• <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>

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.

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.

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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Students working in a lab.

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.


Students sitting in an auditorium.

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><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Digital Media has been my favorite class</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">! It simultaneously introduced me to the world of coding and expanded my views on what art can be; I have yet to take a class as fun and impactful as that one has been. It was</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> a major factor in my choosing computer science as my major.</span></p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16681-julian-diaz">Julian Diaz BA ’24</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Los Angeles, California</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18355-helena-brown">Helena Brown BA ’26</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Billings, Montana</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A strong understanding of the classics is the keystone of interpreting a huge portion of literature, philosophy, medicine, politics, and more.</span></p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16674-leo-mcnaughton">Leo McNaughton BA ’24</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Milwaukie, Oregon</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> The English major at L&C has the option for students to include a creative writing concentration such as fiction, nonfiction, and poetry!</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18348-grace-billings">Grace Billings BA ’24</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Poulsbo, Washington</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> Biochemistry makes life make so much more sense! It provides a network for the functions of every living organism, and, when combined with molecular biology, this major is the mechanism of life.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18325-katya-schwieterman">Katya Schwieterman BA ’24</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Paonia, Colorado</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> I find the philosophy major interesting because the courses span a wide selection of traditions and philosophers. The department also encourages students to explore topics that they are personally interested in.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18338-grace-marchant">Grace Marchant BA ’25</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Upland, California</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> I have the freedom to explore my interests and grow my artistic practice through my major. I am not forced to follow a certain guideline for projects.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18332-grayson-smith">Grayson Smith BA ’25</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Oakland, California</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> My political science professors reached out to me about the summer research opportunity, and I was lucky to have them apply for a grant to fund my research assistant position.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18459-valerie-naborska">Valerie Naborska BA ’24</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Santa Cruz, California</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> We only handicap ourselves if we don’t try to understand the world from someone else’s point of view, and explore the scary idea that we ourselves might be wrong.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/11314-sam-bundenthal">Sam Bundenthal BA ’19</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Fairfield, California</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> So far, my favorite class has been Contemporary International Fiction with Professor Rishona Zimring. It was the perfect blend of reading for pleasure while also honing in on my critical-thinking and argumentative writing skills.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/16679-emily-larabee">Emily Larabee BA ’25</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Anchorage, Alaska</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> Learning about storytelling in my English major has taught me a lot about human behavior, history, and writing techniques that will be helpful for my future career.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18339-burton-scheer">Burton Scheer BA ’25</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Gainesville, Florida</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> What I find most interesting about rhetoric and media studies is how broad it is. There are so many different and interesting classes that you can take with outstanding professors.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18353-bode-dalton">Bode Dalton BA ’25</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Idaho Springs, Colorado</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> I’m amazed by the breadth of science within our department, and the opportunities for students to find what aspect of biology interests them the most. It’s evident that our faculty cares deeply about each one of us, and that we have their unending support through that discovery.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/18342-liv-nicks-turnley">Liv Nicks-Turnley BA ’23</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta"> Longmont, Colorado</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> I love the class discussions and debates in international affairs because there are a lot of intelligent, but vastly different, opinions that come up. It’s very rousing and educational.</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/17800-jade-weihz">Jade Weihz BA ’23</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Phillipsburg, New Jersey</span></p></blockquote>
  • <blockquote><p></p><div class="lw_profiles_329"><p> My favorite class has been Key Monuments with Professor Benjamin David. He brought new and remarkable perspectives to Western art history. 10/10, would recommend!</p></div><p></p><p class="quote-author"><a class="quoted-profile_name" href="/live/profiles/14605-lucia-sheridan">Lucia Sheridan BA ’23</a><br/><span class="quoted-profile_meta">Saugatuck, Michigan</span></p></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.

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