Liberal Arts

Regardless of major, all students at NU-Q take a variety of liberal arts courses across many subjects during their time at university.

The Liberal Arts program at NU-Q provides our undergraduate students with an interdisciplinary humanities and social sciences education that equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to flourish in a dynamic and complex world.

We help our students to develop their intellectual curiosity, flexibility, and critical inquiry to engage with the communities they inhabit in ethical, meaningful, and productive ways. Students also learn to better understand systems of knowledge, cultures, and institutions. Our program empowers our students to creatively and compassionately address the challenges and opportunities of today’s world.

Faculty

Program Goals

1. Provide students with an understanding of multiple academic disciplines and the dialogue between them.

2. Develop an awareness of the multiplicity of world views, frameworks of knowledge, and ways of being.

3. Foster personal and social responsibility within and across multiple communities.

4. Enhance students’ skills for critical inquiry, communication, and collaboration to inform complex thinking and arguments.

Undergraduate Writing

First-Year Writing

All students take two semesters of writing their freshman year. The courses are designed to hone students' abilities to create thoughtful, organized, and efficient written pieces. Students craft essays with guidance from the instructor. Each semester, a different theme serves as a focal topic for readings, discussions, and writing assignments.

Writing Center

Students at Northwestern Qatar have access to writing support services through the Writing Center. They can request assistance and guidance from writing specialists and peer tutors who provide one-on-one assistance, helping with organization, research, citation, and English grammar and punctuation.

Learn More

Ways of Knowing

A required course for all sophomore students, Ways of Knowing explores what we already know and what has yet to be investigated on a given topic — for example, climate change. The course underscores the value of an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and solving the complex problems of our times.