The purpose of the Suomi College of Arts & Sciences is to prepare students for a variety of career paths that require extensive skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and communications. These skills are essential in business, education, research, public relations, and media careers, as well as in graduate degree programs. Finlandia offers two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences, as well as an Associate Degree in general Studies.

ACE Program (Arts, Culture, and the Environment)
BA
A love of reading, concern about the natural environment, and curiosity about diverse cultures around the globe are the subjects of Finlandia's Liberal Studies degree in Arts, Culture and the Environment (the ACE Program). Starting in the Fall of 2003, this interdisciplinary program will offer students the chance to study the great voices of history, literature, philosophy, religion and the arts to gain a greater understanding of our relationship with the natural world. Finlandia’s unique perspective and distinguishing feature of the ACE program is that the environment is not studied in isolation but rather through the lens of the world’s great thinkers, poets, artists, philosophers and writers.
Formerly known as Great Books, Great Voices, the ACE Program now has three major areas of study:
1) Arts: including literature, poetry, art, art history, music and various types of writing ranging from creative essay to grant proposal;
2) Culture: including world religions, geography, history, social science, philosophy and ethics; and
3) Environment: including ecology, outdoor recreation, field studies, and
contemporary issues in science, (such as the ethics of genetic engineering).

Coursework will include classes in these three academic areas, plus a senior capstone project giving students the chance to combine information and approaches learned in various disciplines. ACE graduates will learn excellent skills in oral and written communication, research, analysis, and the ability to solve problems creatively. Graduates can also find jobs in a wide range of fields including: local government, natural resources agencies, parks, non-profit organizations, museums, tourism, eco-tour businesses, recreation, research, education, journalism and communications.
In addition to preparing students for the workforce and building a solid foundation for graduate school, the ACE Program offers something more -- an intellectual and ethical challenge. Studying the works and lives of great thinkers challenges us to think and to act on our informed beliefs, even when those beliefs are not popular. The ACE Program combines great Western and non-Western books of our contemporary world and of antiquity with the great voices of Western & non-Western contemporary culture. It takes us from Dante's Inferno to Thoreau's Walden, from Milton's Paradise Lost to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Our field study courses will take us from underground copper mines to viewing raptor migration on top of Brockway Mountain.

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English as a Second Language
Certificate of Completion
Finlandia’s ESL program is designed for students looking to broaden their English experience beyond a textbook level. Students may enroll for one semester up to two years. Emphasis is placed on “real life” English,  learning through interactions with Americans from the campus and local community. Course work in reading, writing, speaking, and grammar is integrated with computer work, one-on-one tutoring, conversational partners, small group activities, and cultural experiences. The goal of Finlandia’s ESL program is to not only teach English, but to help international students gain tools and understanding necessary to succeed at an American university.
The student who satisfies the ESL Certificate of Proficiency requirements is ready to begin a baccalaureate degree program. A grade point average of 2.0 is required to qualify for graduation from the ESL Program. Finlandia University provides continued language support and development as international students work toward their baccalaureate degree.

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Liberal Studies
BA
This program is designed for students who have a variety of interests and want maximum flexibility in course selection. Instead of majoring in one particular field, Liberal Studies students select two or three areas of concentration from different academic disciplines. Students who have earned an abundance of college credits but have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree are also good candidates for the Liberal Studies program.

Concentrations:
Business • Corporate Communications • Criminal Justice • Science • Finnish Studies • History • Human Services • International Studies • Literature • Music & Theater • Psychology • Religion & Philosophy • Sociology • Studio Arts • Visual Communications

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General Studies
AGS
The associate degree in General Studies is designed for students wanting a college degree without concentrating in one particular area. This program offers flexibility to the person seeking an associate degree in order to obtain a better job or to qualify for certain entry-level positions.
The associates degree in General Studies is also for international students who require training in English as a Second Language in preparation for Bachelor’s Degree studies.

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