History and Mission
Pitzer College produces engaged, socially responsible citizens of the world through an academically rigorous, interdisciplinary liberal arts education emphasizing social justice, intercultural understanding and environmental sensitivity. The meaningful participation of students, faculty and staff in college governance and academic program design is a Pitzer core value. Our community thrives within the mutually supportive framework of The Claremont Colleges which provide an unsurpassed breadth of academic, athletic and social opportunities. |
Academic Excellence • Diversity • Social Responsibility
• Intercultural Understanding
Pitzer College, named for founder Russell K. Pitzer (1878-1978), was born out of and in response to the turbulent, thrilling time of pervasive social and political questions and changes. It became
the fifth member of The Claremont Colleges in 1963. From the start,
Pitzer offered an alternative liberal arts education focused on
a deeper understanding of humankind within a structure that allowed
every voice to be heard equally and fully.
Within the seven-college Claremont consortium, Pitzer’s
educational philosophy remains singular. Students are encouraged
to grow as individuals while building community. There are few general
education requirements; students create their own academic programs
to fulfill a unique set of Educational Objectives. These objectives
incorporate the traditional components of the liberal arts and three
additional components that address the needs of our global community
in the 21st century: intercultural understanding, interdisciplinary
perspective and the ethical implications and social consequences
of knowledge.
Cultural diversity and intercultural understanding aren’t lofty ideals at Pitzer; they’re woven into the very fiber of the College’s curriculum and community. Students come from across the United States and throughout the world, representing a rich tapestry of ethnic, racial, cultural, religious, political and economic backgrounds. One of Pitzer’s Educational Objectives challenges students to develop a set of courses that will examine an issue from the perspectives of at least two cultures and two disciplines. All students are encouraged to enrich and strengthen their appreciation of global diversity by developing proficiency in a foreign language and participating in one of the Study Abroad options. Pitzer currently hosts its own semester programs in Botswana, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, India/Nepal, and Italy and summer programs in Japan and Costa Rica. More than 70 percent of Pitzer students study abroad, the majority in non-western countries. These numbers place Pitzer in the top 15 percent of colleges and universities ranked by percentage of students who study abroad, according to the Institute on International Education.
Pitzer College remains
true to its founding vision by continually seeking new ways of looking
at the world and better ways of helping students find meaningful
lives within it. Even today, Pitzer’s progressive approach
to the applied liberal arts serves as an exemplar of educational
ingenuity, attracting praise, recognition and support from education
leaders, college guides and philanthropic foundations.
Pitzer College, coeducational since 1970, today enrolls about 930
students in more than 40 fields of study leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree.
Some of the more popular concentrations include psychology, sociology,
political studies, media studies, environmental studies and art.
Current Pitzer College President:
Laura Skandera Trombley (2002 to present)
Past Pitzer College Presidents:
John W. Atherton, founding president (1963-1970)
Robert H. Atwell, Second President, (1970-1978)
Frank L. Ellsworth, third president (1979-1991)
Marilyn C. Massey, fourth president (1992-2002)
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