. It presents challenges you cannot find anywhere else, which forces you to grow and develop skills that will be useful throughout your personal and professional life.”
— Isaiah Boaz, German
We thrive on active engagement and possess a unique desire to leave our world better than we found it. With a keen ability to look at situations from all angles, we are leaders ready to solve today’s most pressing challenges with ingenuity and a respect for others.
Sixteen CLA students have received prestigious Fulbright Awards in the past five years, more than any other college on campus. The Fulbright is one of the most distinguished and competitive fellowship programs in the world.
CLA students have been accepted to graduate school programs at renowned institutions like Harvard, Yale, University of Cambridge and Oxford University.
Defining Leadership
CLA alumni hold executive level positions with some of the world’s best-known companies like Facebook, Google, The Walt Disney Studios, Turner Broadcasting, Chanel, Delta and Wells Fargo.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, 80.1% of employers seek candidates with good leadership skills. In CLA, students have numerous opportunities to develop these skills.
Top campus leadership positions are frequently held by CLA undergraduates. For example, journalism major Jake Haston was elected SGA president for 2022-23, and previously, public relations major Mary Margaret Turton served as SGA president (2019-2020).
“My liberal arts education gave me a foundation in critical thinking, how to write and how to apply the work ethic that I learned as a student in different settings. And that, ultimately, has served me well as a business leader.”
— Stuart Haselden ’92, Political Science
CEO, Arc’teryx
CEO, Arc’teryx
We provide a foundation for success in the 21st century. Technology, artificial intelligence and automation are rapidly shifting the workforce. Jobs that exist today may be gone tomorrow. Navigating this changing environment requires an intellectual curiosity defined by the ability to ask the hard questions and attack problems from multiple perspectives. We give you the tools to define your path to success and impact the world around you.
The American Association of Colleges and Universities reports that 95% of employers prioritize hiring people with the intellectual and interpersonal skills that will help them contribute to innovation in the workplace.
91% of employers say students should have educational experiences that teach them how to solve problems with people who have views different from their own.
Defining a Path to Success
“Attending the CLA Career Trek the spring of my senior year was the greatest gift that I received at Auburn University. Having the opportunity to network and learn from professionals in multiple areas of liberal arts-related professions opened my eyes to incredible careers I didn’t even know existed!”
— Baylee Wynn ’18, Communication
Students in CLA take the course LBAR 2010: Career Preparation, where they learn how to connect their liberal arts degree to career plans, write a cover letter and résumé, craft a personal statement, interview for a job and many other key skills.
Through CLA’s Career Treks, students can meet and interact with business and industry contacts in major cities like Atlanta, Birmingham and Nashville.
“Attending the CLA Career Trek the spring of my senior year was the greatest gift that I received at Auburn University. Having the opportunity to network and learn from professionals in multiple areas of liberal arts-related professions opened my eyes to incredible careers I didn’t even know existed!”
— Baylee Wynn ’18, Communication
Visit Us Today
Experience a day in the life of a CLA student. Contact the College of Liberal Arts recruiter at 334.844.2126 or recruitcla@auburn.edu to schedule a tour and meet with faculty and students. We can help you define your future.
According to a recent analysis by LinkedIn of its own users, liberal arts graduates joined the ranks of tech companies at a faster pace in the past few years than their engineering and computer science counterparts. And of the recent liberal arts graduates the company examined, as many as two in five now work at an internet or software company.
Moving Auburn onward and upward
College of Liberal Arts
1161 W. Samford Ave. Bldg 8, Auburn AL 36849-0001
t: 334.844.4026 . cla.auburn.edu . clanews@auburn.edu
@AULiberalArts
To keep up with the latest news about the College of Liberal Arts, find us on social media.
Produced by the College of Liberal Arts Office of Communications & Marketing, 2023.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.