What kind of college is Allegheny?
Allegheny College is a national liberal arts college of 2,100 students. Liberal arts is a shortened form of the term "liberal arts and sciences," and the liberal arts philosophy is a unique feature of the U.S. higher education system. The foundation of liberal arts it to provide a well-rounded academic education that develops the student's verbal, written, and reasoning skills. Small, residential liberal arts colleges are uniquely American institutions that have contributed to making our system of higher education richly diverse and effective. The residential college (where most, if not all, students are housed on campus within walking distance of classes and facilities) offers a personalized education and wide array of campus activities, but the liberal arts aspect provides much more. With an emphasis on the development of skills applicable in many disciplines and settings, a liberal arts education provides general knowledge and intellectual skills, rather than more specialized occupational or professional skills. Over the years, liberal arts has evolved and expanded; however, it still excludes majors that are specific to particular occupations, such as agriculture, business, dentistry, engineering, medicine, pedagogy (school-teaching), and pharmacy. While Allegheny does offer concentrations that may be considered a cross between liberal arts and a professional degree (e.g., compuster science, environmental education, managerial economics), most liberal arts graduates go on to attend more specialized institutions for graduate training.

Welcome from President Richard J. Cook

< A Brief History of Allegheny College | What Makes Allegheny Attractive? >

Updated on 6-26-07*

*The information on this page changes frequently. To ensure that the information you receive on this page is current, please note when the information was last updated. Thank You.