Department Overview
Drawing on the Mount’s nearly one hundred years of excellence in teaching, the liberal arts faculty invite students to engage in an experience that challenges them to explore intellectual interests and talents with the support of community on campus and beyond.
Our Programs
Our Liberal Arts students are molded into broadly educated writers, speakers, and learners prepared to embrace the diverse opportunities of twenty-first century life, work, and service.
Learn more by visiting our Liberal Arts Major page.
English opens a world of literary voices from a variety of cultures and time periods.
Learn more by visiting our Liberal Arts - English Major page.
History connects lessons of the past to the future.
Learn more by visiting our Liberal Arts - History Major page.
A minor in philosophy develops critical thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and sound reasoning.
Learn more by visiting our Liberal Arts - Philosophy Minor page.
Religious Studies provides students with resources for an appreciation and analysis of religion.
Learn more by visiting our Liberal Arts - Religious Studies page.
Liberal Arts FAQs
What career options will this degree open up for me? What if I want to teach high school English or History?
Find answers to these questions and more in our Liberal Arts major FAQs.

High Climber
Maddie Axtell '21, Liberal Arts Major
MSJ senior Madison Axtell '21 played chess master Sergey Berchenko her sophomore year in a “Quick Chess” game in Professor Jeffrey Hillard’s Survey of Women Writers course in November, 2018. Axtell was previously a member of her high school chess team. Mr. Berchenko, originally a high school physics teacher in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, also taught her several key chess moves. Thus, Axtell is also minoring in English and pursuing a teaching licensure in Integrated Language Arts.
Click below to view our Classroom Building and other facilities and equipment at MSJ.
Liberal Arts - English Faculty

Elizabeth Barkley
PhD English Professor and Chair
Jeffrey Hillard
MFA English Professor
Elizabeth Mason
PhD English Associate Professor
Drew Shannon
PhD English Associate ProfessorLiberal Arts - History Faculty

Jennifer Morris
PhD History Professor
Peter Robinson
PhD History ProfessorLiberal Arts - Philosophy Faculty

Christopher Davidson
PhD Philosophy Assistant Professor
Michael Sontag
PhD Philosophy Associate Professor and Dean of Arts & Humanities
Iris Spoor
PhD Philosophy Assistant ProfessorLiberal Arts - Religious Studies Faculty

Andrew Buechel
PhD Religious Studies Assistant Professor
Elijah Prewitt-Davis
PhD Religious Studies Assistant Professor
Kyle Schenkewitz
PhD Religious Studies Assistant ProfessorNEWS AND UPDATES
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Visit our financial aid page to learn your options for scholarships, grants, and loans.