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From its proud history spanning more than two centuries, Middlebury College has emerged as one of a handful of the most highly regarded liberal arts colleges. Middlebury is unique among these schools in being a classic liberal arts college that also offers graduate and specialized programs operating worldwide. The College is committed to educating students in the tradition of the liberal arts, which embodies a method of discourse as well as a group of disciplines in our scientifically and mathematically oriented majors, just as in the humanities, the social sciences, the arts, and the languages, we emphasize reflection, discussion, and intensive interactions between students and faculty members. Our vibrant residential community, remarkable facilities, and the diversity of our co-curricular activities and support services all exist primarily to serve these educational purposes. As a residential college, Middlebury recognizes that education takes place both within and beyond the classroom. Since our founding in 1800, the College has sought to create and sustain an environment on campus that is conducive to learning, and that fosters engaged discourse. Middlebury is centrally committed to the value of a diverse and respectful community. Our natural setting in Vermont's Champlain Valley, with the Green Mountains to the east and the Adirondacks to the west, is also crucial to our identity, providing refreshment and inspiration as well as a natural laboratory for research. The beauty of our well-maintained campus provides a sense of permanence, stability, tradition, and stewardship. Middlebury has established itself as a leader in campus environmental initiatives, with an accompanying educational focus on environmental issues worldwide. We expect our graduates to be thoughtful and ethical leaders able to meet the challenges of informed citizenship both in their communities and as world citizens. They should be independent thinkers, committed to service, with the courage to follow their convictions and accept responsibility for their actions. They should be skilled in using language and the analysis of evidence, in whatever context it may present itself. They should be physically active, mentally disciplined, and motivated to continue learning. Most important, they should be both grounded in an understanding of the Western intellectual tradition that has shaped this College, and educated to comprehend and appreciate cultures, ideas, societies, traditions, and values that may be less immediately familiar to them. Following the adoption of a new strategic framework on October 21, 2017, the Board of Trustees approved the first mission statement that is inclusive of all of Middlebury's academic programs. Further, each school—the College, the Institute, the Language Schools, the C.V. Starr Schools Abroad, the Bread Loaf School of English, and the School of the Environment—has a new mission statement of its own. Through a commitment to immersive learning, we prepare students to lead engaged, consequential, and creative lives, contribute to their communities and address the world's most challenging problems. Founded in 1800 and set in the beautiful Champlain Valley of Vermont, Middlebury College has long been one of the country's finest liberal arts colleges. Our 2,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 70 countries, are part of a community devoted to teaching, learning, and collaborating. What will you find at Middlebury College? A liberal arts education for the 21st century, a community of diverse people and perspectives, a passion for the environment and a sustainable lifestyle, a long-term commitment to international education, and, perhaps most importantly, people—students, faculty, and staff—with the energy to make things happen. Middlebury College respects the free-speech rights of students and student applicants. This includes the right to engage in peaceful protest and civil disobedience regarding personal or national interest issues. We understand that student applicants may be concerned that their political activities, particularly those that may lead to disciplinary action by their school, might be viewed negatively by colleges and universities they seek to attend. The Middlebury College Admissions Committee will consider such reports in light of its belief that students are active members of our society and have political rights and obligations. This is true without regard to the content of the issue. Middlebury College's liberal arts curriculum will challenge you for the rest of your life. Four years of intellectual and personal growth prepare students to meet responsible citizenship challenges in a complex, changing world. Our curriculum is designed to ensure that each student's education includes a breadth of experience across many fields and disciplines and in-depth study in one area defined by the major. Breadth is achieved through a set of distribution requirements that encompass seven academic categories and four courses in different cultures and civilizations. An emphasis on writing in all disciplines sharpens students' capacity for critical thinking and expression. An array of interdisciplinary programs provide opportunities to synthesize and connect what you learn in many different departments. Intensive study in the major may culminate in a senior thesis, independent project, or artistic production, working closely with professors in laboratories, studios, and classrooms to collaborate on research and creative projects. You'll have a broad range of choices and a great deal of freedom to set your academic path. View full university