Auburn College of Liberal Arts 2026 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 48 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 42 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 History
- Art – Studio/Fine Art
- Aviation Management
- Aviation – Professional Flight
- Communication
- Economics – Primary Track
- Economics – Quantitative Track
- English – Creative Writing
- English – Literature
- English – Professional & Public Writing
- Film & Media Studies
- Film & Media Studies – Film Option
- 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
- Arts Administration
- Asian Studies
- Aviation Management
- Classics
- Communication
- Dance
- Economics
- English
- English – Creative Writing
- English – Professional & Public Writing
- French
- French Linguistics
- German
- German Linguistics
- Global Cultures
- History
- Intercultural Communication
- Italian Studies
- Journalism
- Latin American Studies
- Linguistics
- Media Studies
- Medieval & Renaissance / Early Modern Studies
- Music Business
- Philosophy
- Philosophy & Religion
- Photography
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Administration
- Public Relations
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Spanish Linguistics
- Sport Communication
- Theatre
- Women’s & Gender Studies
Defining Opportunities
“Auburn has taught me independence, maturity, how to advocate for myself and how to get comfortable with doing things out of my comfort zone. It has taught me how to navigate the real world to my best potential.”
— Lonyla Henton ’25, Psychology
There are more than 60 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 resume 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 of the future.
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 was given the creative liberty to intertwine two seemingly different fields of expertise in a way that opened up more doors of opportunity than I ever expected. Not only were the arts an outlet for the stresses of my college life, but they also presented me with rewarding experiences including travel, performances, continued education and awards for creative research and scholarship.”
— Anne Nelson ’21, 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, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
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.
CLA offers study abroad and exchange programs in some of the world’s most incredible cities: London, Paris, Brussels, Rome and Madrid.
Defining Global Fluency
CLA offers study abroad and exchange programs in some of the world’s most incredible cities: London, Paris, Brussels, Rome and Madrid.
“Through all these languages and learning to think like a linguist, I have traveled the world, met wonderful friends in the most unlikely of places and have seen literally dozens of lives physically rescued and restored as a direct result of my language education.”
— Michael Frack ’16, German & Italian Studies, U.S. Coast Guard
“Through all these languages and learning to think like a linguist, I have traveled the world, met wonderful friends in the most unlikely of places and have seen literally dozens of lives physically rescued and restored as a direct result of my language education.”
— Michael Frack ’16, German & Italian Studies, U.S. Coast Guard
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.
CLA students have received more prestigious awards such as Fulbright, Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships than any other college on campus.
CLA students have been accepted to graduate school programs at renowned institutions such as 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, including Facebook, Google, The Walt Disney Studios, 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, Owen Beaverstock, who was SGA president for the 2025–26 year, was a Honors Business and Political Science double major.
“A Liberal Arts degree doesn’t narrow you to one technical track. Instead, it trains you to read situations, understand people, ask better questions and make a case for your ideas. Critical thinking, writing, speaking, collaboration and curiosity are not ‘soft’ skills. They are leadership skills and the foundation of many successful careers. They translate everywhere.”
— Bradley DeBose ’10, Associate, Urbahn Architects
We provide a foundation for lifelong success. 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.
96% of employers say it is useful for graduates to have developed the ability to engage in constructive dialogue across disagreement while in college.
94% percent of employers believe colleges and universities should help students become informed citizens.
The 2025 American Association of Colleges and Universities survey found strong alignment between the outcomes of a liberal education and the skills and dispositions employers view as essential for success in entry-level jobs and for advancement in their organizations.
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 resume, 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
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.
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
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Produced by the College of Liberal Arts Office of Communications & Marketing, 2026.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.
Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.