The College of Liberal Arts, the largest of the six undergraduate colleges, traces its origins to the earliest days of the State School of Mines. Courses in such areas as history, English, Spanish, and art were offered almost from the beginning of the school's history. In July 1931 the institution (then known as The Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy) was authorized to offer the Bachelor of Arts degree; by 1940-41, students taking courses in the arts and sciences far outnumbered those in engineering. The change of name in 1949 to Texas Western College served as recognition of the institution's development as primarily a college of arts and sciences. In 1967, when the School of Arts and Sciences was divided into four Schools--Liberal Arts, Business Administration, Education, and Science--Liberal Arts became a separate academic unit. The name "School" was changed to "College" in 1974.

The College of Liberal Arts offers a wide range of programs and courses in the humanities, the fine arts, and the social sciences. These programs include major fields of specialized study and minor fields in both specific academic areas and interdisciplinary study. Elective courses taught within the College provide students with further opportunities for intellectual and aesthetic growth.

The College faculty, through teaching, research, and performance on a variety of levels, exemplify their commitment to the values of liberal arts education: a focus on what is fundamental and enduring in human civilization; a respect for and fostering of intellectual diversity; and the development of skills in communication, analysis, and evaluation. Students who receive a liberal arts education are exposed to certain values which offer them an opportunity for success in a wide variety of fields, a foundation for later professional study, and the crucial ability to adapt to change. The College seeks to prepare students for their professional careers and for a lifetime of learning, intellectual growth, and personal enrichment.