Admissions Viewbook - Academics 2025

academıcs

Our campus, rich with centuries of history, sits at the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and near the heart of downtown Lexington. Just steps away, students find trails to hike, rivers to paddle and a vibrant small town filled with local shops, restaurants and countless ways to get involved.

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HUMANITIES

How to make meaning of it all

MAJORS & MINORS

More than 80 areas of study to form your path

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PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

Career prep begins on day one

STEM

Problem-solving with creative context

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SPRING TERM

Oh, the places you’ll go

Curiosity meets purpose.

Nothing about your education is restrictive at Washington and Lee University. Every part of the curriculum, from student-faculty research to our immersive Spring Term, is intentionally designed to help students navigate complexity. You’ll learn to think clearly, adapt quickly and approach problems from multiple angles. It’s a liberal arts education, built for a changing world.

This is a place where academic interests don’t stay in their lanes. Business students study ethics and philosophy. Historians design computational models for clues to the past. Journalists dive into data. The curriculum is built for that kind of integration, because that’s what a dynamic future requires. Professors work closely with students as mentors and collaborators. And the work you do together — in labs, studios, startups and field sites — is practical, personal and deeply connected to the world beyond campus.

We’re one of only two top-ranked liberal arts colleges with accredited programs in both business and journalism. Our offerings in both engineering and education policy are rigorous and relevant. Our language programs, from Arabic and Chinese to Russian and Portuguese, prepare students for global fluency. And our pre-law and pre-health pathways lead to meaningful, immediate impact in classrooms, courtrooms and clinics. We give you all the pieces you need; it’s up to you how you fit them together.

Tell a better story. ( It starts with understanding the human experience. )

... major or minor in a humanities field of study in the College

... connect the humanities with science, business or other pre-professional fields

Luke Avigliano ’25, chemistry and Spanish double major at W&L; entering medical school in 2026 “ GENERALLY SPEAKING

My education at W&L stimulated my passions for both arts and sciences and allowed me to appreciate not only the complexities of the world around us, but also the intricacies of the human condition.”

At W&L, the humanities aren’t the subplot — they’re the throughline. They drive the questions we ask and the meaning we make from the answers. Whether you’re drawn to literature, languages or the arts, you’ll learn to think with precision, write with purpose and understand people and ideas in context . These habits will sharpen your judgment, strengthen your voice and help you lead with clarity in any field.

Learn more about W&L’s many offerings at go.wlu.edu/academics

Meaningful connections in and out of the classroom foster lifelong networks of support.

Competing concepts

In a world that’s driven by automation and algorithms, the most valuable skills are still the most human: critical thinking, persuasive writing, ethical reasoning and the ability to see ideas from all sides. These aren’t fringe benefits of a humanities education. They’re its foundation.

At W&L, students learn how to challenge assumptions, navigate disagreements and win arguments with clarity and conviction. Catalysts like the DeLaney Center for the Study of Southern Race Relations, Culture and Politics and the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics help students lead conversations that matter through public speakers, roundtable discussions and communitywide dialogues. ■

The examined life

Students’ entryway into ethics is through programs rooted in philosophy, religion, cultural and heritage studies and more. They consider how values are formed, how they evolve

and what happens when they collide. Consequential thinking begins with big questions and ends with meaningful action. Students explore what it means to live well, contribute meaningfully and pursue knowledge with purpose. This kind of inquiry sharpens logic and gives students the tools needed to examine not only their place in the world but also their role in shaping what education can — and should — be. ■

a better story:

Language is power

Studying a language is about more than grammar and vocabulary. It’s about seeing the world through a new lens. At W&L, students choose from 12 world languages and are encouraged to study deeply, connect personally and apply their learning globally. Whether translating ancient Latin graffiti in Italy, partnering with

local Spanish speakers to curate the literary magazine Pluma or exploring Chinese through theater and film, students build a worldview that shapes how they think and who they become.

Through study abroad and community-based learning, students use language to bridge cultures and deepen cross-cultural understanding. ■

Connecting the past

Studying history isn’t about memorizing dates. It’s about understanding how ideas, movements and decisions echo across time and shape the world we live in now. At W&L, history is anything but dusty. Students explore

topics from medieval medicine to civil rights movements to the politics of memory in public spaces.

And they do that work in context, on one of the most historic college campuses in the country. They learn to analyze sources, challenge assumptions and ask what we owe the past in order to shape what comes next. Want to lead with clarity and conscience? History isn’t optional. It’s essential. ■

Social intelligence

Want to understand how change happens? The social sciences at W&L explore people in context: how we behave, how we govern and how we adapt. In fields like politics, economics, sociology and anthropology, students examine

the structures that shape society and consider how those systems might evolve. They learn from faculty who consult on national policy, lead field-based research and involve their students in applied analysis. Academic programs like the Shepherd Poverty Program and Law, Justice and Society connect academic inquiry to community action. It’s a place where insight doesn’t just stay theoretical — it actually moves people forward. ■

Follow the spark

The arts teach more than technique. They demand vision. At W&L, students in studio art, music, theater and film and visual culture learn

into understanding the BIG PICTURE

to interpret the world and reimagine it. They explore form, meaning, emotion and impact. They also develop the courage to express their perspective clearly, creatively and unapologetically. Artists, like entrepreneurs, imagine what doesn’t exist and bring it to life. The ability to design a better interface or a better world starts with an idea. Creative thinking breaks down walls; it doesn’t only exist in galleries and studios. ■

The great thing about liberal arts colleges, and W&L in particular, is that our students can do really exceptional things that undergraduates wouldn’t be given the freedom to do at most schools.”

— PROFESSOR JON EASTWOOD

JON EASTWOOD Professor of Sociology

Dynamic

LYDIA YANG '25

Sociology and computer science double major, art history minor

After having Lydia Yang ’25 as a student in several of his classes, professor of sociology Jon Eastwood recognized her aptitude for the field of computational sociology and saw that she brought a creative lens through her art history minor to her science-based majors. Yang sees similarities in painting and computer coding, saying they both require small tweaks to assess how all parts work together on a larger scale.

Building on Eastwood’s research and recent book publication, the pair collaborated on a research project focused on writing a computer program that allowed them to study complex social structures on a new level. Interdisciplinary work like this, between students and faculty across different departments that allows for innovative thinking and leads to lasting relationships, is the norm at Washington and Lee. ■

Duos

You can read more about their innovative research project at go.wlu.edu/EastwoodandYang

Go beyond the major.

( Big ideas, real impact. )

Studying abroad through one of more than 700 programs offered at W&L opens doors and minds and sets in motion a lifetime love of learning and exploring.

Some of the most powerful learning at W&L happens across departments. Campus-wide programs challenge assumptions, sharpen moral reasoning and bring urgent national conversations into focus . They don’t just complement your coursework; they help you connect it to the world.

Learn more about W&L’s many different offerings at go.wlu.edu/impactfulexperiences

poverty, reframed The Shepherd Program examines the root causes of poverty and inequality through internships, community engagement and classroom study. It’s a pathway for W&L students who want their knowledge to lead to service and vice versa.

ethics in action The Mudd Center for Ethics hosts public lectures, seminars and cross-disciplinary courses that probe questions of justice, integrity and the moral life, from the ethics of artificial intelligence to the obligations of citizenship.

research model Deep inquiry into any subject demands that students gather complex evidence, weigh competing ideas and defend airtight arguments that pass any litmus test, allowing them to build the confidence to know what’s true and why it matters.

history hits home The DeLaney Center explores the legacies of slavery, racism and the Black experience in the United States, with a special lens on our own institutional history. It fosters critical dialogue through research and community programming.

giving back One-third of W&L students take a community-based learning course that connects them with local partners to tackle real challenges. Whether you’re mentoring teens or designing public health workshops, the goal is shared insight that’s applied, tested and exchanged.

ideas that launch The Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship gives students the tools and the mentorship to test their ideas in the real world, whether that means creating a startup, pitching a social venture or building something the world hasn’t seen yet.

Majors Mınors ◗ &

Accounting

Classics

Cultural

Data

Digital

Romance

Create Your Own Major Craft a specialized course of study at W&L — an independent major that aligns with your interests, passions and career goals.

plus: Additional areas of study include Greek, Health Professions (Pre-Med), Italian, Latin and Portuguese

dream Jump-startcareer.your

( Before it even begins. )

... that is the sixth-largest student-run investment fund in the nation

WHO ARE OUR GRADUATES?

... choose a major or minor within the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics

■ Doctors who take the time to actively listen to patients.

■ Engineers who design for people, not just performance.

■ Policymakers who see cause and effect.

W&L pioneered the modern major system and remains one of the only top-ranked liberal arts colleges with accredited programs in both business and journalism. With more than 200 years of experience preparing students for what comes next, we know without a doubt that every program, experience and opportunity all lead to a purpose-driven life.

What makes someone thrive in their field?

Technical skills matter, but the ability to navigate complex situations with insight and empathy is the real advantage.

W&L students leave with more than a résumé. They leave with a keen sense of purpose and the skills to act on it.

Learn more about W&L’s many offerings at go.wlu.edu/academics

From reporting stories to consulting with local businesses, learning happens in the field and in the classroom.

Business, reimagined

W&L’s business program is AACSB-accredited, a distinction held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide. Students major in business

administration or accounting and study finance, data analytics, entrepreneurship and marketing.

What sets us apart? A culture that values ethical reasoning, clear communication and human insight as much as spreadsheets. Students graduate ready to lead in corporate settings, startups and the public sector. They gain hands-on experience through faculty-mentored projects, consulting work and campus incubators. It’s business, the W&L way. ■

Truth sharing

W&L’s ACEJMC-accredited journalism and strategic communication programs train students to do more than inform. You’ll report with integrity, write with clarity and weigh the ethical stakes of every story, whether covering the news or crafting an ad campaign.

Classrooms double as newsrooms, studios and strategy labs. Students produce content across platforms: print, web, audio, video and design. They gain real-world experience through W&L-funded internships with top agencies, firms and national media outlets. With student-run publications, a campus radio station and a 40-year-old TV news show, there’s always a place to be heard. ■

Case study

Want to take on prison reform? Start with sociology to better understand mass incarceration. Then add economics to trace poverty’s role in recidivism. Bring in cognitive and behavioral science and statistics to grasp

trauma and evaluate policy. Then layer in religion, politics and cultural studies to explore ethics, identity and power.

At W&L, pre-law students build pathways like this all the time. With more than 80 majors and minors to choose from — including the Law, Justice and Society minor — you’ll learn to see what’s broken, why it matters and how to fix it. If law school is your next step, then consider this your foundation. ■

Called to care

W&L’s pre-health students are well prepared, with medical school acceptance rates that consistently top 90%. Their edge comes from advanced lab work, MCAT prep and faculty-mentored research across biology, chemistry, neuroscience and cognitive and behavioral science.

With no graduate students competing for faculty attention, undergrads lead longterm projects from design to analysis, gaining experience with real data and scientific methods. They also stitch together subjects like public health, ethics, inequality and human behavior to understand care from every angle. When it’s time, they’re ready to stitch a suture that holds, too. ■

the BIG PICTURE

Blueprint for success

Learn, teach, repeat

Education at W&L doesn’t end with the classroom. Whether studying education policy or earning teaching certification, students put ideas into action from the start. They complete field

placements and student-teach in local schools, guided by professors who blend theory and practice.

Others dig into research on access, child development or the role of schools in a just society. Through the Office of Community-Based Learning, students design and lead projects that support educational equity in the region and beyond. ■

Engineering at W&L covers the full suite — mechanics, materials, circuits and fluids — grounded in a liberal arts context that sharpens communication, collaboration and creative problem-solving. Students specialize through integrated tracks in biology, chemistry, computer science

or geology, gaining fluency in both technical systems and the environments they affect. W&L engineers are equipped to approach complexity with curiosity and clarity. And employers and graduate schools value the adaptability our students bring. ■

Make it count

W&L students don’t wait until senior year to lead. As just one example, in Mock Convention (the university’s nationally renowned political nominating simulation),

students direct research teams, consult experts and manage a multimillion-dollar budget — an experience that stands out on any résumé.

Career preparation at W&L starts early, even for students still exploring majors. The Office of Career and Professional Development offers personalized advising from the first year, along with job shadowing, mock interviews and career trips to cities like New York, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco. ■

into action

Networks that work

Through W&L’s industry forums, students connect with alumni who are shaping policy, launching startups and leading across law, energy, real estate and more. These events unfold in cities like D.C., Houston and beyond — places where

students gain insight and make connections that last.

Students and alumni share the stage on panels that dive deep into topics and spur thoughtful questions. Conversations are candid. And the LinkedIn requests? They often lead to mentorships, internships and even job offers. For many students, these forums mark the beginning of professional relationships that continue long after graduation. ■

STEM isn’t siloed.

(

You ll be Seeing Things in Extraordinary Multiplicity. )

At W&L, students master the methods of science, technology, engineering and math while also building fluency in communication, ethics and design. They learn to ask hard-hitting questions, test hypotheses thoroughly and bring an innovative perspective to complex problems. This is serious STEM, shaped by context, sharpened by creativity and strengthened by the liberal arts.

... conduct original research with a faculty mentor, often beginning the first year ,

... showcases student research from a variety of disciplines every other year

NOW HEAR THIS

Learn more about W&L’s many offerings at go.wlu.edu/academics

The more we can provide students with clear, useful skills and interdisciplinary activities as part of this liberal arts experience, the better they’re going to be as citizens, as humans, as scientists or anything they end up doing.”

Jessica LaPrice, associate professor of biology at W&L

Our classroom and meeting spaces are equipped with the latest learning technologies to aid in your studies.

Untangling ideas

Quantum mechanics defies easy answers — particles exist in superposition, outcomes shift when observed and reality itself resists certainty. As befits a university that is dedicated to both the liberal arts and the sciences, W&L treats those paradoxes as starting points for deeper inquiry.

As one of the first liberal arts institutions to offer a quantum computing class where students of any major can work with a quantum computer, W&L created a course that blends physics, computer science and ethics. Students study quantum systems while exploring their philosophical and practical implications in fields as diverse as science, business and politics. ■

Grounded in reality

Earth and environmental geoscience at W&L is built on the idea that understanding the planet starts with getting your hands dirty. Students study earth systems through deep fieldwork and hands-on research across time, scale and terrain.

That might mean crawling through caves, mapping the Appalachians or extracting coral reef cores in Belize to study climate change. In small faculty-led teams, students design studies, collect data and make sense of a planet in motion. They emerge with sharper instincts and the kind of confidence that comes only from really digging in. ■

Following your gut

Integrated engineering in physics at W&L prepares students to see structure in motion and possibility in problems no one has solved yet. Courses not only build fluency in mechanics, systems and materials but also encourage bold, human-centered questions. One faculty-led team developed a biomedical

device to map gut activity in real time, a tool designed to diagnose motility disorders that evade traditional scans. The project began in W&L labs and now moves toward clinical use through a global research partnership. Students helped build it from the ground up, gaining experience in how foundational science becomes real-world innovation. ■

Thoughts on thinking

Neuroscience and cognitive and behavioral science at W&L give students the tools to study how we think, feel and function. From hormones

and habits to memory, sleep and social cues, the science of the mind is complex and deeply human.

Students track moods, analyze cognition and run late-night studies in the Sleep Lab. They learn to design experiments, interpret data and investigate what drives behavior and fosters well-being in individuals, communities and society. ■

experiments

the BIG PICTURE TS E M isn’tsiloed:

Model behavior

Data science, statistics and systems modeling at W&L help students make sense of complexity. From public health to viral media, they learn to spot patterns, test theories and build models that clarify messy questions.

One course uses epidemiological simulations to examine how small policy shifts ripple through health systems. Another travels to Seoul, South Korea, to study what makes music go viral. Along the way, students develop fluency in coding, critical thinking and analytical communication — the skills to translate data into insight that matters. ■

In your element

Chemistry at W&L starts with the elements but rarely ends there. Students explore the molecular structure of matter across fields, from biochemistry and the climate to art conservation and materials science.

In one project, students travel to European museums to study color decay in iconic paintings, using synchrotron

light to trace pigment breakdown at the atomic level. It’s rigorous, hands-on work that sharpens scientific instincts and builds the habit of looking beneath the surface, whether studying Matisse and Rembrandt or analyzing materials that are still being invented. ■

Curious by nature

Biology at W&L is rooted in observation and driven by questions. Students study life at every scale, from ecosystems and evolution to cells, tissues and genes,

always following curiosity deeper into the science. Research projects span the tensile strength of spider silk for synthetic ligaments to the inflammatory effects of childhood snacking. Whether testing how diet shapes disease or charting animal behavior, students gain the tools to uncover how living systems work and how small discoveries can lead to big change. ■

into insights

Built for inquiry

Innovation at W&L has a footprint. In the IQ Center, students combine highpowered tools with imaginative thinking, merging motion capture with movement studies, 3D modeling with geology or virtual reality with experimental design. They prototype, test and

visualize complex ideas using spectrometers, laser scanners and VR rigs.

Beyond the IQ Center, students conduct research in the quantum computing lab, monitor sleep cycles in the behavioral neuroscience lab, grow experiments in the campus greenhouse and study sustainability in the campus garden. Together, these spaces turn scientific questions into experiments into insight. ■

TermSpring Awaits

As one of Washington and Lee’s signature experiences, Spring Term — a four-week mini-term at the end of the academic year — features faculty-led courses that allow students to get an upclose, intensive and personal experience of a subject at the experimental end of the spectrum. Classrooms can be anything and anywhere in the world. Need-based grant assistance is available to ensure that all students have the opportunity to take advantage of travel courses.

Regional Geology of Iceland (GEOL 373)

Green IS in Iceland: Sustainable Info Systems (BUS 369)

The Music, Folklore and Literature of Ireland ( MUSIC 238)

Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in Cuba (BUS 390/ECON 288)

2024 COURSES

2025 COURSES

COSTA RICA Supervised Study Abroad in Costa Rica (SPAN 201)

ARGENTINA Bitcoin in Practice (POL 280)

Reporting and Communicating the Climate Crisis in Barbados (JOUR 299)

DENMARK

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability (BUS 191)

SWEDEN AND DENMARK

Social Innovation in Scandinavia (BUS 367)

THE NETHERLANDS

Science in Art ( ARTH 356)

GHANA

Creating Field

Documentary on Human Rights in Ghana (FILM/ SOAN 273)

SPAIN

Seville and the Foundations of Spanish Civilization (SPAN 213)

SPAIN

Modern Art in Barcelona: From Gaudí to Dalí ( ARTH 268)

SPAIN

Contemporary Spain in Context: (Re)Searching Spanish Identity and Culture in the 21st Century (SPAN 214)

DENMARK

Exploring Happiness (CBSC 296)

GERMANY

Layered Berlin (GERM/BUS 392)

AUSTRIA

Traces of Empire (GERM 305)

ITALY

Rome: The Eternal City (CLAS 288)

FRANCE

Black Writers and the Allure of Paris ( AFCA/ENGL 286)

FRANCE

Collecting Empire: Museums, Botanical Specimens, and Assembling the French Colonial Empire ( FREN 285)

FRANCE

The Meaning of Life (Phil 251)

SWITZERLAND AND ITALY

Big Science in Twenty-First Century Europe ( PHYSICS 125)

CZECH REPUBLIC AND AUSTRIA

Haydn and Mozart: A Musical Tour of Prague and Vienna (MUS 239)

Democratic Community in Italy: Food, Shelter, Space, Voice ( POL 288)

ITALY

Educating for Global Citizenship: Policies, Practices and Purposes in the U.S. and Italy (EDUC 235)

JAPAN

Japanese Language and Culture Study (JAPN 100, 115, 265, 365)

SOUTH KOREA Statistics in Music ( MATH/MUS 260)

TAIWAN

Chinese Language (CHIN 103)

NEPAL

Caste at the Intersection of Economy, Religion and Law ( ECON/ REL 246)

NEW ZEALAND

Regional Geology of New Zealand (EEG 373)

There isn’t a better way to get to know Washington and Lee than by connecting with us directly.

W&L offers a variety of in-person and virtual options all designed to meet you where you are, whether you’re just starting your college search or narrowing your list.

Ways to Say ‘Hey’

Visit our campus in Lexington, Virginia, and experience W&L’s energy firsthand.

virtually to hear takeaways from faculty, staff and current students. that’s self-guided. Dip in, dip out — it’s all at your own pace and on your schedule. when we visit your high school or participate in a regional college fair. Join an open house Take an online tour Meet us in person

The Colonnade’s Front Lawn provides the perfect spot to hang out with friends, enjoy a game of spikeball or soak in the surroundings while you study.

WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS

204 W. Washington Street Lexington, Virginia 24450-2116