Valparaiso University

What you'll study

The General Studies and Humanities pathway emphasises breadth and integrative learning. Students complete Valparaiso University's core curriculum requirements and then customise the remainder of their degree with courses drawn from humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and quantitative reasoning. The programme is built around strong writing, research and communication skills and culminates in an integrative senior experience or capstone project.

• Core skills and requirements: academic writing and rhetoric, critical thinking, research methods, quantitative reasoning and information literacy.
• Humanities: literature, philosophy, religious studies, history, cultural studies, and languages.
• Social sciences: psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science and economics.
• Natural sciences and mathematics: introductory science courses with laboratory options, statistics and applied mathematics suited to interdisciplinary study.
• Electives and concentrations: opportunities to pursue thematic concentrations (for example, digital humanities, public humanities, or interdisciplinary studies) by combining relevant electives and independent study.
• Experiential learning: internships, community-engaged learning, undergraduate research, study abroad and a senior capstone or integrative project that demonstrates synthesis across disciplines.

Entry requirements

Admission to Valparaiso University considers academic preparation, extracurricular involvement and personal qualities. Applicants to the bachelor-level liberal arts programme typically need a secondary school diploma or equivalent and an academic transcript showing a college-preparatory curriculum. Valparaiso reviews applications holistically; recommended supporting materials include a personal statement, letters of recommendation and a résumé or list of extracurricular activities.

The university accepts a range of academic backgrounds and encourages applicants who are self-directed and curious about cross-disciplinary study. Prospective transfer students should provide college transcripts and course descriptions so faculty can evaluate transfer credit and appropriate placement.

Career prospects

A liberal arts education from Valparaiso prepares graduates for diverse career paths by emphasising adaptable skills—critical thinking, clear communication, research and problem-solving. Graduates commonly move into:

• Education and academic support roles, including secondary teaching (with appropriate certification), tutoring and educational outreach.
• Nonprofit and public service organisations, where skills in writing, programme coordination and community engagement are valued.
• Communications, publishing, marketing and public relations roles that require strong writing and analytical abilities.
• Business, human resources and management positions that benefit from interdisciplinary perspective and interpersonal skills.
• Law, public policy, social work and other professions that often require further graduate or professional study.
• Continued academic work in graduate programmes across the humanities, social sciences and interdisciplinary studies.

Why study at Valparaiso University

Valparaiso University combines a liberal-arts ethos with personalised attention typical of a mid-sized private university. Small class sizes and faculty who are active teachers and mentors allow students to pursue cross-disciplinary interests and develop close advising relationships. The university supports undergraduate research, community engagement and study-abroad experiences that complement classroom learning.

Located in Indiana with regional connections to urban centres, Valparaiso offers practical internship and career-development resources through its centre for career and professional development. The campus culture, informed by a historic Lutheran tradition, emphasises service, ethical reflection and the formation of responsible citizenship—qualities that resonate with students pursuing humanities and general studies pathways.