
main content Academic Programs
Our liberal arts education gives you the opportunity to take a wide variety of classes and explore connections across disciplines. Our academics are challenging and rigorous, but you will be supported every step of the way by your advisors, your professors, and your peers. And for those of you who are ready to think about your education long term, we offer pathways to and partnerships with our Graduate School of Education and Counseling and School of Law.
L&C Academics at a Glance
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree
- 28 majors, 34 minors
- 19 average class size
- 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio
- No graduate teaching assistants
Majors and Minors at Lewis & Clark
Your Lewis & Clark education will provide you with the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects, and to dig deep into those you find most intriguing. Lots of interests? Double major, or add a minor or two. Your education in and out of the classroom will prepare you to see connections others miss and to creatively solve complex problems, skills that are valuable in all professions.
You will take approximately 32 courses during your time here, and you’ll have choices when it comes to every single one. Your classes will be split roughly into thirds: general education, major requirements, and electives.
Business (4-2 BA/MBA with partner schools)
Education (4-1 BA/MAT with Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling)
Engineering (3-2 dual bachelor’s degrees with partner schools)
Law (3-3 BA/JD and 3-1 BA/MSL with Lewis & Clark Law School)
Favorite Class
Technology of the Future with Professor Kellar Autumn
The class was an intimate environment that revolved around the innovation process. Throughout a series of fun and engaging projects where you and your team get to pitch innovative ideas to the rest of the class, I gained unparalleled experience in teamwork, research and development, and presenting.
The Liberal Arts Advantage
Studying the liberal arts means that all of your classes will be grounded in critical thinking, written and verbal communication, teamwork, and problem solving. You’ll draw on these skills throughout your life, no matter where you work or what you do. Our academics are also closely connected with our location in Portland. The Connect-Portland (PDX) designation is given to courses highlighting the experiential, experimental, and inquiry-based learning that is derived from our location. Lewis & Clark is the perfect place to get an education that will prepare you to take on the world.
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Graduate-Level Research
Interested in conducting graduate-level research or getting published in a peer-reviewed journal? Our faculty are ready to partner up with you.

College Internships
Looking for a paid internship while earning class credit? We have opportunities through our entrepreneurship minor, our Office of Sustainability, and our Career Center.

Accelerated Degree Programs
Want even more of the Lewis & Clark experience? Through our 4-5-6 Commitment, we offer a five-year bachelor’s degree + master’s in teaching degree (MAT) with our graduate school and a six-year bachelor’s degree + law degree (JD) with our law school.
I love how moldable the environmental studies major is. You are given the tools and support to focus your studies on whatever you find most interesting.
Morgaine McGrath BA ’25
Encinitas, California
Study Abroad With Lewis & Clark
Lewis & Clark study-abroad programs are immersive experiences in unexpected places, often with one of your own faculty members as your leader. Our programs are either a semester or full year long, giving you time to live new experiences and perspectives rather than simply to observe them. No matter your major—even the sciences—you will be encouraged to study overseas.
Academics FAQ
Yes! You will take approximately 32 courses during your time here, and you’ll have choices when it comes to every single one. Your classes will be split roughly into thirds: general education, major requirements, and electives. You have a lot of flexibility in choosing general education and elective courses outside of your chosen major.
The liberal arts education you’ll receive from Lewis & Clark College is an ideal background for any professional career. You’ll learn to be an innovative thinker, creative problem solver, and thoughtful leader—traits that are invaluable in our knowledge-based economy.
If you already have a career in mind, we also provide preparation in several professional fields so you can get started on your path. While not majors, these preprofessional offerings allow you to focus in your area of interest as you develop a wide range of skills through all of your courses. Faculty are available to advise students interested in these fields:
- Engineering (3-2 with partner schools)
- Law (3-1 BA/MSL and 3-3 BA/JD with L&C Law School)
- Health Professions
- Education (4-1 BA/MAT with L&C Graduate School)
- Business and Management (4-2 BA/MBA with partner schools)
All of our majors are excellent preparation for whatever path you take after graduation. The best part of a liberal arts education is the interconnectedness of courses between seemingly disparate subjects. Some of our most popular majors are biology, environmental studies, psychology, and sociology and anthropology.
Earn Your Degree With Lewis & Clark
Lewis & Clark is number one on Niche’s 2024 list of Best College Campuses in Oregon.
L&C’s five academic student-led symposia reflect our commitment to inquiry, innovation, collaboration, and global engagement.
The 2023 Fiske Guide to College listed Lewis & Clark as the “West Coast’s leader in international and study abroad programs.”
Free peer tutoring is available for over 100 courses across 25+ subjects.
Lewis & Clark College has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1.
Lewis & Clark is number one on Niche’s 2024 list of Best College Campuses in Oregon.
L&C’s five academic student-led symposia reflect our commitment to inquiry, innovation, collaboration, and global engagement.
Featured News
Finn Watson BA ’26 Wins Goldwater Scholarship
Watson is one of 441 students selected from a pool of more than 5,000 nationwide for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent award for undergraduates in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics.

Bruce Suttmeier
Office Hours: Mondays-Fridays 8:30 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.
Albany Quadrangle, 201