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Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University
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Interdisciplinary Programs

The Williams School collaborates with The College and Law School on a variety of interdisciplinary initiatives. Each of these programs integrates knowledge from a variety of academic disciplines related to a single topic. Some of these programs carry their own major, while others offer only minors. Students may chose to take an introductory course as a single elective or pursue additional courses. For more information on any of these programs, students should visit with their academic adviser or with the program director.

  • African-American Studies Program
    African-American Studies is an interdisciplinary program that enables students to examine the culture of African-America (understood broadly as the cultural experience of all black Americans, and including the diasporic experience of the African peoples) through a variety of disciplines including literature, history, sociology, politics, critical race theory, art and music.
  • Entrepreneurship and Leadership
    There is a natural fit between Washington and Lee University’s liberal arts education environment and entrepreneurship. On the one hand, a liberal arts education fosters development of analytical and problem solving skills, while enhancing a student’s ability to synthesize knowledge across a wide variety of fields. In addition, liberal arts education fosters creativity, innovation and flexibility. As a result, W&L students will have the requisite creative minds to recognize entrepreneurial opportunities that students engaged in a more traditional business school environment may overlook.
  • Environmental Studies
    Faculty and students from the sciences, the humanities, the social sciences, and law are involved in this approach through research, the curriculum, and a variety of co-curricular activities, including numerous public lectures, service learning projects, monthly luncheon seminars, as well as outdoor activities.
  • Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program
    The interdisciplinary program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies offers a Minor that allows students to explore the concepts of civilization, culture, and society as applied to the region of Latin America and the Caribbean.
  • Shepherd Poverty Program
    Washington and Lee's Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty and Human Capability integrates sustained rigorous academic study and focused direct service to disadvantaged communities and persons.
  • Women's and Gender Studies Program
    The Women's and Gender Studies (WGS) program at Washington and Lee University offers students both the opportunity to complete a multi-disciplinary minor in feminist and gender studies and a stimulating co-curricular environment in which to develop as intellectual and community leaders.