I am pleased to welcome you to our Division of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, HASS.
Our talented and award-winning faculty is eager to work with you and make a difference in your education by sharing their knowledge and expertise in innovative ways: offering interdisciplinary and intellectually stimulating courses, conducting original research opportunities, and serving the needs of our community.
We offer general education courses and baccalaureate degree programs designed to give you analytical, communicative and creative skills. As a student in our HASS Division, you will have the opportunity to examine issues of local and global importance, present information effectively in a variety of formats, and critically evaluate problems.
Our diverse program and course offering in the HASS Division is an inspiring point of departure, where you will be able to learn both traditional and innovative approaches to knowledge. You can tutor in the Writing Center, participate in undergraduate research, or be an agent of change in our Center for Academic Community Engagement. You will be supervised by experienced professionals of Education in urban settings and can join our Penn State Educational Partnership Program (PEPP). You can explore women’s studies, history, literature, culture. You will be able to foster social justice and equality, collaborate in sustainable projects, discern the challenges of the criminal justice system, and be equipped to work in the fields of psychology and human services. You can also study abroad, practice modern languages and explore writing and digital media. You can be part of our Freyberger Gallery and participate in Theatre performances. I encourage you to engage with our faculty in the classroom and in their research to understand our past, reflect on our present, and impact our future.
Through rigorous courses taken in class, online or in a hybrid format, you will be prepared to further your education in graduate programs. By participating in the carefully selected internships required by our majors, you will experience the real-world applications that are necessary to interact, lead and succeed. As a result of engaging in the study and exploration of the humanities, arts, and social sciences, you will have the tools to creatively reflect and act as an informed and effective citizen.
Looking forward to welcoming you to Penn State Berks!
Belén Rodríguez Mourelo
Professor of Spanish
Head of the Division of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences