The College of Humanities and Sciences is the intellectual core of the University of Montana. We fulfill the central purpose for which the University was chartered in 1893: to provide a liberal education and integrated knowledge of the humanities and the sciences.

A liberal arts education gives students the means to think broadly and test the value of diverse ideas, beliefs, and facts. It empowers them to continue the learning process throughout life. By studying the ways of thinking and expression that are characteristic of the humanities and the social sciences, students will be educated citizens. They will be enabled to think critically about social analysis, creativity in the arts and humanities, aesthetics, and values. Equally important is effective expression of one's understandings. Clear thinking, cogent expression, and solid values provide the foundation of successful careers.

A particular strength of the College is the breadth of its disciplines and programs. This breadth makes possible a varied and flexible curriculum that advances both general programs and specialized education on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Another strength is the quality of the faculty. Its members have a distinguished record of teaching, research and creation of new knowledge, and service to our communities. Their commitment to undergraduate liberal arts education is demonstrated by the quality of the graduates the College has produced. The pre-professional education received here has enabled University of Montana graduates to compete successfully for admission to graduate schools across the nation. A third strength of the College is its commitment to students as they pursue their academic studies at the University. This is reflected in close student/faculty relationships and in the continuous attention given by the College to the effect that policies, procedures, and administrative practices have on students' educational experience.