Explore all of the academic departments and programs with the College of Liberal Arts.
Our wide array of academic departments and programs offer students a variety of dynamic courses, research opportunities, options for experiential learning and internship possibilities. College of Liberal Arts students and faculty share a special bond. Our student-to-faculty ratio is 11-to-1, which means you'll get more one-on-one time than anywhere else.
The College of Liberal Arts' Department of Africology and African American Studies presents students with an ongoing synthesis of the best research and scholarship on historical, cultural, scientific and economic issues confronting African people. Students gain and expand a new worldview based on the African diaspora and African American experiences. With people of African descent living across the globe, the Department of Africology and African American Studies exposes students to their diversity of racial, national, ethnic and social issues.
Temple University's Department of Anthropology offers programs of study at both undergraduate and graduate levels that help students hone marketable skills—including formulating hypotheses, developing research programs and proposals, and applying theories to the interpretation of data.
Asian Studies draws on the resources of many departments to provide a comprehensive program of study on Asia (especially East Asia). Majors in the Asian Studies Program may concentrate on a geographic area, field or theme(s). By combining language with the study of politics, history, society, art, religion, philosophy and literature, each student can construct a major tailored to his or her individual interests. The curriculum gives students a foundation for living or working in Asia, or continuing their studies through developing a knowledge base, cross-cultural sensitivity, analytic thinking, and communication and writing skills in English and Asian languages.
The Department of Criminal Justice is committed to deepening our understanding of crime, governance and social justice. Students often debate issues such as police legitimacy, victims’ rights, mass incarceration, fairness in sentencing and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as a wide variety of other topics. Criminal justice majors make a difference by working in various criminal justice agencies, becoming attorneys and attending graduate school.
The Department of Economics provides rigorous training that is valuable in the competitive labor market and a strong basis for graduate studies in business, law and the social sciences. Temple University economics degrees and certificates provide the foundation for many other academic and professional disciplines, such as management, marketing and finance. Economics is oriented around solving real-world problems—not merely memorizing facts.
The Department of English teaches students to read and write with clarity, precision and imagination by exploring linguistic practices and literary traditions in Britain, the United States and the English-speaking world—with added attention to the film, video and photography. English majors and minors acquire analytical and writing skills that can support a wide range of careers in cultural, financial and governmental institutions, as well as nongovernmental and for-profit organizations. A concentration in English can not only lead to advanced study in English literature and other academic fields but can also prepare students to enter arts and public administration, business, law, and politics, where their skills stand to make a difference.
Creative Writing Program
Students in the Creative Writing MFA Program, work closely with faculty to develop your craft through small workshops, one-on-one tutorials and special topics in creative writing and literature.
The Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies program, offers degree programs, certificates and minors and welcomes students interested in an intersectional approach to gender, sexuality, race and other key identities and the consequences these intersections have in people’s lives. Our courses range from foundations in gender, sexuality and women’s studies to gender violence to LGBTQ activism and theory. As an interdisciplinary program housed in the College of Liberal Arts, we explore the many variables that contribute to women's experience as a social group; gender as an analytical category; and the social, political and cultural functioning of sexuality.
The Department of Geography, Environment and Urban Studies teaches students how to comprehend and overcome environmental, political, social and economic challenges affecting our rapidly urbanizing world. We offer a BA, MA and PhD in geography and urban studies. These programs combine interdisciplinary coursework, strong research skills and technical training to prepare our students to address pressing issues in globalization, sustainability and social justice. Our students land competitive, meaningful jobs upon graduation in nonprofit, governmental and private sectors including the geospatial technology industry.
Temple University College of Liberal Arts’ interdisciplinary Global Studies program features an undergraduate major and minor. The program brings together over a dozen fields of study, focusing on global security, economy and cultures. The major is further complemented by intensive foreign language instruction, unique study abroad experiences and internships to prepare our students for their global careers.
Students in the Department of Greek and Roman Classics study the cultures and languages of two major civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world with award-winning faculty.
The College of Liberal Arts' Department of History teaches students skills useful for any career, like high-level critical thinking, wide-ranging analytical skills and great writing. The department includes over 30 faculty members, 400 history majors, and more than 100 master's and PhD students. We train executives, lawyers, politicians, educators, preservationists and tomorrow’s historians. Plentiful regional resources and acclaimed research centers ensure Temple University has a prominent voice in global conversations about the past.
American Studies Program
Student in the American Studies program explore patterns and connections in U.S. life. We look at the big themes—such as labor, mobility, migration, art, place, race, gender and play.
Studying the humanities is paramount to any well-rounded college education. At Temple University, the College of Liberal Arts’ Intellectual Heritage program is a pair of core humanities courses that all Temple undergraduates take. Students closely read fine works of literature from both the ancient and modern world, expanding their worldview and introducing them to college-level research and analysis skills.
The College of Liberal Arts' Latin American Studies (LAS) program offers a dynamic, multilayered and flexible approach to learning about the cultures, languages, societies, politics and economies of Latin America. Taught by award-winning faculty, our classes explore Latin America as a crucial global framework and as a strategic player, exploring pivotal issues in such disciplines as history; sociology; anthropology; art history; religion; Spanish and Portuguese; U.S. Latino studies; film studies; literature; musicology; political science; global studies; media and communication studies; women’s and gender studies; critical race, immigration and diaspora studies; and Africana and africology studies.
Temple University’s Liberal Studies program is designed to accommodate working adult learners. The degrees that wee offer are affordable, flexible and interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate studies programs. Take advantage of these life-friendly offerings and complete your college degree.
The Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers:
Degree Offerings
Certificate Offerings
Temple’s Neuroscience program in the College of Liberal Arts teaches students to explore neural and brain function at multiple levels in a rapidly growing field. Our students study the neural basis of addiction, developmental disorders, ADHD, depression, anxiety and age-related disorders, among other fields. Our interdisciplinary curriculum allows students to take coursework in multiple departments at Temple, while engaging in the study of one of the most dynamic areas of science.
What is knowledge? Reality? Existence? Morality? The College of Liberal Arts’ Department of Philosophy pursues answers to the nature of these questions, conducting research and teaching courses to form theoretical knowledge bases. By formulating these theories, our students and faculty uncover insights into modern life in a globally connected information age. Whatever your interests, the department offers relevant courses and outstanding faculty members.
The Department of Political Science’s students do more than study politics—they actively participate in it. From the College of Liberal Arts’ Capital Semester in Harrisburg to a course where you intern on a real campaign, our program is ideal for students ready to get to work from day one. The department is the ideal home for students interested in politics; international affairs; and important issues like healthcare, the environment and civil rights. You’ll study political theory and debate how power and resources should be allocated in society.
The Department of Psychology and Neuroscience has a threefold mission: to answer questions on the cutting edge of psychology research, to provide training to undergraduate and graduate students in the broad fields of psychology, and to provide individuals and the community with psychological services based on the best current practices in psychology. Students are encouraged to develop applied skills through focused experiential learning in research laboratories and through community-based internships.
Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program
The Master of Public Policy (MPP) program offers an affordable education just steps from Philadelphia’s City Hall at Temple’s Center City Campus with evening classes. Whether you’re a recent college graduate or you’ve already started a career, the MPP program combines a robust research environment and real-world experience to help students learn the technical and analytical skills needed for successful careers in nonprofit organizations, or in the private or public sector.
The College of Liberal Arts' Department of Religion takes a scholarly approach to studying the world’s major religions. The department studies not just the tenants of these religions, but how and why they came to be and what their impact is on everything from people’s faiths to societal norms, historical developments and international relations.
How do societies develop and function and how are they structured? These are the central questions that sociology asks. The Department of Sociology at the College of Liberal Arts continually endeavors to find better answers to these questions, empowering its students and faculty to contribute to positive societal developments. Temple’s sociology degrees offer you the chance to acquire the skills you need to navigate these challenging times.
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese is a unique and vibrant community of students and faculty at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Students study the cultural, historical, literary and linguistic aspects of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking worlds in order to navigate a complex, increasingly globalized world with strong critical thinking and communication skills.