Bard's curriculum emphasizes both flexibility and academic rigor. Students are encouraged to explore and to discover their passions, and the unique structure of our curriculum from the First-Year Seminar to Moderation and the capstone Senior Project supports this journey. Bard's distribution requirements in science, math, and the arts enable students to experience a variety of disciplines and ensure a breadth of education necessary for success beyond Bard. At every step of the process, faculty members will advise and assist.

Not all students commit to a particular course of study when they first arrive. It's not unusual for a student to student to begin as a biology major and to graduate with a double major in physics and dance. We encourage this type of exploration, while insisting on a high level of academic achievement in the process. Bard offers the B.A. degree in more than 40 academic programs in four divisions: Arts; Languages and Literature; Science, Mathematics and Computing; and Social Studies as well as a B.S. or B.M. in the five-year double degree programs. more

L&T Workshop

Going straight into college from high school is an important transition. That’s why Bard’s August Workshop in Language and Thinking (L&T) is key to orientation. Incoming freshman arrive at the College three weeks before classes begin. In intimate seminars, students are able to hone their listening, writing and critical-thinking skills in a low-pressure, socially exciting environment. Consider it a summer farewell to high school and introduction to your college years. Plus, it’s a great way to get to know your classmates. more

Additional Study Opportunities

Bard offers a number of opportunities for learning outside the formal curriculum and course structure. Students planning professional careers can concentrate in a liberal arts field and at the same time arrange their program to meet the requirements for admission to graduate professional school. In some professional areas, students may choose a program in which they combine liberal arts study at Bard with professional graduate work at another institution. Pathways for independent work include special study and internship programs, study at another academic institution in the United States or abroad, and individual and group study projects. Bard's progressive approach encourages a wide range of individual programs. more

International Programs and Study Abroad

Bard offers numerous opportunities for students to engage with the world outside of the Annandale campus. Nearly 50 percent of Bard students participate in at least one global or international program during their time at Bard. Some spend a year, a term, or a summer studying abroad. Others spend time abroad participating in internships with leading international organizations or working on community service projects. Many students combine these various programs. more

Faculty

The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:9 and courses are taught by full faculty members. Among the many distinguished faculty at Bard College are five MacArthur Fellows|poets John Ashbery and Ann Lauterbach, novelist and memoirist Norman Manea, painter and multimedia artist Judy Pfaff, and journalist Mark Danner. more

Graduate Degrees

Graduate Degrees are offered in the following programs: The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) Program; Bard Center for Environmental Policy (BCEP); The Bard Graduate Center for Studies in the Decorative Arts, Design, and Culture; Center for Curatorial Studies and Art in Contemporary Culture; The Bard College Conservatory of Music; ICP–Bard Program in Advanced Photographic Studies; and Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts. more