• <a href="/live/image/gid/647/width/650/86678_Words_and_Numbers.jpg" class="lw_preview_image lw_disable_preview" tabindex="-1"><picture class="lw_image lw_image86678"> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(max-width: 500px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/647/width/500/height/479/crop/1/86678_Words_and_Numbers.rev.1610665810.jpg 1x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" media="(min-width: 501px)" srcset="/live/image/gid/647/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86678_Words_and_Numbers.rev.1610665810.jpg 1x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/647/width/720/height/690/crop/1/86678_Words_and_Numbers.rev.1610665810.jpg" alt="Numbers teaches students to interpret quantitative information presented in various forms and contexts." width="720" height="690" data-max-w="932" data-max-h="932" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </a><div class="hero-split_image_caption collapsable-caption"><em>Numbers</em> teaches students to interpret quantitative information presented in various forms and contexts.</div>

At Lewis & Clark, you’ll take one faculty-led foundational seminar per semester. These small classes (19–25 students) are designed to help you develop the reading, writing, discussion, and analytical skills you will need to succeed in college and for life. One of your two courses will focus on interpreting the meaning and significance of texts (CORE 120: Words), the other on interpreting quantitative information and models (CORE 121: Numbers). These are not simply writing and math classes; rather, these courses allow you to explore a specialized topic of particular interest with a faculty member and a small group of students.

Words teaches students to explore the meaning and significance of texts via close reading and analysis, and to express that analysis in writing.

Numbers teaches students to interpret quantitative information presented in various forms and contexts; to understand the logical structure of quantitative arguments; and to use quantitative models, theories, and data to simplify, explain, and make predictions.


  • Abnormal Psychology was a fast-paced rigorous class that had me excited to wake up at 9 a.m. to attend.

    Luz Vazquez BA ’25
    San Francisco, California
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  • Be a go-getter! Most of the communities I’m a part of and the opportunities that I had were because I went after something even if I was feeling uncertain about whether I should try.

    Nicole Godbout BA ’20
    Seattle, Washington
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  • Without my liberal arts education, I don’t think I would be able to explore my profession as I desire. It shaped the way I ask questions.

    Zein Hassanein BA ’13
    Cairo, Egypt
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