Pitzer describes its academic approach as linking, "intellectual inquiry with interdisciplinary studies, cultural immersion,
social responsibility and community connectivity". Pitzer prides itself upon being the most "flexible" of the Claremont College,
most notably in its policy of allowing self-created majors.Pitzer offers 40 majors and 15 minors, the requirements of which are determined by a field group rather than a department.Majors include:
- American Studies
- Anthropology
- Art
- Asian-American Studies
- Biology-Chemistry
- Biology
- Black Studies
- Chemistry
- Chicano Studies
- Classics
- Creative Writing
- Economics
- English and World Literature
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Studies
- French
- Gender & Feminist Studies
- History
- History of Ideas
- Human Biology
- International and Intercultural Studies
- Asian Studies
- European Studies
- Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Third World Studies
- Linguistics
- Mathematical Economics
- Mathmatics
- Media Studies
- Modern Language, Literature, and Culture
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Organizational Studies
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Economy
- Political Studies
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Science and Management
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Theater and Dance
Example Self-Designed Majors:
- Ethnic Psychology
- Queer Studies
- Fashion Design
Pitzer has five primary guidelines for graduation:
- Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Exploration
- Each student must take three classes which address a particular topic of interest. The classes must represent at least two
disciplines and more than one cultural perspective.
- Social Responsibility and the Ethical Implications of Knowledge and Action
- Credit Options include participation in an External Studies program or completion of a class with a community service
component.
- Non-credit options include 45 hours of community service in a single semester or participation in certain school programs
such as school governance, as a Resident Assistant, at the Ecology Center, at the literary magazine.
- Breadth of Knowledge
- Two courses in the humanities and fine arts
- Two courses in the social and behavioral sciences
- One course in the natural sciences
- One course in mathematics/formal reasoning
- Written Expression
- The completion of a first-year seminar fulfills this requirement.
- Alternately, transfer students may take a writing intensive course to fulfill this requirement.
- Completion of a Major
Pitzer, Claremont McKenna College, and
Scripps College share a science program known as the Joint Science
Department that is located at the Keck Science Center.Pitzer College also shares an athletic program with Pomona College
called the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.