Text Size: AAAPrint

Curriculum

With a course catalog that more closely resembles the thickness of the Yellow Pages, Washington and Lee University is a small school with big academic opportunities. Our 1,100+ course catalog was called "the envy of many larger institutions" by The Washington Post. In fact, we're the only leading liberal arts college to boast accredited journalism and business programs. These exist alongside majors such as engineering, geology, history, music, neuroscience...the list goes on and on.

W&L finds much of its strength in its foundation and distribution requirements (our core curriculum, the FDRs). While every student is required to take courses to satisfy the FDRs, the depth and breadth of our curriculum allow you to choose classes within these requirements that are of the greatest interest to you. For example, a science laboratory class heavy in writing. Or a politics class where you analyze the meaning of the latest Dave Matthews Band song. We also offer nine interdisciplinary programs- ranging from East Asian studies to environmental studies. These programs draw from all of our campus resources and departments to create unique academic opportunities. And if you still haven't met your match- create it! Students can devise their own major, with the help of faculty advisors. Recent examples include international relations, Middle Eastern studies, American studies, bioethics, and linguistics.

Not sure if you want to pursue a career in business? Take a few (or many) courses in the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics. Think writing for the student newspapers is fun? Become a journalism major. There's no extra paperwork, no separate application, no red tape, no hoops. All of our students are encouraged to explore all of our academic departments. Same goes for our campus media (2 newspapers, 1 magazine, a radio station, literary, science and business journals) and theater and music programs. Anyone can take part! There's a politics major writing a column for the Ring Tum-Phi. A football player in the spring musical. A future doctor tickling the ivories in Wilson Hall.