Liberal Arts and Sciences Northern Illinois University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the university's largest and most diverse college, with a tradition of excellence in instruction and research that involves students in active learning. Most students at NIU take required general-education courses in the college and many students come to Northern for one of the majors in the sciences, social sciences or humanities offered by the college's 17 academic departments. For more information about giving opportunities for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, contact: The NIU Development Office at (815) 753-1386 or email us. Visit the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Web Site at http://www.clas.niu.edu/.