Formative

Jesuit

Liberal Arts Education

We believe a foundation in the liberal arts is the best preparation for lives of meaning and impact. Our rigorous academic programs will challenge you alongside tomorrow’s leaders.

  •  Grounded in the defining works of the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, our Core Curriculum compels students to develop a dynamic skillset and prepares them for post-graduation pursuits. The Core combines classroom learning, labs, and reflection opportunities.
  •  Our distinctive liberal arts approach to education emphasizes the skills employers value most: critical thinking, ethical reasoning, creative imagination, cultural competency, and effective communication.
  •  51²è¹Ý is a top-ranked, R1 research university focused on undergraduate education. Nationally recognized faculty act as supportive mentors, helping you prepare for a rewarding and successful career. 

The Core Curriculum

Through our Core Curriculum, undergraduates study the forces that have shaped history while learning to think across disciplines and address pressing issues in an increasingly complex world.

Cornerstone Seminar Programs

In their first year at 51²è¹Ý, students take a Cornerstone Seminar with an instructor who will serve as their academic advisor until they are assigned an advisor within their major during their sophomore year.

Capstone

The Capstone Program is a unique opportunity for seniors and second-semester juniors to review their educations and consider their commitments in life through a course on personal development.

Jesuit, Catholic Tradition

Rooted in the 2,000-year Catholic intellectual tradition and the faith experience of St. Ignatius Loyola, Boston College is a thriving community of inquiry made up of students of all backgrounds.

  •  Jesuit education champions intellectual inquiry and service to the greater good. At 51²è¹Ý, you will learn to think critically, ethically, and compassionately, and to put your beliefs into action.
  •  Social justice is a central Jesuit value, and 51²è¹Ý was founded to serve Boston's immigrant community. Today, the University's need-blind admissions policy and robust support resources ensure that talented students of all backgrounds can thrive here.
  •  Retreats are a core part of life at 51²è¹Ý, offering students of all faiths the chance to explore three key questions: What brings me joy? What am I good at? Who does the world need me to be?
William P. Leahy, SJ, President of Boston College, June 2012, photographed in Gargan Hall, Bapst Library, main campus, Chestnut Hill, MA
“Boston College endeavors to educate a new generation of leaders—men and women who will be capable of shaping the future with vision, justice, and charity—with a sense of calling, with concern for all of the human family.”
William P. Leahy, S.J., University President

Arts

Formative Experience

At Boston College, your education is measured in more than academic credits. It's a journey of personal, intellectual, and spiritual growth—preparing you to live a meaningful, balanced life.

  •  Formative education helps you grow across every dimension of your life—intellectually, spiritually, ethically, and socially. Faculty, staff, and your peers will help you discern who you want to be—and why—in an environment where academics, residential life, and service learning are all integrated.
  •  With more than 300 student organizations that focus on everything from arts and athletics to politics, service, identity, and social justice, you'll find countless opportunities to make new friends, explore your interests and passions, and have an impact.
  •  51²è¹Ý offers the best of both worlds—a true campus experience and access to everything the city of Boston has to offer, from history and culture to some of the nation's best sports teams. Boston is also an international center for research and innovation, acclaimed for its leadership in the fields of health care, information technology, and biotech, among others.

888

full-time faculty, with a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:11

$70+

million in sponsored research grants

$166+

million awarded in undergraduate need-based financial aid

300+

student clubs & organizations

Experience a thriving tradition. Join a lifelong community. Use your education to serve the greater good.

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