Academics
A ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ liberal arts education aspires to be truly transformational. Supported by a dedicated faculty, students learn to explore broadly and deeply, to cross disciplines, and to question rigorously. Students are challenged to think judiciously and argue honestly, engage with ideas and individuals respectfully, and develop the confidence to grow.
At ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, students and faculty form a community of scholars who share a thirst for learning, drawing on the methods of the sciences, the patterns of logic and language, the study of societies, and expression in the arts. A ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ education takes a holistic approach to education by providing breadth and depth across the curriculum, by teaching essential skills such as critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration, and by fostering skills for personal growth and well-being.
The rigorous academic curriculum is experienced through our many majors, minors, and concentrations. We provide students with a growing number of advising pathways, abundant student-faculty research opportunities, an arts scene, and a broad range of opportunities for community engagement.
Majors
A holistic liberal arts education values breadth of knowledge as well as depth or focus of study in a particular set of areas. To that end, students are required to declare a major focus of study no later than March 1st of their sophomore year. While the faculty believes that each student should be familiar with many fields of liberal learning, it also holds that a student must choose a field of special concentration — a major — to gain the advantages that come from studying one academic subject more extensively. This major field occupies a significant percentage of the student’s college work and may be related to an intended career following graduation. Students may declare one or two majors. Completion of more than one major requires fulfillment of all major requirements in each major. Majors are typically 10 to 16 courses.
Majors marked with an asterisk (*) represent majors that are interdisciplinary in nature. These programs are administered by a committee of faculty from within the program and from other academic units within the College.
- Africana*
- American Studies*
- Anthropology
- Asian Studies*
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Chinese*
- Classical and Medieval Studies*
- Dance
- Digital and Computational Studies*
- Earth and Climate Sciences
- Economics
- Engineering**
- English
- Environmental Studies*
- European Studies*
- French and Francophone Studies
- Gender and Sexuality Studies*
** Students who choose to participate in the Engineering Combined Plan complete a portion of their education at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ and a portion at one of our partner institutions: Case Western University, Columbia University, Dartmouth University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or Washington University in St. Louis.
*** Students may propose individual majors in “” that cross one or more boundaries of the College’s established fields of study. A self-designed interdisciplinary major requires a detailed academic program created in consultation with a faculty advisory board and approval of the Curriculum Review Committee.
Facts
- 2,000 students
- 20 students in the average class
- 10-to-1 student to faculty ratio
- 100% of faculty hold highest degree in their field
- 100% of students complete a capstone or thesis
- 60% of students study abroad
- 31 NESCAC Division III teams
- 110 student clubs, open to all
- 160 community partnerships through the Harward Center
- 0 fraternities and sororities
- 4-week spring Short Term
- 109 acres on Lewiston campus
- 600 acres of outdoor study in ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½â€“Morse Mountain Conservation Area
Minors
The faculty at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ believes that students should have more than one area of study. Students must take at least one additional area of study, which can take the form of a concentration, minor, or second major.
A minor is a 6- to 9-course area of study. While not quite as in-depth as a major, it offers students a rigorous exploration of a topic. Below are the minors currently offered at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½:
Concentrations
Concentrations challenge students to develop significant expertise outside their major, but they require less coursework than the major or minor. Each concentration consists of four courses or credits chosen from a faculty-designed menu that is structured on the basis of a clearly articulated organizing principle.
Most concentrations are transdisciplinary, meaning that they organize courses from distinct disciplinary and interdisciplinary areas of study around a particular topic, problem, or theme so that a single concept can be explored deliberately from a variety of perspectives. Some are focused in a single area of study and might be thought of as a mini-minor. Some concentrations may include relevant co-curricular experiences such as significant community service, orchestra, theatrical performance, or volunteer work.
ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ offers more than 40 concentrations. More information on them can be found at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Catalog and through the links below:
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ curriculum emphasizes both depth and breadth. To achieve depth, students complete the requirements for two areas of study: one of these is a major and the second can be a concentration, a minor, or a second major. For breadth, students complete a writing curriculum and explore the college’s Modes of Inquiry.
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Degree
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ curriculum emphasizes both depth and breadth. To achieve depth, students complete the requirements for two areas of study: one of these is a major and the second can be a concentration, a minor, or a second major. For breadth, students complete a writing curriculum and explore the college’s Modes of Inquiry.
The ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Degree
About 60 percent of our students study abroad. We offer access to programs in more than 80 countries. Our faculty also develop and lead rigorous, cross-disciplinary Fall Semester Abroad trips.
Explore the Center for Global EducationStudy Abroad
About 60 percent of our students study abroad. We offer access to programs in more than 80 countries. Our faculty also develop and lead rigorous, cross-disciplinary Fall Semester Abroad trips.
Explore the Center for Global EducationStudy Abroad
As an integral part of our distinctive liberal arts mission, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ celebrates the arts in ways that are intensely collaborative and courageous. Like us, the arts are diverse and complicated — and like us, the arts have the power to transform.
Explore the Arts at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½The Arts
As an integral part of our distinctive liberal arts mission, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ celebrates the arts in ways that are intensely collaborative and courageous. Like us, the arts are diverse and complicated — and like us, the arts have the power to transform.
Explore the Arts at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½The Arts
At ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, your education doesn’t stop at the campus gates. We believe that for some students, the most profound learning happens when rigorous academics meet the complexities of the real world.
Explore Community EngagementCommunity Engagement
At ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½, your education doesn’t stop at the campus gates. We believe that for some students, the most profound learning happens when rigorous academics meet the complexities of the real world.
Explore Community EngagementCommunity Engagement
A distinctive characteristic of a ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ education is the emphasis on student research. At ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ every student is a scholar; research opportunities from across the curriculum regularly extend learning beyond the classroom.
Explore Research OpportunitiesStudent Research
A distinctive characteristic of a ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ education is the emphasis on student research. At ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ every student is a scholar; research opportunities from across the curriculum regularly extend learning beyond the classroom.
Explore Research OpportunitiesStudent Research
Short Term is a 3.5 week, 1-course term in the spring of the academic year. To earn their degree, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students take 2 or 3 short term classes. This unique opportunity allows students to have immersive experiences that cannot be offered during the regular semesters.
Explore Short TermShort Term
Short Term is a 3.5 week, 1-course term in the spring of the academic year. To earn their degree, ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ students take 2 or 3 short term classes. This unique opportunity allows students to have immersive experiences that cannot be offered during the regular semesters.
Explore Short Term