"To carry the keys of the wold's library in your pocket, and feel its resources behind you in whatever task you undertake" is part of The Offer of the College, a sort of proto-Mission Statement, ubiquitous within the community ever since a former Bowdoin president penned it a century ago. Bowdoin remains true to this liberal arts ethos, with an academic program designed to broaden the range of the intellect rather than stuff it with facts.
Of the total, students must take one course on mathematical, computational, or statistical reasoning' one course on inquiry in the natural sciences' one course on "exploring social differences;" one course on "international perspectives," and one course in the visual and performing arts. Courses are designed to help students hone their written and analytical skills, deepen their aesthetic judgments, use varied forms of informational resources, and create multifaceted solutions to complex problems.
In addition, students are required to take one first-year seminar by the end of their second semester. These seminars provide an opportunity for students to take a small, seminar-style class about a topic of interest that is also directed toward building students' writing, critical reading, research, and analytic skills. This courses range widely; a few examples includes: Mass Media in American Politics; Seekers' Live; Dreaming in the Middle Ages; Non-Violence, Nukes and Nationalism.
Students are allowed to direct their own studies, taking classes in many different fields outside their major. Pursuing two majors is not all uncommon. Requirements for the major vary, but eight to ten courses is a rough standard.
Of the forty-two majors and forty minors available at Bowdoin, the most statistically popular are government, English, and biology. Most students would agree that the film students, artists, and economics majors are discernible groups, and that there are some beloved professors in the African Studies and religion departments. Recent changes in the academic structure include the creation of two new programs: Latin American Studies and Gay and Lesbian Studies. New interdisciplinary majors have sprung up (English and Theater is just one), and for science, and computer science (some interesting work with robots and artificial intelligence here has caught international attention).
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