School of Liberal Arts Dean: Dr. Karen Erickson Robert Frost Hall 603.645.9692 Fax: 603.645.9779
Mission The liberal arts provide us with the fundamental purpose of education: to learn how to live and work well. A background in the liberal arts thus pays attention both to the growth and development of the individual and to the relationship of the individual to society. Studies in the arts and sciences will (1) stimulate one’s curiosity to cultivate knowledge, elevate conscience to promote moral integrity, and inspire service to support a community we can trust; (2) build individual capacity to face challenge, cope with uncertainty, and contribute to improving the human condition; and (3) lead toward managing a complex world in which we live and work effectively. Educating for the future is problem-solving for the present. As the world’s carrying capacity diminishes, its caring capacity is in greater demand. No individual escapes the call for civic engagement and responsibility. By connecting the humanities, sciences, fine arts, mathematics, technology, and social inquiry, students prepare for a community role that is as central to their individual success as it is to a sustainable society. The liberal arts open the gate to many paths of life and work, and help us to understand the deepest forms of human expression. Liberal arts encourage critical thinking that empowers students to try the new and dare the different. An innovative and vital mind is the highest recommendation for today’s careers.