{"id":16,"date":"2011-06-21T19:36:15","date_gmt":"2011-06-21T19:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/?page_id=16"},"modified":"2026-03-06T17:16:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T22:16:34","slug":"educating","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/educating\/","title":{"rendered":"Academics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<p>If you ask Bates graduates what they value most about their time here, as often as not they\u2019ll say something like, \u201cBates taught me how to think.\u201d Supported by a dedicated faculty, Bates students learn to explore broadly and deeply, to cross disciplines, and to question rigorously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Bates, students and faculty form a community of scholars who share a thirst for learning, drawing on the methods of the sciences, the patterns of logic and language, the study of societies, and expression in the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A Bates education fosters intellectual inquiry and reflection, personal growth, and a commitment to the world beyond oneself. Bates offers students a rigorous academic experience in a collaborative and supportive environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Majors and Minors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Majors and minors both promote deep, immersive study in a particular discipline or field. A major is required and comprises between 10 and 14 courses. A minor is optional and requires far fewer courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All Bates majors culminate in a senior thesis or capstone seminar, a pivotal experience that challenges students to synthesize their prior academic work in original research or creative production.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-garnet-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/dof\/student-advising-portal\/\">Student Advising Portal<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-highlight highlight-box is-style-blue\">\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top Links<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"menu-home-menu-ii\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/admission\/apply\/\">Admission Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/catalog\/\">Course Catalog<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/faculty-expertise\/alphabetically\/\">Faculty (complete list)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/dof\/general-education\/\">General Education Requirements<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/offcampus\">Off-Campus Study<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/graduate-school-advising-resources\/\">Pre-Health Studies<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/programs-resources\/short-term\/\">Short Term<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/financial-services\/\">Tuition<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M = major<\/strong><br><strong>m = minor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/africana\/\">Africana (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/american-studies\/\">American Studies (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/anthropology\/\">Anthropology (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/art-and-visual-culture\/\">Art and Visual Culture (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/asian-studies\/\">Asian Studies (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/chemistry-and-biochemistry\/\">Biochemistry (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/biology\/\">Biology (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/chemistry-and-biochemistry\/\">Chemistry (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/asian-studies\/\">Chinese (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/classical-and-medieval-studies\/\">Classical and Medieval Studies (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/theater-and-dance\/\">Dance (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/digital-and-computational-studies\/\">Digital and Computational Studies (M, m)**<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/earth-and-climate-sciences\/\">Earth and Climate Sciences (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/economics\/\">Economics (M)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/education\/\">Educational Studies (m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/physics-astronomy\/academics\/engineering\/\">Engineering (M)*<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/english\/\">English (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/environmental-studies\/\">Environmental Studies (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/european-studies\/\">European Studies (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/french-and-francophone-studies\/\">French and Francophone Studies (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/gender-and-sexuality-studies\/\">Gender and Sexuality Studies (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/german-and-russian-studies\/\">German (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/classical-and-medieval-studies\/\">Greek (m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/hispanic-studies\/\">Hispanic Studies (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/history\/\">History (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.bates.edu\/\">Interdisciplinary Studies (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/asian-studies\/\">Japanese (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/latin-american-and-latinx-studies\/\">Latin (m)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/latin-american-and-latinx-studies\/\">Latin American and Latinx Studies (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/mathematics\/\">Mathematics (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/music\/\">Music (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/neuroscience\/\">Neuroscience (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/philosophy\/\">Philosophy (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/physics-and-astronomy\/\">Physics (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/politics\/\">Politics (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/psychology\/\">Psychology (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/religious-studies\/\">Religious Studies (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/rhetoric-film-and-screen-studies\/\">Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/german-and-russian-studies\/\">Russian (m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/sociology\/\">Sociology (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/art-and-visual-culture\/\">Studio Art (M)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/education\/\">Teacher Education (m)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/majors-and-minors\/theater-and-dance\/\">Theater (M, m)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>* <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/physics-astronomy\/academics\/engineering\/\">Dual degree program<\/a> offered in partnership with Case Western University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Washington University. Students must complete admission requirements for combined engineering plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>** Digital and Computational Studies was approved as a new major by the Bates faculty on March  3, 2025, available to the Class of 2027 and all subsequent classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial; font-family: var(--fontSansSerif);\"><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Facts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>2,000 students<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>20 students in the average class<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10-to-1 student to faculty ratio<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>100% of faculty hold highest degree&nbsp;in their field<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>100% of students complete a&nbsp;capstone or thesis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>60% of students study abroad<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>31 NESCAC Division III teams<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>110 student clubs, open to all<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>160 community partnerships&nbsp;through the Harward Center<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>0 fraternities and sororities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4-week spring Short Term<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>109 acres on Lewiston campus<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>600 acres in Bates\u2013Morse Mountain&nbsp;Conservation Area<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"129a103a-f4e2-4e5c-b55e-d16e850ea7fc\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"129a103a-f4e2-4e5c-b55e-d16e850ea7fc\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Academics<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"129a103a-f4e2-4e5c-b55e-d16e850ea7fc\">\n<p>Majors are offered by academic departments and interdisciplinary programs. Several offer a minor as well. Major study is designed to throw you headlong into the methods, practices, certainties, and mysteries of a field; they\u2019re also designed to lead to great things, including but not limited to graduate or professional school, enlightened leadership, and making your own way in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bates curriculum offers many&nbsp;options. You may design your own&nbsp;major. You may enroll in the Dual Degree&nbsp;Engineering Program: three years&nbsp;at Bates, plus two years at a top&nbsp;engineering school (Case Western,&nbsp;Columbia, Dartmouth, Rensselaer&nbsp;Polytechnic Institute, Washington&nbsp;University in St. Louis). You may also&nbsp;minor in the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Asian Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Digital and Computational Studies <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>German and Russian Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Greek<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Latin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Russian<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teacher Education<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To further ensure breadth in a course of study, most students take two concentrations, a group of four\u00a0courses that add up to a sustained\u00a0exploration of one theme.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"583739a0-9673-4caa-a307-a602791e02d6\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"583739a0-9673-4caa-a307-a602791e02d6\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Some recent concentrations<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"583739a0-9673-4caa-a307-a602791e02d6\">\n<p>A defining component of a Bates education is a General Education program that ensures breadth and depth of study. Concentrations challenge students to develop significant expertise outside their major. Each concentration consists of four courses chosen from a faculty-designed menu that is structured on the basis of a clearly articulated organizing principle. Some concentrations focus on a particular issue or topic or area of inquiry identified by several professors working across different disciplines; others are formed within a single discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Archaeology and Material Culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bridging El Atlantico<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chinese Society and Culture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Considering Africa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Diasporas<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Film and Media Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Public Health<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A concentration like Public Health\u00a0includes such courses as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Biomedical Ethics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Environmental Justice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Epidemics Past, Present, and Future<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health and Healing in Africa<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Health Economics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pathophysiology<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.bates.edu\/gec\/\">Complete List of concentrations<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"a7b8ab16-da18-4783-bbbd-d6317f88cb38\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"a7b8ab16-da18-4783-bbbd-d6317f88cb38\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Short Term<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"a7b8ab16-da18-4783-bbbd-d6317f88cb38\">\n<p>Our academic calendar is divided into&nbsp;two traditional semesters and one Short&nbsp;Term in late April and May. In Short&nbsp;Term, students take only one course, on&nbsp;a compressed schedule; they can also&nbsp;undertake internships or conduct fieldwork;&nbsp;a number of Short Term courses are&nbsp;conducted off campus. The result is a&nbsp;focused investigation of a single topic.&nbsp;A few recent Short Term courses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Building a Studio Practice<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intro to Archaeological Fieldwork <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Life Course and Aging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shakespeare in London<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Understanding Cancer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"9a871177-6b86-461a-9814-798d5996da85\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"9a871177-6b86-461a-9814-798d5996da85\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">First-year Seminar<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"9a871177-6b86-461a-9814-798d5996da85\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/dof\/first-year-seminar\/\">First-Year Seminar<\/a> is one of the first courses you\u2019ll take, and a model for the work you\u2019ll do in the next four years: You, a professor and a handful of your peers get together and dig into a specialized topic. Recent examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Coastal Hazards<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>History of the Brain<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>International Cinema<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judicial Power in the U.S.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Religion and Civil Rights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Revolutionary Writing in Latin America<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"9bedb726-aec8-43eb-889f-ea892cd537ba\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"9bedb726-aec8-43eb-889f-ea892cd537ba\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">The Faculty<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"9bedb726-aec8-43eb-889f-ea892cd537ba\">\n<p>Our student to faculty ratio is 10-to-1; there are 20 students in the average class; and every student works individually with a faculty mentor on their senior thesis \u2014 so not only will your professors know your name, they\u2019ll also know where you\u2019re coming from, where you want to go and how you might get there. Meals or coffee might be involved. Richly detailed letters of recommendation will almost certainly be involved. These are bright, accomplished, high-profile people whose priority is you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"a6018cb6-de7e-4e22-b901-0e132b2d007e\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"a6018cb6-de7e-4e22-b901-0e132b2d007e\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Off-campus Study<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"a6018cb6-de7e-4e22-b901-0e132b2d007e\">\n<p>About 60 percent of our students study abroad. We offer access to programs in more than 80 countries. Our faculty also develop and lead rigorous, cross-disciplinary Fall Semester Abroad trips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Need more information? Visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/global-education\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/global-education\/\">Center for Global Education<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"baa58ec5-a4db-468e-a8ac-66dab51c9ffa\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"baa58ec5-a4db-468e-a8ac-66dab51c9ffa\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">The Senior Thesis<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"baa58ec5-a4db-468e-a8ac-66dab51c9ffa\">\n<p>Our academic program starts with an intensive, often interdisciplinary first-year seminar and ends with an intensive, often interdisciplinary senior thesis. The thesis is meant to make a meaningful contribution to the storehouse of human knowledge; it is also often the first step toward a job or graduate study. A few recent theses:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Disputing Development: The Politics of Progress on Kilimanjaro<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Embodying Music: What Feeling Can Tell Us About Musical Expression<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Galactic Dark Matter and the Cosmic Microwave Background<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quack to Hero: The Character of the Doctor in the 19th Century<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bates-shortcodes-btn btn-wrap\" id=\"956d72e5-9e4c-4e64-936c-72e654d09811\"><div class=\"btn-action\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"956d72e5-9e4c-4e64-936c-72e654d09811\" aria-pressed=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"><h3 class=\"btn-title\">Research and Opportunity<\/h3><div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"btn-content\" id=\"956d72e5-9e4c-4e64-936c-72e654d09811\">\n<p>We do not live in a bubble. Research, fieldwork, internships, civic engagement \u2014 we do them all, they\u2019re academically demanding, and they bring us in to the world. A few examples: Our Purposeful Work Internship Program matches Bates students with selected employers and provides a stipend \u2014 i.e., money \u2014 to support them. More than 100 students receive research or creative fellowships each summer, to work with Bates faculty of elsewhere. At the Mount David Summit, our annual campus-wide student research festival, 250-300 students present poster sessions, research talks, panel discussions, and arts performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Harward Center for Community Partnerships develops or supports an astounding number of initiatives that combine rigorous intellectual work and hands-on civic engagement (an internship program at major museums for Art and Visual Culture students; a politics seminar on immigration that includes firsthand research at the California\/Mexico border; a community-based senior thesis about converting wood waste into fuel). It also oversees the college\u2019s Bonner Leader Program (scholarships for students who serve and lead), and gives grants to faculty, staff and students who think of innovative ways to work with communities across the street and around the world.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Scholarship in Action<\/h2>\n\n\n<section class=\"faculty-aggregator-container\">\n\t<div class=\"faculty-aggregator\" style=\"--story-count:6\">\t<a class=\"_story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/21\/explore-the-breadth-of-student-research-at-mount-david-summit\/\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"A supporting image for the event\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260410_Mount_David_Summit_0941.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"_text-section\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_story-date\">Apr 21, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"_story-title\">Explore the breadth of student research at Mount David Summit<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_faculty-link-list\">Featuring: <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Stephanie Kelley-Romano<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\t<a class=\"_story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/21\/shankar-vedantam-offers-fireside-chat-on-dialogue-across-differences\/\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"135\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477-400x135.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"A supporting image for the event\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477-400x135.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477-900x305.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477-1200x406.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477-1536x520.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477-200x68.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/260402_BOND_Shankar_Vedantam_8231-e1776788584477.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"_text-section\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_story-date\">Apr 21, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"_story-title\">Shankar Vedantam offers fireside chat on dialogue across differences<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_faculty-link-list\">Featuring: <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Elena G. Maker Castro<\/span> <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Charles I. Nero<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\t<a class=\"_story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/2026\/04\/16\/geneva-laurita-receives-dreyfus-foundation-teacher-scholar-award\/\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Associate Professor Carrie Diaz Eaton teaches in front of a chalkboard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"_text-section\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_story-date\">Apr 16, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"_story-title\">Geneva Laurita receives Dreyfus Foundation Teacher-Scholar Award<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_faculty-link-list\">Featuring: <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Geneva Laurita<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\t<a class=\"_story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/2026\/04\/16\/carrie-diaz-eaton-receives-continued-funding-from-hewlett-foundation\/\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Associate Professor Carrie Diaz Eaton teaches in front of a chalkboard\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/grants\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/187\/files\/2021\/12\/Carrie-Diaz-Eaton.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"_text-section\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_story-date\">Apr 16, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"_story-title\">Carrie Diaz Eaton receives continued funding from Hewlett Foundation<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_faculty-link-list\">Featuring: <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Carrie Diaz Eaton<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\t<a class=\"_story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/09\/in-upcoming-thesis-exhibition-bates-senior-art-students-each-have-a-seat-at-the-table\/\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"265\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes-400x265.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"A supporting image for the event\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes-400x265.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes-900x595.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes-950x628.jpg 950w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes-1536x1016.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes-200x132.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/04\/GraceThomas_WeAreTakingYourEyes.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"_text-section\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_story-date\">Apr 9, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"_story-title\">In upcoming thesis exhibition, Bates senior studio art students each have a seat At the Table<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_faculty-link-list\">Featuring: <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Carolina Gonz\u00e1lez Valencia<\/span> <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Michel Droge<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a>\t<a class=\"_story\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/2026\/03\/26\/a-15th-century-play-reimagined-for-the-21st-century\/\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7-400x267.webp\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"A supporting image for the event\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7-400x267.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7-900x600.webp 900w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7-942x628.jpg 942w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7-200x133.webp 200w, https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/news\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/174\/files\/2026\/03\/202603_Everybody_Play_Theater-Dance_SCW-7.webp 1919w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>\n\t\t<div class=\"_text-section\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_story-date\">Mar 26, 2026<\/p>\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"_story-title\">Everyone is a star in &#8216;Everybody&#8217;<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"_faculty-link-list\">Featuring: <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Timothy J. Dugan Jr.<\/span> <span class=\"_faculty-tag\">Courtney P. Smith<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/a><\/div><\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you ask Bates graduates what they value most about their time&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":211,"parent":0,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_prepend":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_append":false,"_batesModPostContentOverride_append_before_footer":false,"_dimp_site_id":"","_dimp_override_contact":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"Academics at Bates College, including Majors and Minors, Academic Programs, Student Research and other resources.","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-16","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/122"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16"}],"version-history":[{"count":46,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9644,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/16\/revisions\/9644"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}