Academics
The mission of Bryn Mawr College is to provide a rigorous education and to encourage the pursuit of knowledge as preparation for life and work.
Undergraduate Academics
Bryn Mawr teaches and values critical, creative and independent habits of thought and expression in an undergraduate liberal-arts curriculum for women and in coeducational graduate programs in the arts and sciences and in social work and social research.
Since its founding in 1885, the College has maintained its character as a small residential community that fosters close working relationships between faculty and students. The faculty of teacher/scholars emphasizes learning through conversation and collaboration, primary reading, original research and experimentation. Our cooperative relationship with Haverford College enlarges the academic opportunities for students and their social community. Our active ties to Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania as well as the proximity of the city of Philadelphia further extend the opportunities available at Bryn Mawr.
Prospective Undergrads Start Here
Majors, Minors, & Concentrations Finder
Use the Majors, Minors, and Concentrations Finder to get a high-level overview of all the academic programs Bryn Mawr has to offer. The tool features filters that can help you narrow down which programs you want to explore further.
Academic Departments & Programs
Then take a deep dive into programs that interest you by visiting the department websites. Here you'll get to browse course descriptions, read about faculty research, find out what alums are doing, learn about unique opportunities outside the classroom, and more!
Beyond the Class Schedule
At Bryn Mawr you can register for courses that take you beyond the four walls of a classroom and allow you to fully realize your academic passions. Learn about how Bryn Mawr academics are shaping far-reaching intellectual pursuits for our current and former students below.
Interdisciplinary and Interactive
At a liberal arts college, you don't have to choose just one field of study. You can immerse yourself in multiple disciplines, finding ways they intersect and synthesizing bold, new uncharted territories of exploration.
Bryn Mawr offers one-of-a-kind opportunities, including cool classes, interdisciplinary studies, industry intensives, leadership labs, study abroad, internships, and community involvement.
Opportunities to Shine
Bryn Mawr has a long history of supporting undergraduate research. We also have historical, close connections with neighboring institutions, and provide a number of curriculum and academic pathway options. All of these opportunities mean that you can shape the undergraduate academic experience of your dreams.
Undergraduate Research
Bryn Mawr College offers undergraduate students many opportunities to undertake academic research. Students refine their research skills once they have declared a Major course of study, with many departments offering research methodology courses along with senior thesis opportunities.
Our Partner Schools
Bryn Mawr’s location on the Main Line opens a world of academic, social, and professional opportunities to students, including partnerships with Haverford College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Curriculum & Academic Pathways
A Bryn Mawr education is a journey, and just as every student is different, every student's academic path will be different. The College's diverse curriculum offers each student many choices, while the flexible but rigorous requirements ensure some common elements to every experience.
Beyond the Undergraduate Experience
If you've already completed an undergraduate degree, consider Bryn Mawr's graduate and postbaccalaureate offerings.
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Our Graduate School of Arts and Sciences programs boast a remarkable diversity in sub-disciplinary study, coordinated by our distinguished faculty noted for their discipline-defining research and pedagogical expertise.
Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Through our courses, and in field education, students learn state-of-the-art approaches to social work practice with an emphasis on trauma-informed social work, diversity and inclusion, and an abiding commitment to social justice and advocacy.
Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program
Since 1972, the Bryn Mawr Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program has been known for its tradition of success. If you are ready to change careers but need to take the required science courses, choose Bryn Mawr and join a like-minded community pursuing their dream of becoming a doctor.