About Arts and Letters

Simultaneously an international center for Catholic thought, a teaching-focused liberal arts college, and a dynamic hub for research and scholarship, the College of Arts and Letters provides its students with an education that fuels their passion for learning while preparing them to make a difference in the world.

The largest and oldest college at the University of Notre Dame, Arts and Letters houses the divisions of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. It encompasses 21 departments, more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and a variety of interdisciplinary centers. Approximately 3,500 undergraduates and 750 graduate students pursue degrees through Arts and Letters programs; students from throughout Notre Dame enroll in thought-provoking Arts and Letters courses.

The College of Arts and Letters creates a vibrant environment for the life of the mind. Colorful posters advertising performances, conferences, and events cover the walls of O’Shaughnessy Hall, long a vortex of activity in the College. Students and faculty discuss short essays and life plans in Waddick’s, O’Shaughnessy’s coffee shop. They work with their professors in research teams examining data gathered at ancient sites and in recent polls. They filter in and out of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, discussing Shakespeare, analyzing Orson Welles, contemplating Mozart.

The Arts and Letters' emphasis on collaboration creates this lively environment; undergraduates, graduate students, and professors build relationships, perform research together, and create initiatives to serve the larger community. In addition, the College supports its faculty and students in their intellectual endeavors: a wealth of grants, fellowships, and funding exists for those wishing to contribute to the academy.