About the College

Message from Dean Debra Moddelmog

The College of Liberal Arts encompasses the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, as well as the School of the Arts and the School of Social Research and Justice Studies. The largest college at University of Nevada, Reno (UNR)-with over 3500 undergraduate majors, 500 graduate students, 200 faculty members, and 45 staff members-the College of Liberal Arts plays a key role in the education of all undergraduate students and provides over 20 majors for undergraduates and an equal number of degree paths for graduate students. Our faculty are also nationally and internationally known for their research and creative activity, and they are equally well respected for being dedicated teachers, with a number of them receiving university and national awards for their excellent instruction in the classroom. In addition to top-notch faculty, we also have (or are in the process of adding) state-of-the-art facilities, such as our 35,000 square foot Fine Arts Building, the construction of which is now entering its second phase. This building will feature a 300-seat recital hall, an art museum, an electroacoustic lab, and soundproof recital space. We are in a growth stage-adding new faculty and buildings, welcoming more students each year-so our College is certainly an exciting place for students to study, pursue research or creative projects/performances, and get involved with other educational opportunities, such as service learning or internships.

A liberal arts education emphasizes inquiry, discovery, and openness to new ideas and perspectives. Through intensive study of a major field and broad exposure to other disciplines, students in the College of the Liberal Arts develop intellectual curiosity, research skills, and the ability to define and solve complex problems. Significantly, this type of education may turn out to be a "useful" or practical choice after all. It prepares undergraduates for professional (law, medical, business, etc.) school or graduate education and for a variety of careers. In our fast-changing world, today's students may expect to change occupations several times over their lifetime; and occupations will themselves transform into new types of work requiring different sets of skills and knowledge acquisition. In this context, it's not surprising that a recent study reports that 74% of employers recommend a liberal arts education as the best preparation for professional and career success in a global economy. A background in the liberal arts thus provides grounding not only for our rapidly changing twenty-first century world of work but also for a satisfying life and for engaged and thoughtful citizenship.

Please take a tour of our website to learn more about our many degree programs, distinguished faculty, amazing students, and accomplished alumni.