<a href="/live/image/gid/317/width/650/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image92495"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/317/width/500/height/240/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/317/width/500/height/240/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/317/width/500/height/240/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 800px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/317/width/800/height/383/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/317/width/800/height/383/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/317/width/800/height/383/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 1200px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/317/width/1200/height/575/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/317/width/1200/height/575/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 2x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 1201px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/317/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/317/width/1440/height/690/crop/1/92495_CAS-0220-Faculty_Student_Interaction-4650.rev.1679088712.jpg" alt="Students and faculty sitting together, talking." width="1440" height="690" data-max-w="2663" data-max-h="1778"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-full_image_caption collapsable-caption"> Studying the liberal arts means that all of your classes will be grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication, teamwork, and problem solving.</div>

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Academic Programs

Our liberal arts education gives you the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes and explore connections across disciplines. Our academics are challenging and rigorous, but you will be supported every step of the way by your advisors, your professors, and your peers. And for those of you who are ready to think about your education long term, we offer pathways to and partnerships with our Graduate School of Education and Counseling and School of Law.

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Majors and Minors at Lewis & Clark

Your Lewis & Clark education will provide you with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects, and to dig deep into those you find most intriguing. Lots of interests? Double major, or add a minor or two. Your education in and out of the classroom will prepare you to see connections others miss and to creatively solve complex problems, skills that are valuable in all professions.

You will take approximately 32 courses during your time here, and you’ll have choices when it comes to every single one. Your classes will be split roughly into thirds: general education, major requirements, and electives.

Art (Studio)	Major Minor
Art History	Major Minor
Dance	Minor
Music	Major Minor
Theatre	Major (concentrations in performance, design/tech, literature/history, and dance) Minor

English	Major Minor Optional concentration in creative writing
History	Major Minor
Philosophy	Major Minor
Religious Studies	Major Minor
World Languages and Literatures	Major
Chinese	Minor
Classics	Major Minor
French Studies	Major Minor
German Studies	Major Minor
Hispanic Studies	Major Minor
Japanese	Minor
Latin American and Latino Studies	Minor
Russian	Minor

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Major
Biology	Major
Chemistry	Major Minor
Computer Science	Major Minor Optional concentration in cybersecurity
Computer Science and Mathematics	Major Optional concentration in cybersecurity
Mathematics	Major Minor
Physics	Major Minor

Economics	Major Minor
International Affairs	Major
Political Science	Major Minor
Psychology	Major
Rhetoric and Media Studies	Major Minor
Sociology and Anthropology	Major

Asian Studies	Major Minor
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	Major
Classics	Major Minor
Data Science	Minor
Earth System Science	Minor
Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation	Minor
Environmental Studies	Major Minor
Ethnic Studies	Minor
Gender Studies	Minor
Health Studies	Minor
Latin American and Latino Studies	Minor
Middle East and North African Studies	Minor
Neuroscience	Minor
Political Economy	Minor

The Liberal Arts Advantage

Studying the liberal arts means that all of your classes will be grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication, teamwork, and problem solving. You’ll draw on these skills throughout your life, no matter where you work or what you do. Our academics are also closely connected with our location in Portland. The Connect-Portland (PDX) designation is given to courses highlighting the experiential, experimental, and inquiry-based learning that is derived from our location. Lewis & Clark is the perfect place to get an education that will prepare you to take on the world.

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Graduate-Level Research

Interested in conducting graduate-level research or getting published in a peer-reviewed journal? Our faculty are ready to partner up with you.

Student-Led Symposium

Want to plan an academic symposium? We have five student-led symposia a year.

Exterior of Career Center with students walking outside.

College Internships

Looking for a paid internship while earning class credit? We have opportunities through our entrepreneurship minor, our Office of Sustainability, and our Career Center.

Aerial of campus with the Willamette River and Portland in the background.

Accelerated Degree Programs

Want even more of the Lewis & Clark experience? Through our 4-5-6 Commitment, we offer a five-year bachelor’s degree + master’s in teaching degree (MAT) with our graduate school and a six-year bachelor’s degree + law degree (JD) with our law school.

<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> [Professor Donovan] has this way of guiding you in the right direction while still allowing you to retain your artistic autonomy through the structure of her class and the critiques.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/9108-blake-ashby">Blake Ashby BA ’20</a> Holetown, Barbados</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> The English major at L&C has the option for students to include a creative writing concentration such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry!</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18348-grace-billings">Grace Billings BA ’24</a> Poulsbo, Washington</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> I find it fascinating and quite liberating how the teaching of art history at L&C breaks out of the box of fine arts and leaves space for much-needed critique and analysis.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18330-mithila-tambe">Mithila Tambe BA ’25</a> Pune, Maharashtra, India</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> Professors in the history department give students the space and support to research aspects of history that they are interested in, rather than limiting students to their specific area of interest and study.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/20401-molly-gibbons">Molly Gibbons BA ’24</a> Missoula, Montana</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"></div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18355-helena-brown">Helena Brown BA ’26</a> Billings, Montana</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329">In the fall of my sophomore year, I took my first sociology class and immediately knew that sociology and anthropology was for me. Since then, I have taken an incredible breadth of classes within the major, and have loved each one partially due to the incredible faculty in the department.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16682-helen-guyton">Helen Guyton BA ’23</a> Cologne, Germany</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> Lewis & Clark’s combination of academic excellence, community, and location made it a great fit for me.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/17730-hashim-salman">Hashim Salman BA ’25</a> Amman, Jordan</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> Biochemistry and molecular biology is an interdisciplinary major that allows me to pursue a degree with a variety of opportunities in science. I have an affinity for both chemistry and biology, and the intersection of the two is where I find myself the most engaged with my studies.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18351-bryn-romig">Bryn Romig BA ’25</a> Albuquerque, New Mexico</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> I love how no matter what class I find myself in, I can connect it back to psychology. There is so much you can do in psychology, whether that is through therapy, research, or teaching. It feels like the opportunities are endless.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18362-cloe-moreno">Cloe Moreno BA ’24</a> San Diego, California</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329">My favorite class so far has been Biological Core Concepts: Systems. I love the way it expanded how I view the world around me and helped solidify my passion for biology.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16643-whitney-maxfield">Whitney Maxfield BA ’25</a> Riverton, Utah</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> Biology integrates concepts from various disciplines to investigate life’s complex mechanisms. In addition, it offers endless opportunities for research and discovery.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/20603-kiara-y-gonzalez">Kiara Y. González BA ’27</a> Moca, Puerto Rico</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> The size of the chemistry department allowed me to create deep connections with my STEM peers and the faculty. It seems like the faculty are always in their office with the door open and ready to help!</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/17614-genevieve-basile">Genevieve Basile BA ’23</a> Santa Rosa, California</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> Sociology and anthropology is all about examining the world around us and thinking about why things are the way that they are. This ranges from looking at things like music and art to deep political decisions.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18360-jeremy-kregar">Jeremy Kregar BA ’24</a> Westminster, Colorado</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329"> I’ve learned to find my own solutions to problems, to reason critically, and to adventure independently, knowing that I have a close-knit safety net of supportive professors and peers.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16678-will-toppin">Will Toppin BA ’23</a> Conifer, Colorado</blockquote>
<blockquote><div class="lw_profiles_329">My favorite class is Evolution because I learned something fascinating and new every day in that class.</div><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16650-sofia-reeves">Sofia Reeves BA ’23</a> Sacramento, California</blockquote>

Study Abroad With Lewis & Clark

Lewis & Clark study-abroad programs are immersive experiences in unexpected places, often with one of your own faculty members as your leader. Our programs are either a semester or full year long, giving you time to live new experiences and perspectives rather than simply to observe them. No matter your major—even the sciences—you will be encouraged to study overseas.

Our ... Our biology program in New Zealand is a great way for science majors to study overseas and earn classes toward their major.

Academics FAQ

Art (Studio)

Art History

Asian Studies

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Biology

Chemistry

Classics

Computer Science

Computer Science and Mathematics

Economics

English

Environmental Studies

French Studies

German Studies

Hispanic Studies

History

International Affairs

Mathematics

Music

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

Psychology

Religious Studies

Rhetoric and Media Studies

Sociology and Anthropology

Theatre

Student-Designed Major

World Languages and Literatures

Art and Art History

Asian Studies

Chemistry

Chinese

Classics

Computer Science

Dance

Data Science

Earth System Science

Economics

English

Entrepreneurial Leadership and Innovation

Environmental Studies

Ethnic Studies

French Studies

Gender Studies

German Studies

Health Studies

Hispanic Studies

History

Japanese

Latin American and Latino Studies

Mathematics

Middle East and North African Studies

Music

Neuroscience

Philosophy

Physics

Political Science

Religious Studies

Rhetoric and Media Studies

Russian

Theatre

The liberal arts education you’ll receive from Lewis & Clark College is an ideal background for any professional career. You’ll learn to be an innovative thinker, creative problem solver, and thoughtful leader—traits that are invaluable in our knowledge-based economy.

If you already have a career in mind, we also provide preparation in several professional fields so you can get started on your path. While not majors, these preprofessional offerings allow you to focus in your area of interest as you develop a wide range of skills through all of your courses. Faculty are available to advise students interested in these fields:

Engineering (3-2 with partner schools)
Law (3-1 BA/MSL and 3-3 BA/JD with L&C Law School)
Health Professions
Education (4-1 BA/MAT with L&C Graduate School)
Business and Management (4-2 BA/MBA with partner schools)

Earn Your Degree With Lewis & Clark

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100%
In a recent survey, 100 percent of students who utilized tutoring would recommend it to a friend.
Leader
The 2023 Fiske Guide to College listed Lewis & Clark as the “West Coast’s leader in international and study abroad programs.”
Top 100
Lewis & Clark is in the top 100 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023–24 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” list.
#1
Lewis & Clark is number one on Niche’s 2024 list of Best College Campuses in Oregon.
96%
Within six months of graduation, 96% of the Lewis & Clark Classes of 2018–2022 were already changing the world through employment (76%), continuing studies (19%), and service work (1%), like the Peace Corps.

Academic Programs

Majors and Minors at Lewis & Clark