Mission

The upcoming School of Applied Liberal Arts uses interdisciplinary education to develop socially responsible citizens and leaders. Our students learn how to lead with ethical values, empower communities, tell good stories and decipher data — all to become changemakers, entrepreneurs, community-focused leaders and dynamic team builders. The school is currently in development and we can't wait to welcome our inagural class.

School values

Two people discuss a project displayed on a tablet.
Ingenuity
Ingenuity
A hand pats dirt over a plant in the ground, with a shovel to the side.
Reciprocity
Reciprocity
A group of people stand behind pink recycling bins.
Socially responsible leadership
Socially responsible leadership
A student sits at a table, shaking hands with a person out of frame.
Cooperation
Cooperation
Students work on a project at a table with prison inmates.
Justice and equality
Justice and equality

Visionary: Be a thought leader.  

Advocate: Be a community leader. 

Innovator: Be an industry leader.

What sets the School of Applied Liberal Arts apart?

Interdisciplinary and customizable degrees

Classes span a variety of disciplines and students can pursue different concentrations to create a unique pathway emphasizing their interests and career goals. Course topics and formats rotate regularly.

Hands-on and community focused learning
The school integrates internships, service-learning and project-based learning into our curriculum.  Students collaborate with faculty and community partners on a variety of initiatives to earn valuable hands-on experience.
Creative teaching opportunities and experiences for faculty
The school offers interdisciplinary classes that may be co-taught or creatively designed to emphasize the school’s values. Faculty who are interested in collaborating with others and/or designing innovative and applied classes should contact Director Dr. Megan Morrissey to learn more.

Who are our students?

A student sculpts a ceramics project at a table.
Creative
Our students want to work across and between traditional disciplinary boundaries.
A group of students in suits give a presentation.
Leaders
Our students want a translatable skill set that will let them stand out among their peers.
A person speaks at the head of a boardroom table.
Practical
Our students want competencies that align with real jobs and allow them to advance.
A woman presents a research poster at a scholarship conference.
Critical Thinkers
Our students want to understand and explain contextual complexities in their work.
A group of students surround a computer, working on a project together.
Collaborators
Our students want the oppourtunity to think and work with others across areas.

Career-ready competencies

Skills learned in the School of Applied Liberal Arts align with National Association of Colleges and Employers' career readiness foundation
Dr. Megan Morrissey
Director, School of Applied Liberal Arts
940-565-2098