Areas of Study

On their way to a bachelor of arts degree, Williams students major in a core area of study (like Chinese or political science). Instead of academic minors, we have concentrations, which are groupings of courses around certain topics that pull from many departments and disciplines (like cognitive science, which has elements of psychology, computer science, philosophy, math, and more). Still other opportunities exist for students to pursue emerging fields, take special classes, develop their own majors, and take part in experiential education or off-campus study.

While there are no required courses at Williams, all students take at least three in arts and humanities, three in social sciences, and three in science and mathematics. All students also take at least two writing-intensive courses and one course to improve their ability to reason mathematically and abstractly. And while Williams has no formal language requirement, we do require that all students explore diversity by taking at least one course that examines how groups, cultures, and societies interact with, and challenge, one another.

 

Area of StudyWhat's Offered
Africana Studies Major
American Studies Major
Anthropology Major
Arabic Studies Major
Art (History, Studio) Major
Asian American Studies Concentration
Asian Studies Program Concentration
Astronomy/Astrophysics Major
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Concentration
Bioinformatics, Genomics & Proteomics More information
Biology Major
Chemistry Major
Chinese Major
Classics (Greek & Latin) Major
Cognitive Science Concentration
Comparative Literature Major
Computer Science Major
Contract Major
Dance More information
East Asian Languages and Cultures Major
Economics Major
English Major
Environmental Studies Major
Environmental Studies Concentration
Experiential Learning More information
French Major
Geosciences Major
German Major
Global Education and Study Away More information
Global Studies Concentration
History Major
Independent Study When a particularly able student wishes to study a subject not covered by the normal offerings of the college, arrangements may be made to undertake courses of independent study under faculty supervision.
Interdisciplinary Studies Designed to facilitate and promote innovations in both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form, Interdisciplinary Studies offerings support faculty and student efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern.
Italian More information
Japanese Major
Jewish Studies Concentration
Justice and Law Concentration
Latina/o Studies Concentration
Leadership Studies Concentration
Maritime Studies Concentration
Materials Science Studies More information
Math Major
Music Major
Neuroscience Concentration
Philosophy Major
Physical Education More information
Physics Major
Political Economy Major
Political Science Major
Program in Teaching More information
Psychology Major
Public Health Concentration
Religion Major
Russian Major
Science & Technology Studies Concentration
Self-Instructional Languages More information
Sociology Major
Spanish Major
Statistics Major
Theatre Major
Tutorials More information
Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford More information
Williams-Mystic Program More information
Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Major