Whittier College

Whittier College is a vibrant, residential four-year liberal arts institution, where intellectual inquiry and experiential learning are fostered in a community that promotes respect for diversity of thought and culture. With 43 percent of its students hailing from traditionally under-represented groups, and its federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Whittier College remains one of the most diverse liberal arts schools in the nation. The College’s location at the crossroads of Los Angeles and Orange Counties – Southern California’s centers of urban and cultural life – provides unparalleled opportunities to explore a full range of thought, cultures, and talents. Nationally recognized for its Whittier Scholars Program, interdisciplinary curriculum, and emphasis on linking theory and practice, Whittier College’s academic program is progressive; students gain a wide breadth of knowledge and the confidence to apply that knowledge, primed to flourish in graduate studies, the evolving global workplace, and life. Working closely with professors and with the advantage of small class size, students have extensive undergraduate research opportunities, which atypically extend beyond the natural and physical sciences to include social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Multitudes of students have become published authors through joint research endeavors and have actively participated in national professional conferences. Whittier faculty also embrace the educational advantages provided through experiential learning; a high percentage of students engage in off-campus study both locally and abroad, academically supported through research trips, fieldwork, service projects, and professional internships. Popular with students is the January Interim session, an abbreviated but rigorous term that offers intense focus on subject matter, typically followed by a field trip to apply learning. Recent courses included travel to Mexico to study multinational management practices; Chile to analyze the politics of race, religion, and gender in action; Paris to examine historical social construct through city planning; and Rome to explore origins of art and architecture. Whittier’s 50-year association with the DIS-Copenhagen program remains the most popular semester abroad option, though recent choice destinations have included India, China, Egypt, Africa, and South America. Hosting nearly 70 active student organizations, club sports, and honorary societies, as well as 21 NCAA Division III competitive sports teams – including champion lacrosse and water polo teams – Whittier College affords students the opportunity to participate in all aspects of student life. The intimate size of the campus, educational and social events hosted at the Faculty Masters’ homes, themed living-learning groups, and inherently inclusive Quaker values of truth, acceptance, justice, community, service, and diversity each contribute to the strong sense of community experienced by all. In particular, strong faculty-student relationships are forged here – through collaborative projects, mentoring, and social interaction – that extend well beyond the college years and most often result in professional networking, graduate study references, and career assistance later in life. Combining experience, academics, and environment, Whittier graduates emerge well-prepared for leadership in a global economy across a variety of sectors, including public service, education and social work, science and health, entrepreneurial business, and the arts.