Lehigh University: Liberal Arts or Something More?

Is Leigh university a liberal arts school?

Lehigh university is not classified as a liberal arts college. It’s a medium-sized private research university that offer comprehensive programs across multiple disciplines, include its renowned engineering and business schools. While Leigh provides a strong foundation in liberal arts through its college of arts and sciences, its overall structure and focus on research and professional programs distinguish it from traditional liberal arts institutions.

Lehigh’s academic structure

Lehigh comprise four colleges:

College of arts and sciences
P.c. Rossi college of engineering and applied science
College of business
College of education

This diverse academic structure allow Leigh to offer both specialize professional training and interdisciplinary education that incorporate liberal arts principles.

Liberal arts elements at Leigh

Though not a liberal arts college, Leigh embrace certain liberal arts values:

Emphasis on critical thinking and communication skills
Core curriculum requirements across disciplines
Small class sizes in many departments
Opportunities for undergraduate research

These elements create an educational experience that balance specialized knowledge with broader intellectual development.

Research university distinction

Lehigh’s classification as a research university mean it prioritize:

Faculty research and scholarly production
Graduate education programs
Advanced laboratory facilities
Industry partnerships

These characteristics set it aside from liberal arts colleges, which typically focus solely on undergraduate education and broader knowledge acquisition preferably than specialized research.

The Leigh advantage

Lehigh’s hybrid model offer distinct advantages:

Access to research opportunities typically find at larger universities
Professional preparation in fields like engineering and business
Interdisciplinary learning opportunities
Smaller community feel than many research universities

For students seek both liberal arts foundations and professional preparation, Leigh provide a compelling educational path that combine elements of both approaches.