How F&M Does the Liberal Arts

Meaning “both/and,” the ampersand in the middle of our College's name is the purpose — and the power — of the liberal arts: recognizing and forming connections between things that at first don’t seem to go together.

What Does Liberal Arts Mean?

A liberal arts education focuses on exploring a wide range of fields while building skills in reading, writing, thinking, analyzing, debating, and active listening. While this concept dates back to the 5th century BC, the liberal arts have evolved alongside humanity, inspiring investigation into the eternal human condition and our collective future.

At F&M, you’ll study the humanities, arts, social sciences, and sciences; engage in academic exploration and constructive discourse; grow in local and global community; and ultimately form a strong foundation of the skills and tools you need to own your influence and shape the world — starting now. 

“I was immediately drawn to the encouragement to explore a multitude of disciplines and create my own college experience at F&M.”

— Michael Vasquez ’25

The Core Elements of the Liberal Arts

Menelaos Raptis, astrophysics

The Sciences

The sciences at F&M cross boundaries and weave subjects in unexpected ways. Step into the laboratory and find a place of discovery, a culture of collaboration, and world-class faculty eager to welcome you into their cutting-edge research.

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Tibetan Sand Mandala Creation

Humanities

When you study humanities at F&M, you'll explore the ways people make sense of their lives through artistic, cultural and intellectual expression. You'll examine the range of human experience by studying languages, literature, philosophy, religions, and more.

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Dance Concert rehearsal

The Arts

At F&M, studying art and making art go hand-in-hand. You’ll learn technique and composition, theory and practice, and critique and analysis, all while pushing the boundaries of your own creativity and imagination to uncover how artistic expression affects you and our world.

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Psychology research

The Social Sciences

By studying social sciences at F&M, you’ll develop a specialized understanding of societies and the human impact on the planet. You can work side-by-side with faculty on innovative research projects to uncover how people interact, how we build social institutions, and how our lives are affected by larger patterns of inequality and opportunity.

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Uncovering Connections

The curriculum at F&M is called “Connections.” Embodying the true spirit of a liberal arts education, our Connections curriculum encourages you to strive beyond traditional boundaries to make connections: between disciplines that at first glance seem unrelated, between theory and practice, and between your liberal arts education and the world.

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Embracing the Ampersand: Interdisciplinary Programs

An interdisciplinary program surpasses traditional academic boundaries by blending several fields of study into one. These programs allow you to embrace the ampersand at the heart of F&M’s liberal arts model of teaching and learning, contributing to a personalized and highly adaptable academic experience.

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