The American poet Charles Olson once said, “I need a university to think with.”  In just that way, academics at Notre Dame serve as a lens through which students can magnify their ideas into action—whether that be a research paper, theater performance or inner-city tutoring.

Academics at Notre Dame can center on many things, but arching over all is the position that our College is a center for the study of the liberal arts.  This distinction is an important one—it means that we encourage our students to investigate a broad number of subjects, including art, history, languages, literature, philosophy, science and social inquiry.

While you will eventually choose a specific discipline as your major, this initial exposure to a range of topics is essential as the basis for everything you will learn later.  A liberal arts foundation gives you a deeper appreciation of a mathematical theorem and a Cubist painting, along with a broader perspective on life in general.

Whether you’re a first-year or a graduate student, the academic experience at Notre Dame will change your life.  Think you’re ready?  We do.