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.

Watch our year in review video and learn about amazing discoveries in the College of Arts & Sciences. Watch Video
Social media and surveillance technology intersect in an art installation at the Henry. View Story
The EMP Museum tapped UW students for help with an exhibit on the fantasy genre. View Story
An interdisciplinary initiative explores complex ethical questions raised by scientific research. View Story
Students get the opportunity to mingle with Trey McIntrye Project dancers. View Story

Welcome to Arts & Sciences

News and Media Coverage of Arts & Sciences

Jackson School director featured in The Seattle Times
Resat Kasaba says It would be wrong to think of the recent events in Turkey as another chapter in the "Arab spring" movements. Read more at Learn more at The Seattle Times.

Fathering against type
In an op-ed piece, David Barash, professor of psychology, argues that because of biology, mammalian male parents may act in ways that are less than admirable, but human dads can trump nature. Learn more at Los Angeles Times.

Simpson Center announces 2013-14 funding awards
The Simpson Center's Executive Board has awarded support to select UW scholars and projects for 2013-2014 year. Simpson Center funding sponsors a wide range of activities, including fellowships for UW faculty and doctoral students and more. Learn more at The Simpson Center for the Humanities.

Philip Howard's new book explores digital media role in Arab Spring
Philip Howard, associate professor of communication, answers a few questions about his book with doctoral student Muzammil Hussain, "Demoracy's Fourth Wave: Digital Media and the Arab Spring." Learn more at UW Today.

More News

Current Issue

	Working for Justice in El Salvador The UW's Center for Human Rights, working with a partner organization in El Salvador, is helping Salvadorans seek justice for crimes committed during El Salvador's civil war. Read Story
	A Medieval Moment at EMP With so many fantasy novels and their on-screen adaptions set in neo-medieval times, EMP looked to members of a UW medieval studies group to help with its new exhibit on the fantasy genre. Read Story
	*Public and Provocative: Sanctum* at the Henry** Sanctum, an installation outside the Henry Art Gallery, combines social media, surveillance technology, and LCD monitors to create a provocative, ever-changing artwork. Read Story
	Rethinking Research Ethics A two-year initiative led by a philosopher and a molecular biologist explores research ethics from multiple perspectives through courses, colloquia, and more. 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.