As a liberal arts institution, Willamette provides an education in the arts, humanities, and sciences while allowing students to major in a particular field within these areas. The General Education Program ensures that students are exposed to a range of disciplinary methods of inquiry, as well as development of students’ capacity to engage in self-reflection, critical thinking and problem solving, close reading, discussion, and writing. Individualized experiences are strengthened by opportunities for scholarship and community engagement. General Education, then, plays a critical part in preparing graduates to transform knowledge into action and lead lives of contribution, achievement, and meaning in a dynamic world.
General Education Requirements
The General Education Program has 5 components:
- College Colloquium (5 credits)
- Liberal Arts Distribution (20 credits)
- World Engagement (8–16 credits, depending on entering language proficiency)
- Writing Program (8 credits; courses may also be used to satisfy Distribution or World Engagement)
- Power, Difference, and Equity (4 credits; courses may also be used to satisfy Distribution or World Engagement)