Liberal Arts Guide

The following is the academic advising information for the College of Liberal Arts (COLA).

The College of Liberal Arts offers programs of study leading to the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of music, and a bachelor of fine arts (not available to first-year students). The college’s programs and degree requirements ensure both a broad liberal education and intensive specialization in a major field. Opportunities also exist for combined courses of study.

Language Placement Surveys 

Placement surveys are available in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Spanish. If you have studied these languages in high school and plan to continue to study the same language at UNH, please take the language placement survey before your orientation session. Your advisor will receive the results of your survey.

Language Placement Surveys

Choosing First-Semester Courses

  • A sample selection of courses is listed below for each major. In every case, there is an opportunity for choosing some courses that satisfy the university’s general education requirement (called the Discovery Program).
  • Unless you receive AP English credit, you will be required to take first-year writing (ENGL 401) in your first year.
  • A semester course load usually consists of four 4-credit courses and possibly a 1-credit seminar.
  • First-year students usually take courses numbered in the 400s and 500s.
  • All B.A. degree candidates should complete their foreign language proficiency/requirement in the first year of study. It must be completed by the end of their sophomore year
  • Courses in other colleges are open to you to choose from; you do not have to restrict yourself to liberal arts courses.
  • Students interested in a health professions (pre-medical, pre-dental, etc.) career should review the suggested courses by health profession. UNH has no pre-med major at UNH but the pre-health advisor can guide you through the application process.
  • While UNH does not have pre-law major, the pre-law advisor does work with interested students. Interested students can speak with an advisor at Orientation.

Select a major below to learn specific major information for first year June orientation. 

ANTH 411 – Global Perspectives: Introduction to Anthropology or ANTH 412 – Adventures in Archaeology

  • ARTS 480 – Introduction to Art History
  • ARTS 532 – Introductory Drawing

  • ARTS 480 – Introduction to Art History
  • ARTS 532 – Introductory Drawing

  • GREK or LATN each according to eligibility (placement will be determined by an advisor at June orientation)
  • Any 400 or 500 level CLAS course

Students should take one of the following:

  • CMN 455 – Introduction to Media Studies
  • CMN 456 – Propaganda and Persuasion
  • CMN 457 – Introduction to Language and Social Interaction

​​​​​​​Educational Studies: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion majors and Educational Studies dual majors should take:

  • EDUC 402 – Introduction to Educational Studies

Others who are interested in Elementary and Secondary education: During the second year, students investigating a career in teaching should take EDUC 500/Exploring Teaching. This is a required introductory course for most teacher education programs. For more information, consult the Undergraduate Catalog section on Education and see the education department’s teacher education coordinator, in Morrill Hall.

  • ENGL 401 – First-Year Writing
  • If you have AP/Transfer credit for ENGL 401, take one of the following:
    • ENGL 419 – Introduction to Literary Analysis
    • ENGL 534 – 21st Century Journalism: How the News Works

  • Appropriate placement determined at orientation
  • Students should take the placement test prior to June orientation, details above

Students should take one of the following

  • GEOG 401 – Regional Geography of the Western World
  • GEOG 402 – Regional Geography of the Non-Western World
  • GEOG 473 – Elements of Weather

  • Appropriate placement determined at orientation
  • GERM 525 – Introduction to German Culture and Civilization

Any 400-level History course

  • HLS 410 - Introduction to Homeland Security
  • HLS 415 - Fundamentals of Corporate Security
  • HLS 455 - Introduction to CyberSecurity

  • HUMA 401 – Introduction to Humanities
  • and/or one course from HUMA 510-515 sequence

Appropriate placement determined at orientation

  • IA 401 – International Perspectives
  • Foreign Language 

  • JUST 401 – Introduction to Justice Studies
  • Justice Studies elective course

  • LING 405 – Introduction to Linguistics
  • LING 444 – Language Matters in America (when offered)

  • MUSI 471 – Theory I
  • MUSI 473 – Ear Training I
  • MUSI 475 – Functional Piano I*
  • MUSI 745 – Voice or MUED 751 – Techniques and Methods in Percussion
  • 1 credit from MUSI 441- MUSI 460 (to be discussed with advisor)
  • 1 credit from MUSI 541-564 (to be discussed with advisor)

*appropriate placement determined at orientation

  • MUSI 471 – Theory I
  • MUSI 473 – Ear Training I
  • MUSI 475 – Functional Piano I*

*appropriate placement determined at orientation

Bachelor of Arts

  • MUSI 471 – Theory I
  • MUSI 473 – Ear Training I
  • MUSI 475 – Functional Piano I*

*appropriate placement determined at orientation

Bachelor of Music

  • MUSI 471 – Theory I
  • MUSI 473 – Ear Training I
  • MUSI 475 – Functional Piano I*
  • 1 credit from MUSI 441-460 (to be determined with advisor)
  • 3 credits from MUSI 541-564 (to be determined with advisor)

*appropriate placement determined at orientation

  • BIOL 411 – Introductory Biology: Molecular and Cellular
  • CHEM 403 – General Chemistry I
  • NSB 400 – Topics in Neuroscience and Behavior

Students should take one or more of the following:

  • Any 400 level Philosophy course
  • PHIL 570 – Ancient Philosophy

Students should take one of the following:

  • POLT 401 – Politics and Society
  • POLT 402 – American Politics and Government
  • POLT 403 – United States in World Affairs

  • PSYC 401 – Introduction to Psychology
  • If students have AP/college credit for PSYC 401
    • PSYC 500-level – chosen in consultation with advisor at orientation

RUSS language course (appropriate placement determined at orientation)

  • SOC 400 – Introductory Sociology
  • SOC 502 – Statistics
  • Or any 400/500 level Sociology course

  • SPAN language course (appropriate placement determined at orientation)
  • SPAN 525 – Spanish Civilization and Culture  or SPAN 526 – Latin American Civilization and Culture
  • Students should take the placement test prior to June orientation, details above

  • Theatre
    • Choose two courses from:
      • THDA 436 – History of Theatre I
      • THDA 459 – Stagecraft
      • THDA 460 – Elements of Design
      • THDA 462 – Ballet I
      • THDA 463 – Theatre Dance I
      • THDA 551 – Acting I
  • Dance
    • For dance concentration, students must consult department for appropriate placement

Students should choose one of the following

  • WS 401 – Introduction to Women’s Studies
  • WS 405 – Gender, Power and Privilege
  • WS 444 (various topics)

Students will meet with an advisor during orientation to discuss major interests. The advisor will help the student choose courses to best explore those interests.

Typical First Semester schedule for an Undeclared COLA Student:

  1. COLA 401 (1 credit Undeclared Advising Seminar)
  2. ENGL 401 or Discovery course if credit already earned for English (4 credits)
  3. Major Exploratory Course (4 credits)
  4. Major Exploratory Course or Discovery course (4 credits)
  5. Major Exploratory Course or Discovery Course (4 credits)