The School of Humanities and Sciences
"We recognize that in this rapidly changing world, preparing students for success means providing students with the ability to learn and apply knowledge in ever-shifting contexts throughout their lives, and a liberal arts education provides precisely this. Thus, whether they are continuing on to graduate or professional study, heading straight to a career, or looking for a service opportunity, our graduates have the abilities, skills, and knowledge they need to be successful."
H&S is the largest school at Ithaca College, with over 175 faculty, 30 majors, and 40 minors. With a flexible and enduring curriculum, our students can cultivate their curiosity, while specializing in their areas of interest. If you're a prospective college student, learn more about the programs and people that make up our community in H&S.
With our undergraduate focus and close connections between faculty and students, H&S provides many opportunities to conduct intriguing, graduate-level work as an undergraduate. Work closely with faculty on research, present your findings at conferences, and publish papers in academic journals. The annual James J. Whalen Academic Symposium gives you the chance to share your findings with the IC community.
Learn by doing in spaces dedicated to scientific discovery, creative exploration, and critical analysis. Whether you want to design virtual reality landscapes, research the social and psychological messages embedded in popular television shows, study anxiety and genetics in zebrafish, explore the historical significance of female pirates, or stage a full theatrical production, you’ll never run out of questions to answer and passions to pursue.
Extend your learning through the summer months with a paid position to carry out a full-time project with a faculty mentor. In the Summer Scholars Program, you can take ownership of your own academic exploration and delve into the challenging and rewarding world of research, scholarship, and creative inquiry. This is a world where the excitement of the "a-ha!" moment makes the work worthwhile.
Internships, fieldwork, and conference opportunities will challenge you to apply the skills learned in your classes to situations that don’t always have predictable outcomes. You'll work closely with faculty, engage with diverse audiences, and reflect on the personal and professional meaning of these experiences.