About Us

We prepare students for successful careers, ethical leadership, and engaged citizenship to address the challenges that confront Northwest Indiana and our society at large.

Through a high-quality, innovative, and experiential curriculum, we challenge, inspire, and motivate students to become critical and creative thinkers, develop strong analytical skills, foster an openness to diverse ideas, and become informed, responsible, and global citizens in a complex, diverse, and interconnected society.

Our Vision

CHESS commits to providing a high-impact, liberal arts education to empower our students to fulfill their potential.

As the largest college at PNW, we offer a vibrant student experience, an emphasis on experiential education, and strong and collaborative relationships among students, faculty, and staff. We proudly offer a small, supportive academic community on two campuses at the cost and convenience of a public, metropolitan university. Our degrees respond to the constantly evolving professional needs of our graduates. We enrich Northwest Indiana and the surrounding communities through collaborative partnerships by leveraging the college’s expertise to offer professional and educational opportunities for regional, national, and international engagements.

By helping students create lasting connections with each other and by fostering meaningful student, faculty, and staff interactions, our students will be transformative leaders in their communities. Our students will embrace the rich diversity around us and impact the world positively through personal, professional, and civic engagement.

A Multitude of Degree Programs

Purdue University Northwest offers more than 30 degree programs in the humanities, education, and social sciences. Choosing majors in the Humanities and Social Sciences will lead you to a broader understanding of human culture and society. You will be prepared for a wide variety of careers and a life characterized by creativity, community engagement, and personal fulfillment.

As a CHESS student, you will work with outstanding teachers who are also engaged in research and scholarship in their fields.

Explore CHESS Programs

The Roundtable Perspective

The Roundtable Perspective is a collegiate television program produced by students and faculty of the Department of Communication and Creative Arts at PNW.

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Opportunities Abound

The College is home to the Institute for Social and Policy Research, the Center for Global Studies, and the Center for Justice and Exoneration Network at Purdue University Northwest, showcasing CHESS’s involvement in research, developing a global perspective, enriching our local community, and fostering regional partnerships.
Our graduates have careers in Northwest Indiana and beyond. Our graduates work at the La Porte Police Department, Lakeshore Public Media, Fair Haven RCC, Meals on Wheels, and more. With a variety of degree fields that foster critical thinking, our students graduate with the skills necessary to excel in numerous career fields.
The College is dedicated to helping our students develop a global perspective, and as part of that commitment, we offer a variety of study away experiences. Recent adventures included travels to the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Peru, and Spain.