Academics

5%
OF STUDENTS
SELF DESIGN A MAJOR
30%
OF STUDENTS PURSUE
STEM MAJORS
1ST
IN THE COUNTRY TO OFFER
SECULAR STUDIES MAJOR

SPECIALIZED ACADEMIC PROGRAMS & DEPARTMENTS

Pitzer College Self Designed Majors

SELF-DESIGNED MAJORS

In consultation with two faculty advisers, design your own major.

Recent Examples

  • Global Health and Community Development
  • Global/Local Community Engagement through Soccer
  • Climate Toxicology
  • Documentary Activism
  • Urban Justice Studies
W.M. Keck Science Department Pitzer

W.M. KECK SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

Shared by Pitzer, Claremont McKenna and Scripps Colleges, the disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics are studied in 15 degree programs.

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR

ON YOUR SCHEDULE TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 11A TO 12:15P.

During Fall semester, all first-year students take a writing intensive, interdisciplinary First-Year Seminar to fulfill the college’s Written Expression educational objective. While the seminar is the only required Pitzer course—you do pick a seminar topic of interest from a list of options.

Pitzer College First-Year Seminar

Things to Know

  • The professor teaching your seminar will serve as your academic advisor for three to four semesters.
  • Seminars are capped at around 15 students.
  • Seminars are not part of or meant to be introductions to any particular major.

Sample Seminar Topics

  • Love and Loathing in Los Angeles
  • Drug Development, Policy and Innovation
  • Surfing and the Politics of Race and Gender
  • Women and Political Change in Africa
  • Political Imagination: Life on the Right
  • Seeing is Believing: Photography and Truth

YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE OUR FACULTY

CELEBRATED SCHOLARS, SPIRITED TEACHERS, PASSIONATE ACTIVISTS AND ALWAYS STUDENT-CENTERED.

Phil Zukerman Pitzer College Professor
Alicia Bonaparte Pitzer College Professor
Paul Faulstich Pitzer College Professor
Jessica McCoy Pitzer College Professor
Lars Schmitz Pitzer College Professor
50+%
OF PITZER FACULTY
ARE WOMEN
35%
OF OUR FACULTY ARE FROM
UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS
100%
OF OUR FACULTY HOLD A PH.D. OR
TERMINAL DEGREE IN FIELD
Pitzer College Professor Emma Stephens

Dr. Emma Stephens
Professor of Economics

“I love teaching my agricultural economics class. It’s community based and really shows students how what they learn in class can be used in the ‘real world.’ Huerta del Valle, a community garden and farm, is considering planting avocado trees. I had my students investigate how long each tree would take to grow, cost to plant and maintain, and how much they could make in avocado sales.”

Pitzer College Professor Brian Keeley

Dr. Brian Keeley
Professor of Philosophy

“I team-teach a course on the ‘Philosophy of Technology’ with Pomona professor Laura Perini. In one fun class, we explore doorknobs as a technology. Students are surprised to learn that doorknobs have a history and that we can spend an entire class talking about their social implications. When we move from doorknobs to digital passwords, they see that more contemporary phenomenon in a new light.”

Pitzer College Professor Elizabeth Affuso

Dr. Elizabeth Affuso
Professor of Media Studies

“Pitzer stands out in that it really is an institution that values many forms of community building and intellectual expression. Students are encouraged to pursue these practices in creative ways both in the classroom and in the larger campus environment.”

CLASSES

The Classroom Experience at Pitzer

Whether it’s small class sizes, dynamic faculty interactions, or even the hands-on experience in our lab courses, Pitzer offers a unique and valuable class experience.

Andre Wakefield Class on the Mounds