Explore Amherst

Amherst Voices

“ Outside the open window/The morning air is all awash with angels. ”

Poet Richard Wilbur — **Richard Wilbur ’42 in his poem “Love Calls Us to the Things of This World.”** **Wilbur, an elder statesman of American poetry, died on Saturday at age 96.**

“ People not only shared vocabulary with us, but emotions, sensations and stories. ”

**Ha Ram Hwang ’17** **For a culminating project in English 490, she teamed up with a fellow student to collect hard-to-translate phrases from people around campus.**

“ No writing is ever wasted. ”

**Katerina Von Campe ’17** **Katerina Von Campe ’17, giving pointers on thesis writing to current students.**

The Liberal Arts

A liberal-arts education develops an individual’s potential for understanding possibilities, perceiving consequences, creating novel connections and making life-altering choices. It fosters innovative and critical thinking as well as strong writing and speaking skills. The liberal arts prepare students for many possible careers, meaningful lives and service to society.

Facts You Should Know

More Facts

80%

Percentage of Amherst alumni who report that they have attended graduate or professional school

Our Alumni

90%

Percentage of Amherst courses that have fewer than 30 students

Liberal Arts

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Amherst in Pictures

The Mead Art Museum's Art study room in storage being used as a classroom

In Pictures: A New Classroom in Art Storage

Since the Mead Art Museum hosted its first class visit in 2007, the art collection has inspired students creating prose, poetry, art and music, and served as source materials for classes studying history and architecture.

Latest Videos

September 20, 2017

As part of our on-going Alumni in the Field series, where alumni reflect on their career paths and how their Amherst experience shaped their lives, Catherine Brownstein ’97 discusses how her liberal arts education at Amherst College prepared her for a profession that didn't even exist when she started her undergraduate journey. [Video transcript]

September 12, 2017

We sat down with William Taubman, the Bertrand Snell Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, and Pulitzer Prize Winner, to discuss his newly released book, Gorbachev: His Life and Times. On Sept. 14, Taubman and Pavel Machala read from the book in Cole Assembly Room, followed by a reception and book signing. Learn more

September 12, 2017

The 489 newest Amherst students arrived on campus Aug. 29, many with families in tow. These first-year and transfer students graduated from 388 secondary schools and speak more than 45 languages. Orientation began with move-in and concluded with Opening Convocation. Students attended a reception with President Martin, met with academic advisers, participated in social gatherings and bonded during off-campus expeditions.

August 11, 2017

Amherst’s new science center is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018. The state-of-the-art building will be a home for teaching and research and offer additional classrooms and gathering spaces for the entire campus. The science center also will set a new standard in energy efficiency. The average science building uses 250 kilo BTUs per square foot per year; we intend to reduce that number by 73%. [Video transcript]

May 24, 2017

Amir Denzel Hall ’17, of Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago, was chosen by his classmates to address the Class of 2017.

May 23, 2017

On May 21, 2017, President Biddy Martin urged the Class of 2017 to “practice forms of friendship that match the complexity of the world and can address its complex problems.”

April 25, 2017

Andrew Dole, associate professor of religion, talks about using virtual reality to enhance academic focus. New virtual worlds can help solve ergonomic issues as well as eliminate distracting environments as viewers move through digital spaces created for this project: a dim, but cozy library room where the user reads next to a crackling fire, the porch of a remote cabin where the sun is shining off a peaceful lake, and a black space lit only by flickering candles. [Video transcript]

April 10, 2017

In an interview with Cornell William Brooks, President and CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, we had an opportunity to ask him the following questions: What is the NAACP’s most important role today? What are other pressing issues for the NAACP? What are the most effective ways for young people to get involved? What advice do you have for students who want to follow your career path? — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

April 3, 2017

On October 24, 2016, Amherst College launched a process to select an official mascot. After 2,046 suggestions and 9,295 votes, we are the Amherst College Mammoths. You thought they were extinct? Think again. (Images courtesy of Amherst’s Beneski Museum of Natural History.) Audio caption version

April 3, 2017

Amherst didn’t have a department of Jewish studies, or even a class on Judaism, so Peter Rubinstein ’64 took a theology class with Professor Pemberton instead. And he was hooked. Hear about Rabbi Rubinstein’s remarkable career path and the lessons he learned along the way. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

March 27, 2017

National Review editor Rich Lowry is the author of the New York Times best-seller Lincoln Unbound and Legacy: Paying the Price for the Clinton Years. Lowry is also a syndicated columnist, author and political commentator who writes for Politico and Time, and often appears on such public affairs programs as “Meet the Press” and “The McLaughlin Group.” Before his talk at Amherst College on March 8, 2017, he sat down with us for an informal interview. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

February 21, 2017

The Common, an award-winning literary magazine based at the College, mentors 12 students each year as part of the Literary Publishing Internship Program. Participating students are involved in all aspects of publishing and promoting new issues of The Common, and have opportunities to work with emerging and established writers from around the world. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

February 6, 2017

Before former Florida governor and presidential candidate Jeb Bush addressed a capacity crowd in Johnson Chapel, we sat down and asked him a few questions about how he became involved in politics, how we as a country can have shared values if we don't have shared facts, and any advice for students interested in a career in government. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

January 31, 2017

Before her presentation and discussion in Johnson Chapel, we asked Russian-American journalist, author and activist Masha Gessen some questions, including what journalists should focus on over the next four years, what's next for the LGBTQ rights movement, and what advice she has for aspiring journalist. Here's what she had to say. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

November 21, 2016

Amherst Alumni in the Field: Join us behind the scenes of Sidehill Farm and learn what led two members of the class of ’89 —Amy Klippenstein and Paul Lacinski — from their liberal arts roots (English and American studies respectively) to becoming owners of a 225 acre organic farm located in Ashfield, MA. —Video by Marcus DeMaio.

October 11, 2016

Watch a time-lapse video of the Greenway Residence Halls being constructed, taken from live webcam images. In the words of President Biddy Martin, “The new residence halls will offer more are than just a place to live, but the chance for students to create the community they desire.” — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

September 27, 2016

Meet Mead director and chief curator David Little and learn about the resources and opportunities available at Amherst’s celebrated art museum. Through its exhibitions, artist projects and class visits, the Mead offers students and faculty a variety of ways to engage in interdisciplinary research and innovative teaching involving original works of art. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

August 9, 2016

Gathering Spaces: Follow along as two of our students—Takudzwa Tapfuma ’17 and David Le ’17E—take a tour of the new residence halls, set to open on August 25. Check out our latest slideshow and learn more about the Greenway Residence Hall project. — Video by Marcus DeMaio.

Alumni in the Field Video: Catherine Brownstein '97

Purple and white balloons welcome the new class

The new Science Center at Amherst College under construction

Amir Denzel Hall ’17 delivering a commencement address

Biddy Martin delivering her Commencement address, May 21, 2017

Professor Andrew Dole on Virtual Reality

An interview with Cornell William Brooks - March 24, 2017

Distinctive Courses

Our open curriculum lets you choose among interesting classes taught by exceptional faculty.

Social Sciences Science & Math Arts Humanities

Our Majors

Sociology

Protest!

Description

Explore the ethnography and history of collective mobilizations; contemplate the future of protest for the U.S. and the world. Speak with organizers/participants of current uprisings to understand their concerns.

Biology

Contagion

Description

Explore the biological mechanisms of infectious diseases, and the challenges associated with fighting their emergence and spread. Draw on literature on microbiology, ethics, current news stories, and more.

Music

History of Opera

Description

Trace opera from its beginnings as a late-Renaissance experiment in re-creating Greek drama to its incarnations in the present day, and take an in-depth look at a few masterpieces.

English

Indigenous American Epics

Description

Delve deeply into Native epics as “ancient American” literature, narratives of tribal history and living political constitutions. Study the specific contexts of each and the “intellectual trade routes” that link them together.

Asian Languages & Civilizations

Apocalypse Japan

Description

Learn about Japanese popular culture through focused study of the apocalypse. Address questions of technology, human agency, utopia, dystopia, spectacle, globalization and media.

Mathematics

Mathematical Modeling

Description

Through discussion of basic modeling principles and case studies, learn how to translate a real-world problem into a mathematical expression, analyze it and interpret the results.