The mission of the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences is discovery—the creation of new knowledge through research and scholarship, and the education of our students, undergraduate and graduate alike, through immersion in this collaborative process. The school’s unique character above all derives from its commitment to choose carefully what is worth pursuing and to do so without compromise.

This imperative applies to our work at every level, including undergraduate education, graduate education, scholarly research, and outreach to the broader community. We strive to be the finest small research-oriented school of arts and sciences in the country, with a body of faculty and students who are, person for person, second to none. We seek to instill in our students the highest standards of intellectual achievement and an abiding commitment to self-initiated learning and discovery. Scholarship of the highest quality is at the core of all the work we do in the school. For a division of arts and sciences with fewer than 300 tenure-track professors, the accomplishments and stature of our faculty are extraordinary. The programs of the School have an impact that transcends their small size.

The value that a university adds to the pursuit of scholarship and education lies fundamentally in the communities that it supports and nurtures. The well being of the school requires above all else strong academic departments; well-rounded and deeply engaged students; vibrant interactions across disciplines and between faculty and students; and committed alumni who feel lasting and deep connections to the School.