College of Arts & Sciences, University of Washington

About the College
For 150 years, the College of Arts and Sciences has provided a liberal arts education of tremendous breadth and depth to more than 25,000 students while advancing research in the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. A&S alumni have received the Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prizes, and Emmy and Tony Awards, and have been elected to key government positions regionally and nationally. Learn more about the College
Arts
The world communicates across generations and cultures through the arts. Our students are the creative artists, audiences and arts advocates of the future. Our degree programs, museums, exhibitions, and artistic performances reflect the dual nature of the arts as both creative endeavors, requiring constant renewal, and as subjects of scholarly research.
Humanities
The humanities allow us to understand and communicate the range and diversity of human cultural achievement. As the world becomes more connected and interdependent, such understanding becomes imperative. Through their focus on language, literature, film, and the history of ideas, the humanities encourage students to reflect upon their own beliefs and values as they explore those of other peoples and periods.
Natural Sciences
The natural sciences provide us with methods to investigate and understand ourselves, our world, and the universe, from the subatomic to the cosmic level. As we learn more about our world, we also come to understand our place within it as individuals and as a species. Discoveries in the sciences, often emerging from basic research, transform society as they address everything from disease to global warming.
Social Sciences
The social sciences study how and why human communities and societies are organized as they are, behave as they do, and change over time. Drawing on a diverse array of disciplines and using both quantitative and qualitative methods, social scientists are committed to creating, disseminating, and applying knowledge to address significant social problems in local, national, and global contexts. Learn more about the Social Sciences.
Support the College
Private gifts allow our students and faculty to make new discoveries, create innovative programs and reach out to people beyond the campus to enhance our communities and the world. We hope you will consider lending your support to the College so that we can continue to provide our students with exceptional educational and research opportunities.
150th

Conservation Canines' specially trained dogs are proving to be powerful tools in wildlife research. View Story
Students race miniature cars powered by mousetrap parts for an industrial design class project. View Story
2012 College of Arts & Sciences student award winners announced View Story
By studying the brain's role in hearing, Kelly Tremblay hopes to improve hearing aid effectiveness. View Story
Law, Society, and Justice alumni connect with the community through service. View Story

Welcome to Arts & Sciences

News and Media Coverage of Arts & Sciences

What bird brains are teaching us about ours
The way birds learn their songs is similar to the way babies learn to talk and adults master a golf swing. Psychology professor and adjunct professor of biology Michael Beecher is featured. Learn more at Seattle Times.

Second Avenue subway art
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts for Transit has commissioned College alumnus Chuck Close to create a permanent installation for the 86th Street and Second Avenue station, which is scheduled to open in 2016. Learn more at New York Times.

May Day vandalism
Political science doctoral candidate Larry Cushnie studies militant activist groups. He says the vast majority of anarchists disavow any type of violence but he says it's important for us to try to understand why individuals feel they need to go to these lengths to get a political, economic and social message across. Learn more at KPLU.

Will young voters turn out in 2012?
Political science professor Matt Barreto discusses how polling on the 2012 election suggests a significant drop in electoral enthusiasm among young voters. Learn more at KUOW.

More News

Current Issue

	Conservation Goes to the Dogs Conservation Canines' specially trained dogs are proving to be powerful, non-invasive tools in wildlife research. Read Story
	Designing a Faster Mousetrap Industrial design students designed and raced miniature cars, powered by mousetrap parts, for a rousing class project. Read Story
	Hearing Aids: The Brain Connection By studying the brain's role in hearing, Professor Kelly Tremblay hopes to improve the effectiveness of hearing aids. Read Story
	Word Sleuth for a Dictionary Revision Professor Zev Handel tracked down the Chinese origins of familiar words as an etymology expert for a major dictionary. Read Story

Voices from Arts & Sciences

	Dow Constantine Reflects on his UW Education In an essay for Perspectives newsletter, King County Executive Dow Constantine ('85) reflects on his liberal arts education. Learn more at Perspectives newsletter.
	A Rhodes for A&S Triple Major Rhodes Scholar Byron Gray will graduate from A&S with a triple degree in political science, Asian studies, and law, societies, and justice--and a fascination with India. Learn more at Perspectives newsletter.
	Yang Celebrates W Day Fashion designer and UW alumna Luly Yang created a purple and gold window display in her Seattle boutique for "W Day," a celebration of the UW's 150th birthday. Learn more at Perspectives newsletter.
	Photographer Discovers Passion for Physics While studying photography at the UW, Brynn MacCoy signed up for a physics course for non-majors, never imagining that the class would lead her toward a physics degree. Learn more at our spotlight page.