Distinctive Curriculum

The best kind of challenge awaits.

W&L PROVIDES AN INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERIENCE INTEGRATING LIBERAL ARTS WITH BROADER PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS.

W&L’s motto, ”not unmindful of the future,” underlies the university’s commitment to providing an education that is vital and relevant to the 21st century. The span of opportunities we offer encourages you to do, and be, anything you want. At W&L you have the flexibility to combine interests and pursue different passions. Our undergraduate program is composed of two divisions: The College, where you’ll study humanities, languages and sciences, as well as fine and performing arts; and The Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics, where you’ll study accounting, business administration, economics, politics and entrepreneurship. There’s no separate application for either division, and as a W&L student, you will probably take classes in both. You may even take courses from professors in W&L’s graduate School of Law through our interdisciplinary Law, Justice, and Society program. Our interdisciplinary approach to academics supports the holistic development of our students by weaving aspects of character development and personal and community responsibility into their college experience. W&L does this in many ways, including through the Honor System, vibrant service opportunities and centers such as The Roger Mudd Center for Ethics, which fosters thoughtful conversation about ethical issues.

“Liberal arts education cannot possibly prepare you in advance for everything you will encounter, but it makes you the kind of person who responds well to encounters for which you are not prepared. That ability, more than anything else, enhances your prospects for a lifetime of learning, achievement, leadership, service and citizenship.”

— WILLIAM DUDLEY, PRESIDENT, WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY

“My mentors at W&L encouraged me to pull together all my different interests in art history, law, international relations and research. Now, I’m ready to mobilize that knowledge.”

The College: It all starts here.

THE COLLEGE IS AT THE CORE OF OUR LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION.

All W&L students take coursework in the College during their time in Lexington. Home to departments in the arts, humanities, languages, social sciences and STEM, the College allows students to experience subjects across the curriculum. These lessons offer context for society’s big questions and help our students develop the skills and perspective to answer those questions, regardless of their major. Our faculty are dedicated to nurturing the intellectual capacity and curiosity of our students in an environment of collaborative inquiry. All firstyear students are members of the College, and they typically take a range of courses in the liberal arts in preparation for selecting a major course of study. Our size, combined with extensive resources, innovative teaching and interdisciplinary learning, means students get personal attention and have opportunities for distinctive experiences. Our model encourages students to think creatively and approach issues from different views.

1,857

UNDERGRADUATES

47 U.S. states 43 countries of citizenship

9th

OLDEST COLLEGE

in the United States

The Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics.

THE WILLIAMS SCHOOL OFFERS COURSES IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ACCOUNTING, ECONOMICS AND POLITICS WITHIN A LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM.

As a major division of the university, the Williams School draws inspiration from the liberal arts model, encouraging students to explore interests and build connections between their major and other academic disciplines. Students benefit from this approach by developing unique perspectives and insights in their chosen areas. Most students take classes there regardless of their major. The Williams School prepares students to hit the ground running after graduation. It provides career exploration trips, opportunities to learn and network with alumni, and innovative learning practices. For example, some classes simulate ad agencies, and student-run clubs, such as the Williams Investment Society, give students the responsibility to manage more than $19.5 million of the university’s endowment in the stock market.

RANKED#10 BEST COLLEGE FOR BUSINESS IN AMERICA

by Niche

“My professors taught me to think deeply about difficult issues, synthesize information quickly and efficiently, and communicate clearly. Those skills helped me in every environment I have been in, and I would encourage anyone — interested in a career on Capitol Hill or otherwise — to take advantage of the academic offerings at W&L.”

— SARAH BARTLETT • MAJORS: POLITICS AND HISTORY

Find your beat.

W&L HAS THE ONLY ACCREDITED UNDERGRADUATE JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM AT A HIGHLY SELECTIVE LIBERAL ARTS INSTITUTION.

Journalism and communications students build experience in research, analysis and clear communication as a direct benefit of the liberal arts curriculum. And the Knight Program in Media Ethics ensures that students understand the ethical dimensions of the decisions they make. Our students learn their craft in a modern broadcast environment — including a newsroom, TV studio and control room — that prepares them for working in multimedia communications. Students in several classes work together to produce The Rockbridge Report, a newscast and website that are regularly recognized for excellence by professional journalism organizations. Students have interned at:

CBS News The Wall Street Journal The Atlantic Bloomberg The Miami Herald El Nuevo Herald CNN Politico

“W&L has the resources available for you to make the most of your college experience while also setting you up for life after college. There are a wealth of opportunities, and it’s up to the individual how to navigate them.”

— JIMMIE JOHNSON • MAJOR: JOURNALISM

Get your hands dirty — literally.

OPPORTUNITIES TO CONDUCT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ARE AVAILABLE FROM DAY ONE.

At W&L, we work to ensure that students have ample access to a wide range of experiences, from conducting collaborative research with faculty to pursuing independent projects and internships. Opportunities have taken some students to Belize, New Zealand and the Netherlands, while others have undertaken independent projects at the National Institutes of Health, Engineers Without Borders, the World Veterinarians Project and the U.S. Patent Office, to name a few. Previous research has included: Accounting: Tracking and reporting on corporate social responsibility in business and financial systems

Politics: Analyzing Islamic State messaging and divergence

Geology: Measuring strain and paleostress in rock formations in the local Appalachian Mountains and Greece

Computer Science: Web application testing and development

Digital Culture and Information: Using interactive and three-dimensional qualitative data tools to map literature

Theater: How to conduct original research for creating plays

Biology and Neuroscience: The role of snacking in obesity

Shepherd Program and Cognitive and Behavioral

Science: Community-based research supporting members with mental illness

Mathematics: Infinite classes of Sierpinski or Riesel numbers

275

STUDENTS

participate in a W&L-funded summer experience

“Washington and Lee provided me with many opportunities to hone my craft outside of the classroom.”

Explore your creative side(s).

OPPORTUNITIES FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION ARE EVERYWHERE.

Our arts program goes beyond the classroom, playing a role in campus life, performances and projects, on-campus museums and downtown exploration. Students from all backgrounds and majors find ways to participate in the arts. It’s not uncommon to find the lead in a musical coming to rehearsal straight from a lab, or an art major leaving the studio for team practice.

Lenfest Center for the Arts

The Lenfest Center for the Arts is a multi-use facility designed and equipped to accommodate a broad spectrum of performing and visual arts. It is also home to the Department of Theater, Dance and Film Studies; the Department of Music; and the Department of Art and Art History; supporting theater, musical theater, opera, chorus, orchestra, dance, performance and studio arts in one energizing complex.

Museums, Galleries and Collections

W&L’s extensive art collection includes paintings, prints and sculpture that are used as hands-on teaching tools by various academic departments. Many works of art are on display in public spaces throughout campus, as well as in our campus museums and galleries, which are rich learning environments for students pursuing a minor in cultural heritage and museum studies.

Student Groups and Ensembles

Students have a variety of opportunities to get involved in groups on campus, including a cappella groups, University Orchestra, Glee Club, Cantatrici, Bluegrass Ensemble, chamber ensembles and the Student Arts League. The Concert Guild Series brings world-class classical musicians, and the SonoKlect Series brings equally great new music performers to campus each year.