School of Humanities & Sciences

Photo: Professor and two students viewing a rare book.

The Human Experience

The liberal arts have always been at the center of a university education and, at Stanford, much of the School of Humanities and Sciences is physically located in the heart of campus. The “Language Corner,” located near here, connects with math, history and geology as the four historic “corners” anchoring Stanford’s Main Quad.

As Stanford’s largest school, Humanities and Sciences includes 23 departments and more than 24 interdisciplinary programs. In humanities, arts, social sciences and natural sciences classes, students learn to think critically, argue persuasively and understand cultures at home and across the globe. Together with world-renowned faculty, they fuel discoveries and push the boundaries of knowledge across disciplines.

Insight into the Mind

The research of Stanford psychology professors has shaped our understanding of how the mind works at all stages of life. Whether observing children at play or using highly sophisticated technologies like fMRIs, psychologists are constantly gaining new insight into how the brain processes information. Their research is increasingly vital for everything from measuring the accuracy of memory-based legal testimony to identifying risk factors for depression.

Photo: Professor Gotlib and students look at brain image on computer monitor.

Photo: Digital humanities students working together with monitors and white boards.
New Horizons

Today, digital methods can be used as tools of discovery in the same way that telescopes and microscopes allow us to see new worlds. Stanford scholars in the digital humanities are leading the way in using tools such as geographic information systems and network analysis to create new knowledge. They are collaborating on projects to ask previously unimaginable questions across disciplines and share their findings in dynamic ways.

World View
Photo: East Asian studies students learning ceremonial tea protocol.

Stanford provides opportunities to research and learn about the languages, cultures and political structures of the U.S. and countries and regions worldwide. This work helps advance the under-standing of factors that have shaped the course of history and the social fabric of the contemporary world. The Stanford Language Center focuses on teaching students to speak, listen, read and write in ways that are useful in engaging people globally.

 

 

 

 

 

Kiosk 13 highlighting Stanford School of Humanities & Sciences