Amherst offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in 40 majors in the arts, sciences, social sciences and humanities. Students can carry more than one major, create their own interdisciplinary major or engage in independent scholarship. Many students delve more deeply into their major field by undertaking honors theses as seniors. Often the equivalent of graduate-level work, theses have taken the form of a major paper, scientific investigation or creative work. Departmental and program majors are offered in the following areas:
Amherst College Majors
- American Studies
- Anthropology & Sociology *†
- Architectural Studies **
- Art & the History of Art
- Asian Languages & Civilizations
- Biochemistry & Biophysics **
- Biology
- Black Studies
- Chemistry
- Classics Δ
- Computer Science
- Economics
- English
- Environmental Studies
- European Studies **
- Film & Media Studies **
- French
- Geology
- German
- History
- Latinx and Latin American Studies **
- Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought
- Mathematics & Statistics *
- Music
- Neuroscience **
- Philosophy
- Physics & Astronomy *
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Religion
- Russian
- Sexuality, Women’s & Gender Studies
- Spanish
- Theater & Dance
*Separate majors within a single department.
** Program major
Δ The Classics department offers four majors: Greek, Latin, Classics and Classical Civilization.
†A student may petition to become an Anthropology-Sociology major.
Five College Department Major
Interdisciplinary Majors
After submitting a formal proposal and obtaining faculty approval, a student may construct an interdisciplinary major. Learn more...