About
The College of Arts and Letters plays an integral role in Notre Dame's mission to serve as the world's preeminent Catholic research university.
Established in 1842, the year Notre Dame was founded, Arts and Letters is the University's oldest college. We have more than 500 faculty, 3,000 undergraduates, and 1,100 graduate students. The College is also the liberal arts home for all Notre Dame students as they take core curriculum courses and electives in everything from theology and philosophy to economics and creative writing.
With nearly 70 different majors and minors and 30 graduate programs to choose from, Arts and Letters students pursue a liberal arts education that broadens their worldview, helps them develop a sense of purpose, and provides them with skills that will serve them for a lifetime.
Our students travel the world to pursue independent research, internships, and study abroad opportunities, building on their classroom experiences and learning to become part of a larger global community.
The College's award-winning faculty bring a research focus into the classroom, sharing new discoveries with their students, kindling a passion for inquiry, and empowering them to become researchers in their own right.
An Arts and Letters education is grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition, inspiring students to ask bigger questions, seek a greater purpose, embrace diversity, and use their education to make the world a better place.
In every Arts and Letters major, our students learn to read deeply. Think about issues critically. Discuss topics thoughtfully. Write arguments persuasively. Contribute to projects creatively. And these abilities aren't just vital in the classroom—they're exactly what employers, graduate schools, and service organizations are looking for.
The College of Arts and Letters welcomes your support in any number of ways. We value the time, talent, and treasure of our graduates and friends and welcome collaborative efforts to further our work. Make a gift here or connect with the department about other ways to get involved.
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College Priority Plan
The College of Arts and Letters aspires to be a global leader in scholarship and in the public sphere. In our research and teaching, we take an integrated approach, addressing meaningful questions across academic disciplines. We are committed to providing a distinctive graduate and undergraduate educational experience within a diverse and inclusive community united in a shared sense of purpose.