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Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

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2026

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Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

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2026

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Asian American Studies (AAS) is a vibrant interdisciplinary field of study about race and racism, colonialism and empire, immigration and diaspora, war and militarism, labor and embodiment, citizenship and identity, and much more. AAS research and teaching are grounded in the histories, social relations, and cultural expressions related to Asian American, Asian immigrant, and/or Asian diasporic people. Asian Americanist scholars, artists, and activists thus continuously generate critical insights into these communities within, or in relation to, the United States or the Americas more broadly. The field encompasses comparative methods of study, transnational analysis, and the work of scholars from around the globe. AAS courses at Williams encourage inquiry within traditional disciplines, bolster a number of interdisciplinary fields, and showcase a wide variety of theories, methods, and methodologies (both creative and scholarly). AAS courses emphasize intersectional analyses of difference (e.g. race, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, citizenship, class), as well as the social and cultural construction of place and identity. Knowledge in this field is thus crucial for understanding society, history, literature, religion, culture, art, and beyond.

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2026

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In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

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2026

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Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

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2026

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The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

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How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

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2026

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The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

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2026

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The interdisciplinary Program in Asian Studies invites students to explore the vast and diverse area that is Asia through individually designed six-course concentrations which can include coursework in anthropology, art, economics, history, language, literature, performance, political science, and religion. One course required for all concentrators, ASIA 210: “Approaches to Asian Studies,” ideally taken in the sophomore or junior year, engages with important theoretical topics and key concepts that are relevant to the comparative and critical study of Asia. Beyond that, students construct a three-course curricular focus, which can center on either a region or country interdisciplinarily (e.g. South Asia via history, anthropology, and art) or on a theme inter-regionally (e.g. Imperialism/Colonialism in Asia; Art and Performance in Asia). Two additional courses, which can include language study, add intellectual depth or breadth to the curricular focus.

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2026

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The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

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The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

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The East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major offered by the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DALLC) gives students an opportunity to pursue both language study and gain more in-depth knowledge about Chinese or Japanese culture. The major requires at least six semesters of language study (or to attain the minimum proficiency equivalent to the completion of 302) in one East Asian language offered by the department (currently Chinese Mandarin and Japanese), two CHIN/JAPN disciplinary courses on Chinese/Japanese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies, and two approved electives related to Chinese or Japanese language and culture. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese or Japanese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . Students who wish to take the Japanese placement test should contact the Japanese faculty.

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2026

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A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans, the coasts, and our interactions with both is critical in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. The oceans control our planet’s weather, they supply about 20% of the world’s food, and ocean-going cargo ships carry 90% of international trade goods. More than a third of the global population lives within some tens of kilometers of the coast, and about 10% of the world’s people could be directly impacted by sea level rise in the coming decades. Williams runs the Williams-Mystic Program at our coastal campus in Mystic, CT. Williams-Mystic is an award-winning interdisciplinary semester-away program open to sophomores and juniors, which investigates the multifaceted ocean and coastal system via the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Coastal and Ocean Studies (CaOS) provides an on-campus structure for students to weave the Williams-Mystic curriculum into an interdisciplinary concentration.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Recognizing the importance of data science, the College offers numerous opportunities for students to develop the ability to think critically and ethically, reason empirically, and communicate effectively about data. These opportunities are an excellent complement to other aspects of a liberal arts education and reflect the College’s mission : To develop in students both the wisdom and skills they will need to become responsible contributors to whatever communities they join, and the richly textured inner lives that will make them rigorously self-reflective, ethically alert, and imaginatively alive.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Because it is a coordinate program, NAIS is designed to be pursued in tandem with any major. Students integrate its courses with their primary field of study, enriching their disciplinary training while developing a broader understanding of Indigenous issues and methodologies. In doing so, they cultivate the analytical, ethical, and cross-cultural perspectives necessary to engage responsibly with Indigenous communities and with global questions of land, language, and belonging.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

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course

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2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

“On the Log” is a year-long initiative based on the distinctive Williams mythos of the log. Inspired by a legendary quote about the ideal college being a teacher on one end of a log and a student on the other, “On the Log” is an invitation to the whole community to explore and play with themes and ideas around face-to-face conversation, the power of place, and the enduring impact of direct and sustained interaction and engagement in every facet of a Williams education. Course offered as part of the initiative will approach these topics from a range of critical and creative perspectives. More information can be found on the On the Log site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Four credits of Physical Education represent one of the requirements for the College degree. There are five physical education units during the year. In the fall academic semester, there are two six-week physical education quarters. Winter Study is another unit, and there are two physical education quarters in the spring academic semester. Two different activities must be completed in the fulfillment of the requirement. Students must complete two physical education credits during the first year, all four physical education credits must be completed by the end of sophomore year if the student wishes to study abroad.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Although students on the Programme will be members of Exeter College, entitled to make full use of Exeter facilities (including the College Library), dine regularly in Hall, and join all College clubs and organizations on the same terms as other undergraduates at Exeter, students will reside in Ephraim Williams House, a compound of four buildings owned by Williams College, roughly 1.4 miles north of the city centre. Up to six students from Exeter College will normally reside in Ephraim Williams House each year, responsible for helping to integrate Williams students into the life of the College and the University. A resident director (and member of the Williams faculty) administers Ephraim Williams House, oversees the academic program, and serves as both the primary academic and personal advisor to Williams students in Oxford. More information can be found on the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Winter Study, which began in January of 1968, provides students a dramatically different educational experience. The differences are in the nature of the courses, the nature of the learning experience, and the change of educational pace and format from fall and spring semesters. In their academic work (which is graded Pass, Perfunctory Pass, or Fail) students can explore new fields at low risk, concentrate on one subject that requires a great deal of time, develop individual research projects, or work in a different milieu (as interns, for example, or participate in faculty-led travel courses). In addition, Winter Study offers students an opportunity for more independence and initiative in a less formal setting, more opportunity to participate in cultural events, and an occasion to get to know one another better. More information can be found on the Winter Study website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The STS program at Williams takes a broad umbrella approach to the discipline. Topics include: sociology of knowledge production; philosophy of science; history of science and technology; the economics of research and development; science and public policy; technology and the environment; scientometrics; interactions between humans and technology; science fiction and other artistic depictions of science and technology; boundaries between pseudo-science, religion, and science; and the broader ethical issues evoked by science and technology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Our Winter Study Internships course (CCE 21) is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Participating in a winter study internship is the opportunity to be immersed full time with an organization to explore a potential career interest via this short timeframe. While the ‘68 Center does post some internships for CCE 21, many students find or create internships independently. Career advisors are happy to meet with you throughout the fall semester to help you develop your strategy and support you in your Winter Study internship search.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing Skills (WS) requirement is to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on structure, style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WS courses may also include multiple drafts, peer review, conferences or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. (A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered a writing skills course.)

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Magnús T. Bernhardsson, Beschloss Professor for Distinguished Teaching and Research of History and Faculty Affiliate in Arabic Studies, Leadership Studies and Religion; 1990, B.A., 1992, M.A., Religion, 1999, Ph.D., History; affiliated with: History, Global Studies, Leadership Studies, Religion

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Asian American Studies (AAS) is a vibrant interdisciplinary field of study about race and racism, colonialism and empire, immigration and diaspora, war and militarism, labor and embodiment, citizenship and identity, and much more. AAS research and teaching are grounded in the histories, social relations, and cultural expressions related to Asian American, Asian immigrant, and/or Asian diasporic people. Asian Americanist scholars, artists, and activists thus continuously generate critical insights into these communities within, or in relation to, the United States or the Americas more broadly. The field encompasses comparative methods of study, transnational analysis, and the work of scholars from around the globe. AAS courses at Williams encourage inquiry within traditional disciplines, bolster a number of interdisciplinary fields, and showcase a wide variety of theories, methods, and methodologies (both creative and scholarly). AAS courses emphasize intersectional analyses of difference (e.g. race, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, citizenship, class), as well as the social and cultural construction of place and identity. Knowledge in this field is thus crucial for understanding society, history, literature, religion, culture, art, and beyond.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major offered by the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DALLC) gives students an opportunity to pursue both language study and gain more in-depth knowledge about Chinese or Japanese culture. The major requires at least six semesters of language study (or to attain the minimum proficiency equivalent to the completion of 302) in one East Asian language offered by the department (currently Chinese Mandarin and Japanese), two CHIN/JAPN disciplinary courses on Chinese/Japanese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies, and two approved electives related to Chinese or Japanese language and culture. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese or Japanese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . Students who wish to take the Japanese placement test should contact the Japanese faculty.

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

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course

Edition

2026

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catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The interdisciplinary Program in Asian Studies invites students to explore the vast and diverse area that is Asia through individually designed six-course concentrations which can include coursework in anthropology, art, economics, history, language, literature, performance, political science, and religion. One course required for all concentrators, ASIA 210: “Approaches to Asian Studies,” ideally taken in the sophomore or junior year, engages with important theoretical topics and key concepts that are relevant to the comparative and critical study of Asia. Beyond that, students construct a three-course curricular focus, which can center on either a region or country interdisciplinarily (e.g. South Asia via history, anthropology, and art) or on a theme inter-regionally (e.g. Imperialism/Colonialism in Asia; Art and Performance in Asia). Two additional courses, which can include language study, add intellectual depth or breadth to the curricular focus.

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans, the coasts, and our interactions with both is critical in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. The oceans control our planet’s weather, they supply about 20% of the world’s food, and ocean-going cargo ships carry 90% of international trade goods. More than a third of the global population lives within some tens of kilometers of the coast, and about 10% of the world’s people could be directly impacted by sea level rise in the coming decades. Williams runs the Williams-Mystic Program at our coastal campus in Mystic, CT. Williams-Mystic is an award-winning interdisciplinary semester-away program open to sophomores and juniors, which investigates the multifaceted ocean and coastal system via the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Coastal and Ocean Studies (CaOS) provides an on-campus structure for students to weave the Williams-Mystic curriculum into an interdisciplinary concentration.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Four credits of Physical Education represent one of the requirements for the College degree. There are five physical education units during the year. In the fall academic semester, there are two six-week physical education quarters. Winter Study is another unit, and there are two physical education quarters in the spring academic semester. Two different activities must be completed in the fulfillment of the requirement. Students must complete two physical education credits during the first year, all four physical education credits must be completed by the end of sophomore year if the student wishes to study abroad.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The STS program at Williams takes a broad umbrella approach to the discipline. Topics include: sociology of knowledge production; philosophy of science; history of science and technology; the economics of research and development; science and public policy; technology and the environment; scientometrics; interactions between humans and technology; science fiction and other artistic depictions of science and technology; boundaries between pseudo-science, religion, and science; and the broader ethical issues evoked by science and technology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Our Winter Study Internships course (CCE 21) is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Participating in a winter study internship is the opportunity to be immersed full time with an organization to explore a potential career interest via this short timeframe. While the ‘68 Center does post some internships for CCE 21, many students find or create internships independently. Career advisors are happy to meet with you throughout the fall semester to help you develop your strategy and support you in your Winter Study internship search.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Although students on the Programme will be members of Exeter College, entitled to make full use of Exeter facilities (including the College Library), dine regularly in Hall, and join all College clubs and organizations on the same terms as other undergraduates at Exeter, students will reside in Ephraim Williams House, a compound of four buildings owned by Williams College, roughly 1.4 miles north of the city centre. Up to six students from Exeter College will normally reside in Ephraim Williams House each year, responsible for helping to integrate Williams students into the life of the College and the University. A resident director (and member of the Williams faculty) administers Ephraim Williams House, oversees the academic program, and serves as both the primary academic and personal advisor to Williams students in Oxford. More information can be found on the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Winter Study, which began in January of 1968, provides students a dramatically different educational experience. The differences are in the nature of the courses, the nature of the learning experience, and the change of educational pace and format from fall and spring semesters. In their academic work (which is graded Pass, Perfunctory Pass, or Fail) students can explore new fields at low risk, concentrate on one subject that requires a great deal of time, develop individual research projects, or work in a different milieu (as interns, for example, or participate in faculty-led travel courses). In addition, Winter Study offers students an opportunity for more independence and initiative in a less formal setting, more opportunity to participate in cultural events, and an occasion to get to know one another better. More information can be found on the Winter Study website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing Skills (WS) requirement is to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on structure, style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WS courses may also include multiple drafts, peer review, conferences or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. (A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered a writing skills course.)

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major offered by the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DALLC) gives students an opportunity to pursue both language study and gain more in-depth knowledge about Chinese or Japanese culture. The major requires at least six semesters of language study (or to attain the minimum proficiency equivalent to the completion of 302) in one East Asian language offered by the department (currently Chinese Mandarin and Japanese), two CHIN/JAPN disciplinary courses on Chinese/Japanese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies, and two approved electives related to Chinese or Japanese language and culture. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese or Japanese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . Students who wish to take the Japanese placement test should contact the Japanese faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The interdisciplinary Program in Asian Studies invites students to explore the vast and diverse area that is Asia through individually designed six-course concentrations which can include coursework in anthropology, art, economics, history, language, literature, performance, political science, and religion. One course required for all concentrators, ASIA 210: “Approaches to Asian Studies,” ideally taken in the sophomore or junior year, engages with important theoretical topics and key concepts that are relevant to the comparative and critical study of Asia. Beyond that, students construct a three-course curricular focus, which can center on either a region or country interdisciplinarily (e.g. South Asia via history, anthropology, and art) or on a theme inter-regionally (e.g. Imperialism/Colonialism in Asia; Art and Performance in Asia). Two additional courses, which can include language study, add intellectual depth or breadth to the curricular focus.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans and our interactions with them is of increasing importance in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. We encourage students to investigate our WaterWorld from the perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional program that includes the literature, history, policy issues, and science of the ocean. Candidates for the concentration in Maritime Studies must complete a minimum of seven courses: the interdisciplinary introductory course (Geosciences 104 Oceanography), four intermediate core courses (at Williams-Mystic), an elective, and an Environmental Studies 400-level Senior Seminar.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Four credits of Physical Education represent one of the requirements for the College degree. There are five physical education units during the year. In the fall academic semester, there are two six-week physical education quarters. Winter Study is another unit, and there are two physical education quarters in the spring academic semester. Two different activities must be completed in the fulfillment of the requirement. Students must complete two physical education credits during the first year, all four physical education credits must be completed by the end of sophomore year if the student wishes to study abroad.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The STS program at Williams takes a broad umbrella approach to the discipline. Topics include: sociology of knowledge production; philosophy of science; history of science and technology; the economics of research and development; science and public policy; technology and the environment; scientometrics; interactions between humans and technology; science fiction and other artistic depictions of science and technology; boundaries between pseudo-science, religion, and science; and the broader ethical issues evoked by science and technology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Although students on the Programme will be members of Exeter College, entitled to make full use of Exeter facilities (including the College Library), dine regularly in Hall, and join all College clubs and organizations on the same terms as other undergraduates at Exeter, students will reside in Ephraim Williams House, a compound of four buildings owned by Williams College, roughly 1.4 miles north of the city centre. Up to six students from Exeter College will normally reside in Ephraim Williams House each year, responsible for helping to integrate Williams students into the life of the College and the University. A resident director (and member of the Williams faculty) administers Ephraim Williams House, oversees the academic program, and serves as both the primary academic and personal advisor to Williams students in Oxford. More information can be found on the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing Skills (WS) requirement is to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on structure, style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WS courses may also include multiple drafts, peer review, conferences or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. (A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered a writing skills course.)

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major offered by the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DALLC) gives students an opportunity to pursue both language study and gain more in-depth knowledge about Chinese or Japanese culture. The major requires at least six semesters of language study (or to attain the minimum proficiency equivalent to the completion of 302) in one East Asian language offered by the department (currently Chinese Mandarin and Japanese), two CHIN/JAPN disciplinary courses on Chinese/Japanese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies, and two approved electives related to Chinese or Japanese language and culture. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese or Japanese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . Students who wish to take the Japanese placement test should contact the Japanese faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The interdisciplinary Program in Asian Studies invites students to explore the vast and diverse area that is Asia through individually designed six-course concentrations which can include coursework in anthropology, art, economics, history, language, literature, performance, political science, and religion. One course required for all concentrators, ASIA 210: “Approaches to Asian Studies,” ideally taken in the sophomore or junior year, engages with important theoretical topics and key concepts that are relevant to the comparative and critical study of Asia. Beyond that, students construct a three-course curricular focus, which can center on either a region or country interdisciplinarily (e.g. South Asia via history, anthropology, and art) or on a theme inter-regionally (e.g. Imperialism/Colonialism in Asia; Art and Performance in Asia). Two additional courses, which can include language study, add intellectual depth or breadth to the curricular focus.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans and our interactions with them is of increasing importance in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. We encourage students to investigate our WaterWorld from the perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional program that includes the literature, history, policy issues, and science of the ocean. Candidates for the concentration in Maritime Studies must complete a minimum of seven courses: the interdisciplinary introductory course (Geosciences 104 Oceanography), four intermediate core courses (at Williams-Mystic), an elective, and an Environmental Studies 400-level Senior Seminar.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Four credits of Physical Education represent one of the requirements for the College degree. There are five physical education units during the year. In the fall academic semester, there are two six-week physical education quarters. Winter Study is another unit, and there are two physical education quarters in the spring academic semester. Two different activities must be completed in the fulfillment of the requirement. Students must complete two physical education credits during the first year, all four physical education credits must be completed by the end of sophomore year if the student wishes to study abroad.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The STS program at Williams takes a broad umbrella approach to the discipline. Topics include: sociology of knowledge production; philosophy of science; history of science and technology; the economics of research and development; science and public policy; technology and the environment; scientometrics; interactions between humans and technology; science fiction and other artistic depictions of science and technology; boundaries between pseudo-science, religion, and science; and the broader ethical issues evoked by science and technology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Although students on the Programme will be members of Exeter College, entitled to make full use of Exeter facilities (including the College Library), dine regularly in Hall, and join all College clubs and organizations on the same terms as other undergraduates at Exeter, students will reside in Ephraim Williams House, a compound of four buildings owned by Williams College, roughly 1.4 miles north of the city centre. Up to six students from Exeter College will normally reside in Ephraim Williams House each year, responsible for helping to integrate Williams students into the life of the College and the University. A resident director (and member of the Williams faculty) administers Ephraim Williams House, oversees the academic program, and serves as both the primary academic and personal advisor to Williams students in Oxford. More information can be found on the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing Skills (WS) requirement is to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on structure, style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WS courses may also include multiple drafts, peer review, conferences or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. (A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered a writing skills course.)

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The interdisciplinary Program in Asian Studies invites students to explore the vast and diverse area that is Asia through individually designed six-course concentrations which can include coursework in anthropology, art, economics, history, language, literature, performance, political science, and religion. One course required for all concentrators, ASIA 210: “Approaches to Asian Studies,” ideally taken in the sophomore or junior year, engages with important theoretical topics and key concepts that are relevant to the comparative and critical study of Asia. Beyond that, students construct a three-course curricular focus, which can center on either a region or country interdisciplinarily (e.g. South Asia via history, anthropology, and art) or on a theme inter-regionally (e.g. Imperialism/Colonialism in Asia; Art and Performance in Asia). Two additional courses, which can include language study, add intellectual depth or breadth to the curricular focus.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The East Asian Languages and Cultures (EALC) major offered by the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (DALLC) gives students an opportunity to pursue both language study and gain more in-depth knowledge about Chinese or Japanese culture. The major requires at least six semesters of language study (or to attain the minimum proficiency equivalent to the completion of 302) in one East Asian language offered by the department (currently Chinese Mandarin and Japanese), two CHIN/JAPN disciplinary courses on Chinese/Japanese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies, and two approved electives related to Chinese or Japanese language and culture. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese or Japanese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . Students who wish to take the Japanese placement test should contact the Japanese faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Asian American Studies (AAS) is a vibrant interdisciplinary field of study about race and racism, colonialism and empire, immigration and diaspora, war and militarism, labor and embodiment, citizenship and identity, and much more. AAS research and teaching are grounded in the histories, social relations, and cultural expressions related to Asian American, Asian immigrant, and/or Asian diasporic people. Asian Americanist scholars, artists, and activists thus continuously generate critical insights into these communities within, or in relation to, the United States or the Americas more broadly. The field encompasses comparative methods of study, transnational analysis, and the work of scholars from around the globe. AAS courses at Williams encourage inquiry within traditional disciplines, bolster a number of interdisciplinary fields, and showcase a wide variety of theories, methods, and methodologies (both creative and scholarly). AAS courses emphasize intersectional analyses of difference (e.g. race, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, citizenship, class), as well as the social and cultural construction of place and identity. Knowledge in this field is thus crucial for understanding society, history, literature, religion, culture, art, and beyond.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans and our interactions with them is of increasing importance in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. We encourage students to investigate our WaterWorld from the perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional program that includes the literature, history, policy issues, and science of the ocean. Candidates for the concentration in Maritime Studies must complete a minimum of seven courses: the interdisciplinary introductory course (Geosciences 104 Oceanography), four intermediate core courses (at Williams-Mystic), an elective, and an Environmental Studies 400-level Senior Seminar.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Four credits of Physical Education represent one of the requirements for the College degree. There are five physical education units during the year. In the fall academic semester, there are two six-week physical education quarters. Winter Study is another unit, and there are two physical education quarters in the spring academic semester. Two different activities must be completed in the fulfillment of the requirement. Students must complete two physical education credits during the first year, all four physical education credits must be completed by the end of sophomore year if the student wishes to study abroad.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The STS program at Williams takes a broad umbrella approach to the discipline. Topics include: sociology of knowledge production; philosophy of science; history of science and technology; the economics of research and development; science and public policy; technology and the environment; scientometrics; interactions between humans and technology; science fiction and other artistic depictions of science and technology; boundaries between pseudo-science, religion, and science; and the broader ethical issues evoked by science and technology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Although students on the Programme will be members of Exeter College, entitled to make full use of Exeter facilities (including the College Library), dine regularly in Hall, and join all College clubs and organizations on the same terms as other undergraduates at Exeter, students will reside in Ephraim Williams House, a compound of four buildings owned by Williams College, roughly 1.4 miles north of the city centre. Up to six students from Exeter College will normally reside in Ephraim Williams House each year, responsible for helping to integrate Williams students into the life of the College and the University. A resident director (and member of the Williams faculty) administers Ephraim Williams House, oversees the academic program, and serves as both the primary academic and personal advisor to Williams students in Oxford. More information can be found on the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing Skills (WS) requirement is to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on structure, style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WS courses may also include multiple drafts, peer review, conferences or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. (A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered a writing skills course.)

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The mission of the Department of Asian Studies is to help as many students as possible-both majors and non-majors-develop practical proficiency in Asian languages and, in the tradition of the liberal arts, acquire a meaningful understanding of important facets of one or more of the disciplines represented within Asian Studies (including anthropology, art history, economics, history, linguistics, literature, music, political science, religion, and sociology), so that they may realize their fullest intellectual and personal potential and be able to make useful contributions to society. We offer courses in English in the field of Asian Studies as well as courses in Chinese and Japanese language, literature, and culture. Three distinct majors are offered: a major in Chinese; a major in Japanese; and an interdisciplinary Asian Studies major which allows students to choose from a wide range of courses in the anthropology, art, economics, history, languages, linguistics, literatures, music, politics, religion, and sociology of China, Taiwan, Japan, and other Asian countries. More information can be found on the Asian Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Asian American Studies (AAS) is a vibrant interdisciplinary field of study about race and racism, colonialism and empire, immigration and diaspora, war and militarism, labor and embodiment, citizenship and identity, and much more. AAS research and teaching are grounded in the histories, social relations, and cultural expressions related to Asian American, Asian immigrant, and/or Asian diasporic people. Asian Americanist scholars, artists, and activists thus continuously generate critical insights into these communities within, or in relation to, the United States or the Americas more broadly. The field encompasses comparative methods of study, transnational analysis, and the work of scholars from around the globe. AAS courses at Williams encourage inquiry within traditional disciplines, bolster a number of interdisciplinary fields, and showcase a wide variety of theories, methods, and methodologies (both creative and scholarly). AAS courses emphasize intersectional analyses of difference (e.g. race, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, citizenship, class), as well as the social and cultural construction of place and identity. Knowledge in this field is thus crucial for understanding society, history, literature, religion, culture, art, and beyond.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans and our interactions with them is of increasing importance in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. We encourage students to investigate our WaterWorld from the perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional program that includes the literature, history, policy issues, and science of the ocean. Candidates for the concentration in Maritime Studies must complete a minimum of seven courses: the interdisciplinary introductory course (Geosciences 104 Oceanography), four intermediate core courses (at Williams-Mystic), an elective, and an Environmental Studies 400-level Senior Seminar.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The following will serve as examples: HSCI 101 is an introduction to science and technology studies, and concentrates on key aspects of contemporary science and technology relevant to many issues of living in a technological society. HSCI 224 Scientific Revolutions deals with the emergence of modern science in the 1600s and 1700s, and with subsequent revolutions in scientific thought; as such it complements courses related to modern European history. HSCI 240 traces the influential role of science and invention in the shaping of American culture, and complements offerings in American Studies and American History. HSCI 320, an historical overview of the ideas, practice, and organization of medicine, provides context for related coursework in History, Philosophy, and the Premed Program. More information can be found on the History of Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Four credits of Physical Education represent one of the requirements for the College degree. There are five physical education units during the year. In the fall academic semester, there are two six-week physical education quarters. Winter Study is another unit, and there are two physical education quarters in the spring academic semester. Two different activities must be completed in the fulfillment of the requirement. Students must complete two physical education credits during the first year, all four physical education credits must be completed by the end of sophomore year if the student wishes to study abroad.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Although students on the Programme will be members of Exeter College, entitled to make full use of Exeter facilities (including the College Library), dine regularly in Hall, and join all College clubs and organizations on the same terms as other undergraduates at Exeter, students will reside in Ephraim Williams House, a compound of four buildings owned by Williams College, roughly 1.4 miles north of the city centre. Up to six students from Exeter College will normally reside in Ephraim Williams House each year, responsible for helping to integrate Williams students into the life of the College and the University. A resident director (and member of the Williams faculty) administers Ephraim Williams House, oversees the academic program, and serves as both the primary academic and personal advisor to Williams students in Oxford. More information can be found on the Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford University site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The STS program at Williams takes a broad umbrella approach to the discipline. Topics include: sociology of knowledge production; philosophy of science; history of science and technology; the economics of research and development; science and public policy; technology and the environment; scientometrics; interactions between humans and technology; science fiction and other artistic depictions of science and technology; boundaries between pseudo-science, religion, and science; and the broader ethical issues evoked by science and technology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing Skills (WS) requirement is to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on structure, style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WS courses may also include multiple drafts, peer review, conferences or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. (A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered a writing skills course.)

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

In collaboration with the Clark Art Institute, Williams College offers a two-year course of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in the History of Art. The objective of the program is to offer to a small number of students a thorough professional preparation for careers in the visual arts, including in academia and museums, and to enable them to pursue further research whether independently or at institutions offering higher graduate degrees. The curriculum consists of seminars on a wide range of art historical subjects. Opportunities are provided for practical experience in museum work at the Clark, the Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA), the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), and other local affiliates. The program is full-time and in-person, and the degree is normally awarded after two years of resident graduate study; students are required to reside in Williamstown or its vicinity while the program is in session.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine, and what will happen when it stops? How do we detect and study Earth-like planets among the many circling other stars? How did the first instants of time determine the behavior of the Universe we now observe 13.8 billion years later? Astronomers grapple with questions like these. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone interested in learning about the Universe and new astronomical discoveries. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. Most take advantage of our observational facilities including a 24-inch telescope with sensitive electronic detectors, and our own computer network for image processing and data analysis. We offer an Astrophysics major and an Astronomy major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The mission of the Department of Asian Studies is to help as many students as possible-both majors and non-majors-develop practical proficiency in Asian languages and, in the tradition of the liberal arts, acquire a meaningful understanding of important facets of one or more of the disciplines represented within Asian Studies (including anthropology, art history, economics, history, linguistics, literature, music, political science, religion, and sociology), so that they may realize their fullest intellectual and personal potential and be able to make useful contributions to society. We offer courses in English in the field of Asian Studies as well as courses in Chinese and Japanese language, literature, and culture. Three distinct majors are offered: a major in Chinese; a major in Japanese; and an interdisciplinary Asian Studies major which allows students to choose from a wide range of courses in the anthropology, art, economics, history, languages, linguistics, literatures, music, politics, religion, and sociology of China, Taiwan, Japan, and other Asian countries. More information can be found on the Asian Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College recognizes that in a diverse and globalized world, the critical examination of difference, power, and equity is an essential part of a liberal arts education. The Difference, Power, and Equity (DPE) requirement provides students with the opportunity to analyze the shaping of social differences, dynamics of unequal power, and processes of change. Courses satisfying the DPE requirement include content that encourages students to confront and reflect on the operations of difference, power and equity. They also provide students with critical tools they will need to be responsible agents of change. Employing a variety of pedagogical approaches and theoretical perspectives, DPE courses examine themes including but not limited to race, class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The following will serve as examples: HSCI 101 is an introduction to science and technology studies, and concentrates on key aspects of contemporary science and technology relevant to many issues of living in a technological society. HSCI 224 Scientific Revolutions deals with the emergence of modern science in the 1600s and 1700s, and with subsequent revolutions in scientific thought; as such it complements courses related to modern European history. HSCI 240 traces the influential role of science and invention in the shaping of American culture, and complements offerings in American Studies and American History. HSCI 320, an historical overview of the ideas, practice, and organization of medicine, provides context for related coursework in History, Philosophy, and the Premed Program. More information can be found on the History of Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through a wide range of courses in the social sciences and the humanities, the curriculum addresses a number of questions. How do we define leadership? What are the bases of leaders’ legitimacy in different historical contexts? How should we understand the variation between leaders emerging through tradition, charisma, and legal sanction? How do different types of leaders exercise and maintain their authority? What are the distinctive habits of mind of leaders in different cultural settings? What are the moral dilemmas that leaders across all settings face? What are the typical challenges to established leadership? How does one analyze the experiences of leaders in widely disparate contexts to generate systematic comparative understandings of why history judges some leaders great and others failures? How and why do these evaluations about the efficacy of leaders shift over time? More information can be found on the Leadership Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How is language structured? What are the social forces associated with the development of language? How does the mind process and produce language? What are the best methods for teaching and learning a new language? Linguistics is a vibrant and multifaceted field that bridges the academic and the everyday. From Sociolinguistics to Linguistic Anthropology to Applied Linguistics, each of the various disciplines associated with the general area of Linguistics provides an illuminating perspective on the ways in which language works.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Music Department offers students an exceptionally wide variety of opportunities to study music both inside and outside the classroom through performance, composition, ethnomusicology, theory, and history. We offer courses in music from throughout history and across the globe for both the general student and the music major and at every level. In addition, performance opportunities in numerous ensembles and in individual performance instruction are available to all students. More information can be found on the Music site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Neuroscience is a rapidly growing field concerned with understanding the relationship between brain, mind, and behavior. The interdisciplinary nature of the field is apparent when surveying those who call themselves neuroscientists. Among these are anatomists, physiologists, chemists, psychologists, molecular biologists, computer scientists, linguists, and ethologists. The areas that neuroscience addresses are equally diverse and range from physiological and molecular studies of single neurons, to investigations of how systems of neurons produce phenomena such as vision and movement, to the study of the neural basis of complex cognitive phenomena such as memory, language, and consciousness. Applications of neuroscience research are rapidly growing and include the development of drugs to treat disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, the use of noninvasive techniques for imaging the brain, and the investigation of methods for repair of the damaged neural tissue. Combining these approaches to study a single remarkably complex organ-the brain-and the behavioral outcomes of its activity requires an integrative and interdisciplinary approach. The Neuroscience Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore this approach. It consists of two prerequisites (Biology 101 and Psychology 201), an introductory course, three electives, and a capstone seminar. Students may also engage in original research under the supervision of Neuroscience faculty members. More information can be found on the Neuroscience site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans and our interactions with them is of increasing importance in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. We encourage students to investigate our WaterWorld from the perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional program that includes the literature, history, policy issues, and science of the ocean. Candidates for the concentration in Maritime Studies must complete a minimum of seven courses: the interdisciplinary introductory course (Geosciences 104 Oceanography), four intermediate core courses (at Williams-Mystic), an elective, and an Environmental Studies 400-level Senior Seminar.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

What is light? How does a laser work? What is a black hole? What are the fundamental building blocks of the universe? Physics majors and Astrophysics majors study these and related questions to understand the physical world around us, from the very small to the very large. A physics student practices the experimental methods used to learn about this world and explores the mathematical techniques and theories developed to explain these physical phenomena. A Physics major or Astrophysics major serves as preparation for further work in physics, astrophysics, applied physics, other sciences, engineering, medical research, science teaching and writing, and other careers involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and insight into the fundamental principles of nature. More information can be found on the Physics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Political Economy major takes students from introductory courses in Economics and Political Science all the way to a senior year group project of independent student research and concrete policy proposals. Three introductory courses and four electives in these two fields complement four courses peculiar to the Political Economy major. Three of these four - POEC 250, POEC 401 and POEC 402 - are taught jointly by a political scientist and an economist, and the major’s culmination is a public presentation of student senior policy projects. As part of these projects, the major includes (within POEC 402) a class trip to Washington, DC during the first Sunday through Wednesday of spring break. All majors are required to participate in this trip. Given the program’s public policy orientation, majors must also have an active learning experience (such as an internship or a public policy-related winter study course) to fulfill an experiential education requirement. More information can be found at the Political Economy Program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Political science is interested in the question of power-how it is created, exercised, justified, and challenged to engage in problem solving, facilitate citizen action, and participate in world-making. Political scientists study democracy, war, group conflicts, law, rights, wealth distribution, and authority, as well as the individuals, institutions, and social forces that shape them. As a social science, the study of politics considers both the dynamics and ethics of power, which in turn involves conceptions of community, identity, justice, and citizenship. The effort to understand politics aims not only to describe and explain, but also to improve collective life. To this end, the Political Science Department strives to cultivate in its students the habits and skills of clear thought, rigorous analysis, and effective argumentation in writing and speech.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Public health seeks to understand, and also to protect and improve, health at the level of a community or population. Communities make decisions and allocate resources that, intentionally or not, fundamentally shape human life. For example, great reductions in sickness and early death have come from social interventions with relatively low financial cost, such as physically separating drinking water from sewage, or distributing aspirin, condoms, mosquito nets, vaccines or soap, or sharing new ideas about life’s possibilities. The way a society is organized affects the way that social and scientific knowledge is distributed within it; access to that knowledge shapes health at the individual level. At its heart, the study of public health focuses on questions about relationships between science and society, and between reality and possibility: what effective public health policy is and how we can measure its effectiveness; what the relationship is, and ought to be, between research and policy; how we reconcile important moral and economic claims, or balance other values that compete with maximizing health; what counts as disease, over time and among cultures; how we think about cause and responsibility; what constitutes a healthy environment; how our fundamental beliefs determine our approaches to health decisions; and how such decisions ought to be made. More information can be found on the Public Health site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

To engage in philosophy is to ask a variety of questions about the world and our place in it-questions that we confront in our everyday lives or that underlie our ordinary practices. What is a good, meaningful, or happy human life (ethics and politics)? What do we owe both humans and non-human species as well as future generations (applied ethics/practical philosophy)? Does god exist (metaphysics)? What can we know, and what makes a belief or statement true (epistemology)? What is justice? Why obey the law? When is it just to disobey laws? Are there objective standards for judging works of art? Thus, philosophers also address questions relevant to many disciplines.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Russian Program at Williams offers the opportunity to study the Russian language on all levels from beginner to advanced and the chance to learn about Russia’s rich history of literature, culture, politics, and art in courses taught entirely in English. Russian language classes at Williams are small and intimate, and they emphasize speaking Russian from the very first day. As a matter of course, Russian language classes focus on the relationship between language and culture and explore how language arises from and contributes to cultural difference. We encourage students to study abroad in Russia and other countries of the Former Soviet Union, and we offer both a 10-course Russian major and a 7-course Certificate in Russian. If you already know some Russian and would like to continue studying the language at Williams, you should consult with a member of the Department to determine which language course is right for you. We also sponsor a weekly Russian Table, to which all Russian speakers on campus and in the community are invited, as well as annual events like a Russian Pot-Luck Dinner each fall and a Russian Talent Night in spring. More information can be found on the Russian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Quantitative/Formal Reasoning (QFR) requirement is intended to help students become adept at reasoning mathematically and abstractly. The ability to apply a formal method to reach conclusions, use numbers comfortably, and employ the research tools necessary to analyze data lessens barriers to carrying out professional and economic roles. The hallmarks of a QFR course are the representation of facts in a language of mathematical symbols and the use of formal rules to obtain a determinate answer. Primary evaluation in these courses is based on multistep mathematical, statistical, or logical inference (as opposed to descriptive answers).

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Department of Theatre is committed to the merging of embodied practice and scholarship in the fields of theatre and performance studies. The curriculum is dedicated to the study, practice, appreciation, and interpretation of theatre, performance, and other time-based arts. The major in Theatre emphasizes the collaborative nature of the theatre and performance making by drawing upon courses offered by faculty of the Language, Literature, Music, and Art Departments. Although students will be equipped to proceed to graduate and professional schools in theatre, the major is primarily directed toward those interested in studying theatre and performance as artistic phenomenon and as interpretive tools. Because a deep understanding of theatre requires training and experience with the synthesis on stage, the major includes curricular study of production and performance, as well as continued participation in departmental stage production.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The ways in which particular tutorials are conducted vary across the disciplines, but most tutorials at Williams follow a roughly similar outline. Tutorials are usually limited to 10 students. At the start of term, the instructor divides the students into pairs, each of which meets weekly with the instructor for roughly one hour. Many tutorial courses begin and end the term with a group seminar; some instructors may also hold regular group meetings of all tutorial members to provide background information designed to facilitate students’ independent work. But the heart of every tutorial is the weekly meeting between the instructor and two students. At these weekly meetings, one student delivers a prepared essay or presentation (e.g., an analysis of a text or work of art, a discussion of a problem set, a report on laboratory exercises, etc.) pertaining to the assignment for that week, while the other student-and then the instructor-offer a critique. In the following week, students switch roles. Over the course of the semester, students typically write five or six essays (usually in the range of 4-7 pages) and offer five or six critiques (roughly 2-3 pages) of their partners’ work.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The role that science and technology have played in shaping modern industrial societies is generally acknowledged, but few members of those societies, including scientists and engineers, possess any understanding of how that process has occurred or much knowledge of the complex technical and social interactions that direct change in either science or society. The Science and Technology Studies Program is intended to help create a coherent course of study for students interested in these questions by providing a broad range of perspectives. At present, courses are offered which examine the history or philosophy of science and technology, the sociology and psychology of science, the economics of research and development and technological change, science and public policy, technology assessment, technology and the environment, scientometrics, and ethical-value issues. More information can be found on the Science Center site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students may participate in a variety of ways, ranging from taking one course to a sustained in-depth study of teaching and learning geared to those who want to become teachers or educational psychologists. We seek to connect students with one another, to bring in expert teachers to provide mentoring, and to create links across the curriculum so that students can see the vital connections between what they study (French, Algebra or Biology, for example) and the process of teaching those topics to elementary and high school students. The Program is open to any student interested in education and offers opportunities for all levels of interest, including those who want to find out about certification and graduate study.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Through four integrated courses-marine policy, maritime history, ocean literature, and either marine ecology or oceanographic processes-students explore critical topics including climate change, environmental justice, and coastal resilience. Coursework is enriched by group travel on multi-day field seminars. Seminars in 2025-26 include exploration of the rapidly warming Gulf of Maine and the dramatic sea rise and land-loss story of the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Additional one-day seminars may include travel to New Bedford, New London, New York City, and Block Island, meeting local industry leaders and community stakeholders to deepen the experience.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Winter Study, which began in January of 1968, provides students a dramatically different educational experience. The differences are in the nature of the courses, the nature of the learning experience, and the change of educational pace and format from fall and spring semesters. In their academic work (which is graded Pass, Perfunctory Pass, or Fail) students can explore new fields at low risk, concentrate on one subject that requires a great deal of time, develop individual research projects, or work in a different milieu (as interns, for example, or participate in faculty-led travel courses). In addition, Winter Study offers students an opportunity for more independence and initiative in a less formal setting, more opportunity to participate in cultural events, and an occasion to get to know one another better. More information can be found on the Winter Study website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies can be defined as the study of how gender and sexuality are constructed - including how they are inflected by differences of race, ethnicity, sexuality, class, and more - and how these shape individuals and society. Scholarship in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies has raised important epistemological questions, developed essential methodological critiques, brought neglected material and perspectives into established fields, and challenged both specific intellectual frameworks and the organization of knowledge more generally. The program in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies thus includes (1) core courses that acquaint students with key analytical frameworks, theories, and concepts in this interdisciplinary field, and (2) gender and/or sexuality-focused courses from a wide variety of disciplines that allow students to look at phenomena/problems of interest from particular perspectives - and potentially study the same phenomena/problems from different disciplinary perspectives.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Williams College Spanish program includes a wide range of courses for beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Whether you have never studied a language before, or already are a native or near-native speaker, we will guide you to the appropriate level. You will be able to practice Spanish in a variety of contexts: discussion of current events, intellectual matters, literary studies, and film. The curriculum offers students a solid base in linguistic fluency as well as the skills for sophisticated literary and cultural analysis, and everyday life in a foreign country. We strongly encourage our students to study away during their Junior year, the summer and/or the Winter Study period (after your first-year). Our students have gone to Mexico, Costa Rica, Spain, and Guatemala, to take language classes, participate in volunteer programs, teach English, and complete internships. Our graduates have secured prestigious Fulbright teaching and research grants in Latin America and Spain, and many have used their linguistic and cultural training as they pursue careers in fields including law, health care, journalism, labor and community organizing, education, and doctoral degrees in various fields. Our program hosts many cultural and social activities: weekly language tables, film festivals, poetry readings, parties, and samplings of international cuisine. More information can be found on the Spanish site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Writing-Intensive (WI) requirement is intended to improve student writing proficiency across disciplines. Students in these courses will receive guidance on style, argumentation, and other significant aspects of writing, as well as evaluation and criticism of their writing throughout the semester. This may be achieved through a variety of approaches: brief assignments spaced over the semester, sequenced assignments leading to a longer final paper, etc. WI courses may also include multiple drafts, conferences, peer review, or class discussions designed to improve writing skills. A course with a single long paper due at the end of the semester, but with no required or structured means of addressing writing issues, would not be considered writing-intensive. WI courses require a minimum of 20 pages of writing and have a maximum enrollment of 19-this allows the instructor to devote appropriate attention to writing over the course of the semester.

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course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The major is designed to perform two related functions: to expose the student to the methods and issues involved in the study of “religion” as a phenomenon of psychological, sociological, and cultural/historical dimensions; and to confront students with the beliefs, practices, and values of specific religions. The major further provides students with critical interdisciplinary analytical tools and new ways to appreciate and interpret cultural, historical, political, and philosophical differences more generally. Religion challenges its majors to ask the most important questions and encourages them to study how different peoples have attempted to render their lives meaningful. What one learns as a Religion major is therefore remarkably applicable to not only a range of other fields, but also to life in general. More information can be found on the Religion site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Anthropology explores the full range of human experience by introducing students to the study of tribal and peasant societies, especially those on the periphery of the West, as well as to the cultural complexities of stratified, industrial societies such as our own. Integrated with the study of specific peoples is an examination of the various analytical schemes anthropologists have developed to understand them. Courses offered in the department represent two of Anthropology’s major subfields: sociocultural anthropology-that is, the comparative study of human social life, institutions, and beliefs-and archaeology, the study of the origins and lifeways of prehistoric peoples. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Maghrebi and Middle Eastern Studies is a vibrant and growing discipline in the United States and around the world. This field covers a wide array of literatures, societies, cultures, states, and economies. Students wishing to enter this rich and varied discipline can begin with a major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams. The major is designed to give students a foundation in the Arabic language and to provide the opportunity for the interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary study of the Arab, Islamic, and Middle Eastern areas. A major or a certificate in Arabic Studies at Williams College is the gateway into a wider field that can take student or the professional from Morocco to Iraq. More information can be found on the Arabic Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Sociology studies the social and institutional intricacies of modern industrial and post-industrial societies and the social psychological dilemmas facing the individual in our epoch. Sociology courses introduce students to classical and contemporary social thought, to the systematic analysis of social institutions and social interaction, and to the social analysis of modern culture. The Sociology major at Williams emphasizes the humanistic tradition of sociology, stressing qualitative approaches. More information can be found on the Anthropology and Sociology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Africana Studies is a thriving interdisciplinary academic major offering students an in-depth understanding of the history, politics, religion, and culture of peoples of African descent, especially in the Americas. We use music, dance, literature, the arts, and scholarly works to explore the origins of this field of study in the fulcrum of African American and Caribbean movements of resistance. A trans-national program, Africana Studies encourages students to study abroad, and offers travel Winter Study courses designed to expose students to experiential learning settings outside of the classroom. More information can be found on the Africana Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Art Department offers students different paths to explore the vital connection between visuality and creativity. With courses of study in the History of Art and the Practice of Studio Art (or a combination of History and Studio), the major is designed to train students to develop the technical, conceptual, critical, and historical tools they need to engage the visual world. More information can be found on the Art Department site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of instruction in Modern Standard Chinese (Mandarin), designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing, as well as introductory courses in Classical Chinese, and occasionally, Cantonese and Taiwanese. The department also offers disciplinary courses taught either in English or in Chinese on Chinese literature, linguistics, or cultural studies. Students majoring in Chinese are strongly encouraged to study in mainland China or Taiwan during one or both semesters of their junior year, or during the summer. The course numbering system for Mandarin is sequential. Students move from Chinese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402. Independent study (Chinese 497, 498) may be offered depending on student needs and available resources. Students who have studied or otherwise developed some familiarity with Chinese language before coming to Williams and who wish to continue their language study at the college should complete a placement evaluation before pre-registering for a language course. More information about the Chinese placement evaluation can be found at https://chinese.williams.edu/faq/ . For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Chinese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The mission of the Department of Asian Studies is to help as many students as possible-both majors and non-majors-develop practical proficiency in Asian languages and, in the tradition of the liberal arts, acquire a meaningful understanding of important facets of one or more of the disciplines represented within Asian Studies (including anthropology, art history, economics, history, linguistics, literature, music, political science, religion, and sociology), so that they may realize their fullest intellectual and personal potential and be able to make useful contributions to society. We offer courses in English in the field of Asian Studies as well as courses in Chinese and Japanese language, literature, and culture. Three distinct majors are offered: a major in Chinese; a major in Japanese; and an interdisciplinary Asian Studies major which allows students to choose from a wide range of courses in the anthropology, art, economics, history, languages, linguistics, literatures, music, politics, religion, and sociology of China, Taiwan, Japan, and other Asian countries. More information can be found on the Asian Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to explore living systems in molecular terms. Biochemistry and molecular biology are at the interface between the chemical and biological methods of looking at nature; therefore, the program draws heavily from these disciplines. While chemistry is concerned with the relationship between molecular structure and reactions, and biology focuses on cells and organisms, biochemistry and molecular biology probe the details of the structures and interactions of molecules in living systems in order to provide the foundation for a better understanding of biological molecules both individually and as members of more complex structures. More information can be found on the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Bioinformatics, genomics, and proteomics are rapidly advancing fields that integrate the tools and knowledge from biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, and statistics in research at the intersection of the biological and informational sciences. Inspired by the enormous amount of biological data that are being generated from the sequencing of genomes, these new fields will help us pose and answer biological questions that have long been considered too complex to address. Research in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics will also significantly impact society affecting medicine, culture, economics, and politics. More information can be found on the Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Proteomics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Biology curriculum has been designed to provide students with a broad base for understanding principles governing life processes at all levels, from the molecular to the ecological, and for addressing critical challenges of the 21st century. The curriculum is integrative, and enables students to explore and gain expertise in fields including biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physiology, development, neuroscience, ecology, environmental biology, and behavior. Courses emphasize fundamentals including the coupling of structure to function, the transfer of energy in living systems, information flow and storage, communication, and the molding of diversity by the evolutionary process. In upper-level courses and in independent and honors research, students have the opportunity to investigate areas at the frontiers of modern biology.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

A major in chemistry can be achieved in several ways, preferably beginning in the student’s first year at Williams, but also beginning in the sophomore year. For students who are interested in fulfilling pre-medical requirements and/or pursuing study abroad, we strongly recommend consultation with the chemistry department as early as possible in order to plan a course of study. Building on a foundation in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physical chemistry, a student elects additional advanced courses to complete a major that is consistent with their background in other sciences, interests, and goals. A student’s program can emphasize any subdiscipline of chemistry including biochemistry, environmental, inorganic, materials, organic, and physical chemistry. Students considering a major in chemistry should consult with a member of the department as early as possible in order to plan a program which best suits their interests and abilities and which makes full use of their previous preparation. More information can be found on the Chemistry site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Classics at Williams includes a broad range of courses in the Greek and Latin languages and the cultures of the ancient Mediterranean. Courses in Greek and Latin enable students to increase their linguistic facility as they study important authors, subjects, and periods and develop a variety of methodological skills. Courses in Classical Studies, in which texts are read in English translation, introduce students to and make them familiar with the literature, history, mythology, art, archaeology, religion and philosophy of ancient Greece, Rome, and their broader Mediterranean contexts. Our curriculum, like the events we organize and the cooperation we enjoy with other departments and programs, reflects the interdisciplinary character and expansive range of the field of Classics. All of our course offerings challenge students both to confront the foreignness of these ancient cultures and to explore the profound connections between them and our own. More information can be found on the Classics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Cognitive science is concerned with how humans, non-human animals, and computers acquire, represent, manipulate, and use information. As an interdisciplinary field it combines research and theory from computer science (e.g., artificial intelligence), cognitive psychology, philosophy, linguistics, and neuroscience, and to some extent evolutionary biology, math, and anthropology. Complex issues of cognition are not easily addressed using traditional intra-disciplinary tools. Cognitive researchers in any discipline typically employ a collection of analytic and modeling tools from across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Thus, the methods and research agenda of cognitive science are broader than those of any of the fields that have traditionally contributed to cognitive science. The Cognitive Science Program is designed to provide students with the broad interdisciplinary foundation needed to approach issues of cognition. More information can be found on the Cognitive Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Program in Comparative Literature seeks to foster and develop its students’ critical faculties through the analysis of literature, broadly conceived, and through the exploration of literary and critical theories that have attempted to define what “literature” is and how it can be read. Before they consider how to read a book, students in Comparative Literature ask “what is a book?” In fact, they expand and critique the notion of text as they explore a wide range of texts from different national, linguistic, and historical traditions, in different genres and media, and across disciplinary boundaries. In the process, our students learn to read texts for the ways they make meaning, the assumptions that underlie those meanings, and the political and aesthetic elements evinced in the making. More information can be found on the Comparative Literature site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Computation is central to nearly every aspect of modern life, shaping fields from science and business to the humanities and the arts. Computer Science studies how information is represented, processed, and communicated, and how systems are designed to do so efficiently and reliably. At Williams, areas of particular strength include artificial intelligence and machine learning, where students develop models that learn from data, with interests spanning natural language processing and causal inference. The department also emphasizes computer systems design, exploring how hardware and software interact to build scalable, high-performance systems. A complementary focus on algorithms and optimization equips students to solve complex problems through efficient design, approximation, and careful analysis of trade-offs. Across these areas, students develop core ways of thinking, such as abstraction, problem decomposition, and rigorous reasoning, while considering the broader impacts of computing on society.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Students with the talent and energy for working independently and with the strong support of faculty advisors may undertake a Contract Major: a coherent study of an interdisciplinary subject not covered by a regularly offered major. The purpose of a Contract Major is to allow highly motivated students to follow a course of study outside the boundaries of established majors. Students have an opportunity to draw from the wealth of offered courses and develop a major that corresponds to their particular interests and goals.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Self-Instructional Languages Program enables students to study important languages relevant to their academic interests but not taught in regular courses at Williams. The program can field a limited number of courses per year. Students work independently with standard language textbooks and audio materials for roughly ten hours per week and attend biweekly group review sessions with tutors who are native speakers. Language faculty from partner institutions provide the course syllabus, conduct the exams, and determine the final grades. An organizational meeting for enrolled students is held the first week of each semester.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Dance Department invites students to investigate embodied knowledge through a broad, interdisciplinary approach that reflects multiple facets of the field of dance. Our curriculum includes the physical and cognitive study of movement practices and techniques, critical inquiry, histories, cultural context, creative exploration, musicality and performance. Dance technique courses include ballet, modern, African dance and music forms. Students also have the opportunity to participate in artist residencies, workshops, concerts, talks with world renowned guest artists and scholars in multiple dance and theater disciplines. The practice of choreography is supported in composition classes and ensembles in collaboration with faculty.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine, and what will happen when it stops? How do we detect and study Earth-like planets among the many circling other stars? How did the first instants of time determine the behavior of the Universe we now observe 13.8 billion years later? Astronomers grapple with questions like these. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone interested in learning about the Universe and new astronomical discoveries. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. Most take advantage of our observational facilities including a 24-inch telescope with sensitive electronic detectors, and our own computer network for image processing and data analysis. We offer an Astrophysics major and an Astronomy major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Economics addresses issues that are central to our daily lives: our material standard of living, poverty, inequality, unemployment, and inflation, among others. The methodology of economics contributes insights to public policy that can help guide efforts to increase social wellbeing and distribute that wellbeing in a fair way. Microeconomics studies the behavior of individual entities such as households or firms. Macroeconomics looks at the big picture, the economy as a whole, and its growth and fluctuations. Econometrics develops and applies statistical methods to facilitate empirical analysis of economic issues. An economics major will first take courses in these three core areas, and then apply the methods learned to more specialized topics in elective courses. More information can be found on the Economics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major in Environmental Studies and the concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Environmental issues call upon people, organizations, and governments to grasp complex scientific concepts, address conflicting human values, and make difficult economic, political and ethical choices. The curricular options in Environmental Studies-the major and concentration in Environmental Studies-are designed to prepare students to effectively address these issues by integrating perspectives and methodologies from the natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. More information can be found on the Environmental Studies program website.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Understanding the oceans and our interactions with them is of increasing importance in this era of climate change, sea-level rise, fisheries crises, and the internationalization of the high seas. We encourage students to investigate our WaterWorld from the perspectives of the humanities, social sciences, and physical sciences. Maritime Studies is an interdisciplinary, cross-divisional program that includes the literature, history, policy issues, and science of the ocean. Candidates for the concentration in Maritime Studies must complete a minimum of seven courses: the interdisciplinary introductory course (Geosciences 104 Oceanography), four intermediate core courses (at Williams-Mystic), an elective, and an Environmental Studies 400-level Senior Seminar.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The department regularly offers four levels of language instruction in Modern Japanese, designed to enable the student to become proficient in aural comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics and literature in translation are also offered. The course numbering system for Japanese is sequential. Students move from Japanese 101-102 to 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, and 402. Independent study (Japanese 497, 498) may be offered for students who have completed 402 or the equivalent, depending on student needs and available resources. Students interested in pursuing independent study must contact the Japanese Coordinator one semester in advance and present a proposal to the professor with whom they wish to study by the first day of pre-registration week. Those students entering with proficiency in Japanese should see the Coordinator concerning placement. For the purpose of the distribution requirement, all courses in Japanese are considered Division I unless otherwise noted. More information can be found on the website of the Department of Asian Languages, Literatures, and Cultures .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

How long will the Sun shine? How do we discover Earth-like planets among the many exoplanets circling other stars? How did the universe begin and how has it evolved over its 13.8-billion-year history? How do we detect not only light but also gravitational waves from afar? Astronomy is the science that asks and tries to answer questions like these. We have come a long way toward understanding what makes the sky appear as it does and how the Universe behaves. Williams Astronomy offers courses for anyone who is interested in learning about the Universe, and who would like to be able to follow new astronomical discoveries as they are made. All courses in Astronomy satisfy the Division III requirement. We offer an Astronomy major and an Astrophysics major, both administered by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. More information can be found on the Astronomy site .

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Experiential education, involving “learning by doing” outside the classroom, is a robust part of the Williams curriculum. In addition to the use of traditional laboratory work in the natural sciences and studio work in art, faculty have been challenging students to become engaged more personally in the Williams curriculum through field work, whether in the form of research, sustained work on special projects, or through placement with community organizations. Courses which include experiential learning provide students with opportunities to encounter firsthand the issues that they read and study about, requiring them to apply academic learning to nonacademic settings and challenging them to use their experiences in those settings to think more critically and deeply about what they are studying. Experiential courses, as defined above, range from fully integrated off-campus programs such as the Williams-Mystic: Coastal and Ocean Studies Program to courses involving a small field research exercise or project. The amount and nature of the experiential component(s) varies according to the instructor’s judgment. More information can be found on the Center for Learning in Action site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Film and Media Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. It studies traditional visual and audio-only forms, such as film, television and radio, as well as new media such as podcasts, video installations, interactive video projects, video games, augmented reality, animation, streaming video, and other forms that will undoubtedly emerge in the future. Given the explosive growth in the variety of moving-image media, and their penetration into entertainment, art, science, and public discourse, the study of film and related media must encompass a variety of theoretical approaches and must cultivate a number of specific skills in production and analysis. Production and analysis feed into each other, together providing the necessary tools for understanding why and how the moving image generates meaning in the world. The field of film and media studies thus unites numerous aspects of production, theoretical lenses of analysis and interpretation, and critical understanding of the complex relations between media and larger social and cultural forces.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The German department provides language instruction in all five skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural understanding-from the elementary through the advanced levels. GERM 101-102, 103, 104, and the 200-level courses provide language instruction with increasing emphasis on cultural content. For highly committed beginning students, GERM 120 is an intensive communicative one-semester version of Elementary German. Our thematically focused 300-level courses allow students to experience academic reading, discussion, and writing at a level akin to that found in a German-speaking university. Courses on the culture of German-speaking countries are sometimes offered in English translation. We strongly urge students to study abroad in a German-speaking country, either through direct enrollment or through one of several approved study-abroad programs. The department offers both a 10-course major and a 7-course certificate in German. Entering students should take the placement test, and also contact a faculty member, to determine how to plot their path through the program. More information can be found on the German site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Taught entirely in French, our language courses accommodate all levels, from beginning to intermediate and advanced, and incorporate lively communicative approaches and technologies to help you improve your speaking, comprehension, reading, and writing. Taught by specialists in their field, our literature courses explore the riches of French and Francophone fiction-as well as cinema, art, politics, and culture-from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Revolution to the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries, from Francophone Europe and North America, to North Africa and the Caribbean. In addition to courses offered at Williams, we encourage students to study abroad in programs in France, Morocco, Sénégal, and other Francophone countries.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Geosciences graduates have a wide range of career options, both with and without graduate training. The many choices include environmental consulting, hazard assessment hydrology, gemology, the energy and mining industries, outdoor education, and research and teaching in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. Many students choose to double-major in fields as diverse as Art, Economics, History, Physics, Mathematics, English, and Philosophy, and often find jobs where they can apply the synergies of their Geosciences double major. No matter what field they enter, all our Geosciences graduates pursue their lives and careers with a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them. More information can be found on the Geosciences site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

An informed engagement with the world is an indispensable part of the liberal education that is the goal of the Williams experience. The Global Studies Program enables students to achieve this goal through a cross-disciplinary and comparative curriculum. The program offers multiple tracks, on a region of the world or theme, around which students construct their global studies concentration. More information can be found on the Global Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The following will serve as examples: HSCI 101 is an introduction to science and technology studies, and concentrates on key aspects of contemporary science and technology relevant to many issues of living in a technological society. HSCI 224 Scientific Revolutions deals with the emergence of modern science in the 1600s and 1700s, and with subsequent revolutions in scientific thought; as such it complements courses related to modern European history. HSCI 240 traces the influential role of science and invention in the shaping of American culture, and complements offerings in American Studies and American History. HSCI 320, an historical overview of the ideas, practice, and organization of medicine, provides context for related coursework in History, Philosophy, and the Premed Program. More information can be found on the History of Science site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The History department seeks to cultivate a critical understanding and awareness of the past and the development of our students’ intellectual, analytical, and rhetorical abilities. In pursuit of the first objective, through its curricular offerings the department seeks both to expose students to the richness, diversity, and complexities of human history over long periods of time and in different geographic regions and to provide students with the opportunity to explore aspects of the past in depth. At the same time, the department endeavors to develop students’ ability to think historically and to foster in them an appreciation of the contested nature and the value of historical knowledge by confronting them with the variety of ways in which historians have approached and interpreted the past, engaging them in issues that provoke historical debate, and familiarizing them with the nature and uses of historical evidence. By engaging students in the critical study of the past, finally, the department seeks to develop their ability to formulate historically informed analyses and their analytical and rhetorical skills. More information can be found on the History site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

This program is designed to facilitate and promote innovations in curricular offerings in relation both to interdisciplinary conceptual focus and experimental pedagogical form. It provides support for faculty efforts to develop a curriculum that creatively responds to intellectual needs and modes of teaching/learning that currently fall outside the conventional pattern. Faculty members interested in offering courses that fall outside the aegis of departmental or existing interdisciplinary programs submit such courses directly to the Committee on Educational Affairs by the Registrar’s deadline for course submission in early spring. Courses that fit within the curricula of departments and interdisciplinary programs, even if interdisciplinary or experimental in nature, are found listed within those departments and programs.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The study of Italian in the target language encourages students to gain a deep appreciation of the language, culture, and literature through active participation and meaningful experience with the culture on its own terms. Italian courses at Williams are therefore conducted exclusively in Italian in order to enhance and reinforce the emotive and cognitive involvement of the students as they are introduced to the Italian world-view in a lively and natural manner. Students desirous of more contact with Italian are encouraged to attend the weekly Italian Table in the designated college dining hall. More information can be found on the Italian site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Jewish Studies is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses the texts, history, languages, philosophy, and culture of Jews and Judaism as they have changed over three millennia and throughout the world. The program offers courses in multiple disciplines including but not limited to Religion, Classics, History, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology, and Comparative Literature. Across these disciplines, the program examines topics such as religious belief and practice, textual interpretation, the development of Zionism, life in the Diaspora, the historicization and memorialization of the Holocaust, and historical, political and philosophical questions surrounding Jewish identity. Investigating the foundations and development of these various Jewish topics, as well as their interaction with and influence on other traditions, provides an opportunity to explore the continuities and diversity of Jewish life and thought. Students will gain exposure to a common body of knowledge and scholarly approaches through which to engage in their own rich and varied intellectual explorations of Jewish and related topics. More information can be found on the Jewish Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Williams College is committed to creating and maintaining a curriculum, faculty, and student body that reflects and explores a diverse, globalized world and the multi-cultural character of the United States. Courses marked with a (D) are a part of the College’s Exploring Diversity Initiative (EDI); they represent our dedication to study groups, cultures, and societies as they interact with, and challenge, each other. Through such courses, students and faculty also consider the multiple approaches that engage these issues. Rather than simply focus on the study of specific peoples, cultures, or regions of the world, in the past or present, however, courses fulfilling the requirement actively promote a self-conscious and critical engagement with diversity. They urge students to consider the operations of difference in the world and provide them with the tools to do so. The ultimate aim of the requirement is to lay the groundwork for a life-long engagement with the diverse cultures, societies, and histories of the United States and the rest of the world.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Materials Science is an interdisciplinary field which combines microscopic physics and chemistry in order to understand and control the properties of materials such as plastics, semiconductors, metals, liquid crystals, and biomaterials. Williams students with an interest in the properties of materials or in pursuing careers in materials science or a variety of engineering disciplines would benefit from following the courses in this program.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Mathematics major is designed to meet two goals: to introduce some of the central ideas in mathematics and to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Mathematics and Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

Justice and Law Studies, an interdepartmental program covering the ways that philosophers, government officials, and others think about justice, and the related ways in which societies marshal power and implement law, will no longer be offered to students entering fall 2025 and beyond . A formal concentration in Justice and Law Studies, appearing on the transcript, is available only to active students who enrolled at Williams Fall 2024 or prior. More information can be found on the Justice and Law Studies site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu

The Statistics major is designed to meet three goals: to introduce some of the central ideas of information and data science, to develop problem-solving ability by teaching students to combine creative thinking with rigorous reasoning, and to develop interdisciplinary skills by applying statistics to an application area of interest. The major includes participation in the undergraduate colloquium and opportunities for original research. More information can be found on the Statistics site.

Type

course

Edition

2026

Source

catalog.williams.edu