Division of Arts & Humanities

Letters, Arts, & Sciences, B.A. (LASAL)

Letters, Arts, & Sciences, B.A. (LASAL)

Your future. Your major. Your choice.

Who would be interested in an LAS major?

Students who are:

  • Interested in creating their own interdisciplinary major based on their own interests
  • Building a major based on a "theme" that interests them such as "Peace and Conflict Resolution" or "Medieval Studies"
  • Intending to attend graduate or professional school
  • Seeking a broad Liberal Arts education in addition to specific vocational training
  • Dissatisfied with the narrow focus of their current major

Examples of LAS Majors

About the LAS Major

Students who major in LASAL self-design their own degree by combining three or four academic disciplines in which to take their major courses. They choose from such options as Social & Behavioral Sciences, Humanities, Arts, Science/Math, or Liberal Studies. For example, a student's primary interest might be Business or Information Systems Technology, but she desires a broad Liberal Arts education as well. Or he might wish to focus on Psychology, but would like to include Human Development and Family Studies or Counseling Education courses in his overall plan. Some students in LASAL prefer to develop specialized training, while others put together a unique program such as "The Role of Technology in Contemporary Society" or "Peace and Conflict Resolution"—or an interdisciplinary major such as "Women's Studies," "American Studies," or "Medieval Studies."

What type of students would be interested in an LASAL major? Self-motivated, focused, pre-professional students, among others. Liberal Arts majors are back in demand according to corporate hiring managers who often complain that their newly hired employees lack skills in verbal and written communication and in analytical thinking—talents needed to succeed in any job. An academic major in LASAL may be combined with any of Penn State Altoona's academic minors; it is also an excellent path to graduate and professional school, particularly law school.

Contact:

Dr. Sandra H. Petrulionis
Professor of English and American Studies
Office: 129 Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts
Phone: 814-949-5365
E-mail:
WWW: http://www.personal.psu.edu/shp2