<p>Yes, the common misconception is that “liberal arts” excludes sciences.</p>
<p>However, not all LACs are strong in all liberal arts subjects. Harvey Mudd offers only STEM majors, while Sarah Lawrence has in-depth offerings only in visual and performing arts, some humanities, and psychology.</p>
<p>^^Even Swarthmore students have trouble distinguishing between the liberal arts and, as one poster put it, “an arts school”:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/swarthmore/1370569-swarthmore-non-artsy-student.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/swarthmore/1370569-swarthmore-non-artsy-student.html</a></p>
<p>To make sure people get the right idea, some LACs describe themselves as “a college of the liberal arts and sciences.”</p>
<p>For the record, Harvey Mudd also offers majors in humanities, social sciences and the arts: [Departments</a> and Programs](<a href=“http://www.hmc.edu/academicsclinicresearch/catalogue1/catalogue-10111/academic-programs1/department-programs.html]Departments”>http://www.hmc.edu/academicsclinicresearch/catalogue1/catalogue-10111/academic-programs1/department-programs.html). But I think hardly anyone avails themselves of these possibilities.</p>
<p>Harvey Mudd obviously has a humanities, social studies, and arts department, along with a requirement for all students to take extensive breadth courses in it and a concentration (similar to what may be called a minor in other schools) in a such a subject, but does not appear to have any majors in such subjects, based on what its web site says.</p>
<p>I.e. even though its choice of majors is limited, it does ensure that students get a “well rounded education” (unlike some other LACs like Amherst).</p>
<p>^^Some schools use the term “concentration” to mean the same thing as “major”.</p>
<p>“Colleges That Change Lives” by Loren Pope highlights 40 colleges. I believe all are LACs.
Try to get it from your local library. Reading about each school will show the depth of undergrad teaching at LACs. Many of the concepts hold true for most LACs, though not all LACs have research opportunities.</p>
<p>If you prefer discussion based learning and don’t care about the big time sports, then you will learn toward LACs. </p>
<p>If you prefer discussion based & want the big time sports, look in depth at the Honors Colleges within the Universities.</p>
<p>ucbalumnus is right again; e.g., a Mudd graduate in art or humanities gets the major from another Claremont school, and a minor from Mudd. :)</p>
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<p>True, but not Harvey Mudd.</p>
<p>[List</a> of Approved Concentrations](<a href=“http://www.hmc.edu/academicsclinicresearch/academicdepartments/humanitiesandsocialsciences1/nosidebar/concentrations.html]List”>http://www.hmc.edu/academicsclinicresearch/academicdepartments/humanitiesandsocialsciences1/nosidebar/concentrations.html)</p>
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<p>Four courses is closer to what most would call a minor, not a major. Note that this is a requirement for all students regardless of major.</p>
<p>The OP did not express interest in Harvey Mudd or Sarah Lawrence. They aren’t exactly typical LACs, either. One is a nerdy mini-MIT, the other an arty former women’s college. They are outliers. As for Amherst, if it does not ensure a well-rounded education, that’s because it has thrown in with the “Open Curriculum” approach (like Brown University), not due to a flaw in the LAC concept. Any Amherst student can still choose to get a well-rounded education.</p>
<p>It is true that at some LACs, you run the risk of sparse offerings in some majors in some semesters. So do your homework in choosing the school and planning your course selection.</p>
<p>Liberal arts do include the sciences, but as I’ve heard from many LAC students and the schools’ own personal description of their mission, LAC always add some sort of focus to writing and communication. for the most part, they are very good at preparing you for communicating far past undergrad.
and it isn’t just things like writing essays. if you are a science major, they work hard on making sure you can communicate in lab write ups or things that make sense to your major.
this is not the only thing about LACs, but just something nobody mentioned yet.</p>
<p>it is important to note that universities as well differ in the extent their mission is to provide exceptional undergraduate education. You might consider those universities that provide a LAC experience within a university setting. This would offer you the benefits of an undergraduate liberal arts focus and the breadth of academic and personal experiences a university can offer. USC’s Thematic Option Honors Program [Thematic</a> Option > USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences](<a href=“http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-option/]Thematic”>http://dornsife.usc.edu/thematic-option/) is a two year program (Freshman and Sophomore) which is well-reviewed by students. Others may be able to provide reference to similar programs for you to consider.</p>