Number of majors at Amherst — in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
Student-to-faculty ratio, with 209 full-time instructional faculty.
Average class size. 84% of our classes have fewer than 30 students.
Number of courses, with more than 6,000 available through the Five College Consortium.
Amherst offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in 41 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:
*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.
After submitting a formal proposal and obtaining faculty approval, a student may construct an interdisciplinary major. Learn more...
Amherst does not offer a major in creative writing, but the Creative Writing Center, in conjunction with various departments, provides courses in the writing of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fictional prose and translation.
With faculty approval, a limited number of students may participate in the Independent Scholar Program, usually in the junior or senior year, in lieu of a traditional major program. Independent Scholars plan a personal program of study under the direction of a tutor. Students must be nominated for the program by a member of the faculty. Learn more...
Amherst participates in a variety of Five College programs, including 11 certificate programs, supervised independent and mentored language programs, and two shared departments.
Additionally, Amherst offers a wide variety of colloquia and seminars, including first-year seminars.
Explore the breadth and variety of Amherst’s open curriculum in our 850+ courses, as well as courses offered through the Five College Consortium.