Amherst Voices

“ Take good care of yourself, physically and mentally, and remind your students of the importance of self-care and self-compassion. Teaching is a heart work, and you can’t give from an empty cup. ”

Shu-Min Liao
Shu-Min Liao, assistant professor of statistics, sharing a teaching tip with The Chronicle of Higher Education

Amherst Voices

“ The more we hear about our ancestors-by-affiliation, the richer all of our own transitions become, whether of orientation and identity, or philosophy and worldview.”

transparent
Joy Williams ’88, in a letter to the editor in Amherst magazine.
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Amherst College

COVID-19 Information

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Find information about the College’s response to the evolving situation with COVID-19. Learn about the guidelines for coming to campus and more.

Facts & Photos

A liberal-arts education develops an individual’s potential for understanding possibilities, perceiving consequences, creating novel connections and making life-altering choices. It fosters innovative and critical thinking as well as strong writing and speaking skills. We prepare students for many possible careers, meaningful lives and service to society.

Get to Know Amherst

Amherst Facts

80%

Percentage of Amherst alumni who report that they have attended graduate or professional school

84%

Percentage of Amherst courses that have fewer than 30 students

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Faculty in the News

Latest Videos

Celebrating President Carolyn "Biddy" Martin

Last September, President Biddy Martin, who has served as the 19th president of Amherst College since 2011, announced that she would conclude her tenure at the end of July. In this video, students, faculty, staff and alumni reflect on Biddy's lasting impact. THANK YOU, BIDDY!!

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Press Release announcing retirement

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Architecture: Making Time Visible

What do the buildings at Amherst College tell us about the values and visions of their creators? Follow Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic Blair Kamin ’79 as he takes us on a historical and philosophical tour of campus. —Video by Marcus DeMaio

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A Window Into the Science Center

Take a tour of our Science Center, which opened in the fall of 2018 and provides state-of-the-art facilities and flexible spaces to support the sciences at Amherst. —Video by Marcus DeMaio.

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President Martin listens as a student discusses his SURF research in the Science Center. (new page)
A overhead view of Amherst College campus taken from a drone (new page)
trayfuls of plants lined up in a greenhouse (new page)
Sun setting behind the Science Center at Amherst College (new page)
Aerial view of the Amherst College campus (new page)

Distinctive Courses

Our open curriculum lets you choose among interesting classes taught by exceptional faculty.

  • Arts
  • Humanities
  • Science & Math
  • Social Sciences
Our Majors
History; Latinx and Latin American Studies; Art & the History of Art

Frida and Diego

Description

Through discussion, lectures, readings, and visual analysis, examine the art, lives and times of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, two of Mexico’s most famous artists.

Art and the History of Art

Arts of Japan

Description

Survey the history of Japanese art from neolithic times to the present, from Buddhist art and its ritual context to contemporary artists and designers such as Ando Tadao and Miyake Issey.

Environmental Studies; History

The Wild and the Cultivated

Description

Consider human relationships with plants from a global-historical perspective, comparing trends in various regions and time periods, and focusing on the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution, seed-saving practices, medicinal plants, religious rites, food traditions, biopiracy, agribusiness, and biofuels.

English; Film & Media Studies

True Crime: Unlearning Media

Description

Delve deep into the recent boom in true crime documentary films, series, and podcasts to understand what drives the audience appetite for crime stories, and what narratives are missing. How does media shape what we believe to be true?

Neuroscience

Neurobiology of Appetite

Description

Explore how neurobiological systems and behavioral processes influence eating and body weight, including metabolism, neural mechanisms of hunger and satiety, metabolic disorders, dieting, pica, starvation, taste preference and aversion, obesity, anxiety and depression, and all eating disorders.

Black Studies

The Black Radical Tradition

Description

Explore the history and philosophy of Black resistance to domination and oppression in the new world, beginning with the Haitian Revolution and proceeding to the grand and petty revolts of the nineteenth century.

Amherst News & Events

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Nondiscrimination Statement

Amherst College does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs and activities on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity), age, disability, genetic information, military service, or any other characteristic or class protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Amherst College complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Inquiries should be addressed to the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Amherst College, P.O. Box 5000, Amherst, MA 01002-5000.