About
Stanford University was founded with the mission to promote the public welfare—to shape a better future for our world and everyone in it. The School of Humanities and Sciences (H&S) embodies Stanford’s mission—world-class experts in research as well as excellent teachers across all areas.
As the university’s largest school, H&S is the center of a liberal arts education at Stanford. H&S encompasses 24 departments—from art and art history, English, and history to economics, mathematics, psychology and biology—as well as 25 interdisciplinary programs. Every undergraduate student, no matter their major, takes H&S courses and is exposed to ideas that matter, innovative research discoveries that advance our knowledge, and scholarship that contributes to our understanding of society. Working alongside faculty, our graduate students are the next generation of researchers, teachers, policymakers, and leaders.
Together, our faculty, students, and staff bring their diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise to stimulate knowledge and learning that brings value and benefits not only to those directly engaged with the university, but also to society at large.
Learn more about H&S faculty research and teaching
Common diversity argument linked to beliefs that maintain inequality
A Stanford-led study found that a preference for one of the most popular rationales for promoting diversity at universities—that it has practical benefits for everyone—is connected to attitudes among White Americans that favor the racial status quo.
Three reasons universities are crucial for understanding AI
There is a “fierce urgency” to understand how artificial intelligence works, says Stanford physicist Surya Ganguli, who is leading a project to bring the inner workings of AI to light through transparent, foundational research.
Jamming with Joshua Redman
For the past six years, acclaimed jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman has spent one quarter per year as a visiting artist in the Department of Music in the School of Humanities and Sciences.
Envisioning the future for Palestinians and Israelis
Former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Professor Alon Tal explored the complexities and potential of a two-state solution through a model of civil discourse.
Two seasons on Jasper Ridge
At Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve ('Ootchamin 'Ooyakma), a hike in February and one in April paint different pictures.
Chemical reaction research leads to cancer treatments
Nobel Prize winner and Stanford chemist Carolyn Bertozzi spent ten years doing mechanistic studies and analyzing reactions to develop the bioorthogonal chemistry that today is being tested in human cancer patients for chemotherapy.
Five things to do in virtual reality – and five to avoid
A review of experimental research reveals how VR is best used and why it’s struggled to become a megahit with consumers.
Novel cancer-killing mechanism opens path to new treatments
A Stanford-led study found that tegavivint, a drug candidate already in clinical trials, causes a new type of cancer cell death. The findings could inform future use of tegavivint as well as the development of other medicines.