Each student at Yale-NUS College will select a major at the end of their second year of enrolment. There are currently fourteen majors available. Law is the major for students enrolled in the Double Degree Programme with Law unless an exception is granted by the College. For each major, students are required to complete 50MC (modular credits) [Class of 2017 and 2018] or 54 MC [Class of 2019 onwards] of which a 10MC capstone project will be carried out in the final year of the programme.
Anthropology Anthropologists investigate human cultural variation and diversity by immersing themselves in the intimate every day lives of the groups that they study. Researching communities in different parts of the world, Yale-NUS students in the anthropology major explore complex and important issues such as social inequality, gender, technology, public health, migration, religion, human rights, climate change, and globalisation. Graduates employ their valuable skills of observation and cultural analysis in NGOs, museums, academia, the arts, journalism, consulting, government, and the law, among other careers.
Arts and Humanities The Arts and Humanities major addresses the core elements of human expression from historical, critical, comparative, and practice-based perspectives. It teaches students about art in human life and provides a context for students to develop their own arts practice. The intellectual and practical skills developed in the Arts and Humanities major prepare students for a wide range of careers including work in art history, arts administration, art practice, art education, music, museums, performing arts, publishing, academia and journalism.
Economics Economics is the science of everyday life. It is the study of how societies, markets, firms, institutions, households and individuals make decisions and allocate scarce resources. It equips students with the tools to analyse questions about the environment (‘how to control global warming?’), marriage markets (‘who marries whom, and why?’), design of institutions (‘which policies reduce political corruption?’), neighbourhood effects (‘whether individual decisions are affected by a desire to conform to social norms’), and urbanisation (‘what explains the formation of cities and specific spatial distribution of individuals within cities?’). Economics at Yale-NUS covers a breadth of questions and methodologies that intersect fields like anthropology, computer science, history, psychology, political science, sociology and mathematics.
Environmental Studies Environmental Studies at Yale-NUS blends elements of the world’s best environmental studies and science programmes with the unique opportunities of a liberal arts college in a vibrant Asian city. Our students collaborate with faculty on environmental topics, both local and global, drawing upon the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences in their work. Graduates command broad environmental knowledge and expertise in a chosen sub-field, allowing them to tackle real-world problems in service of our shared prosperity.
Global Affairs At the heart of Global Affairs, we strive to understand the underlying causes and consequences of transnational socio-economic, political and development challenges. The Global Affairs major at Yale-NUS draws its strength from an interdisciplinary perspective, empowering students to analyse inter-connected issues like international security and economic integration, migration, the politics of environmental degradation, public health and development, to name a few. Students in Global Affairs are trained to be critical thinkers, equipped with competencies in linking theory to practice, and understand their role as responsible, global citizens.
History The History major at Yale-NUS offers students the opportunity to explore the complex relationship between our understanding of the past and our experience of the present. Through the study of history, students will learn to interpret past events, understand societies and peoples, and recognise patterns and structures in history. They will also attend to the ways in which historians’ narratives of the past often reflect contemporary concerns and assumptions.
Life Sciences How do living things – from cells, to organisms, to communities – work? And how did they get to be the way they are? These are the big questions that the Life Sciences major at Yale-NUS seeks to address. Whether studying biochemical reactions in a test tube, watching a developing organism under the microscope, reconstructing evolutionary history on a computer, or observing animals and plants in the wild, the scope of biological sciences is vast, endlessly fascinating, and in a renewed period of excitement and vigour. The study of Life Sciences is of particular value to those interested in postgraduate research or careers in biology, environmental policy, public health, medicine, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Literature The Literature major refines students’ capacities to interpret human experiences creatively represented in the written word. Poetry, drama, novels, and stories present a universe of human imagination for Literature students to explore critically. Drawing on the unique linguistic diversity of the students and faculty at Yale-NUS, the Literature major features courses in world Anglophone literature and beyond: our students also pursue studies in Chinese languages, ancient Greek, and Latin in Singapore and abroad. Graduates in Literature will exercise their versatile skills in attentive reading, persuasive writing, and cross-cultural criticism wherever sophisticated interpretative and rhetorical awareness is required, for instance, law, journalism, education, and marketing. Training in Literature also enhances creative pursuits in writing, screenwriting and game design.
Mathematical, Computational and Statistical Sciences Students majoring in Mathematical, Computational and Statistical Sciences at Yale-NUS can obtain a traditional mathematics, computing and statistical education or apply their knowledge in various fields, such as programming drones, building new apps, or predicting financial trends. Their opportunities include admissions to the world’s top graduate schools and the chance to find employment in government or the high-tech sector.
Philosophy Philosophy investigates the nature of the good life and of reality, knowledge, truth and beauty. It does not just teach us about ideas; most importantly, it teaches us to do philosophy, and hence to lead rewarding and productive lives informed by philosophical reflection. Skills and habits of mind developed in the Philosophy major prepare graduates for a wide range of careers in fields including law, government, business, medicine, academia and journalism.
Physical Sciences Students majoring in Physical Sciences at Yale-NUS will explore some of the fundamental processes in matter, energy, space and time. The major emphasises the ability to understand physical concepts deeply and to solve real world scientific problems, which necessitates clear critical thinking, mathematical reasoning and empirical observation. The tangible skills acquired include scientific research and technical problem solving, numerical simulation and theoretical modelling. For those who want to pursue further education, the major also offers excellent preparation for doctoral study in physics, astronomy and chemistry, as well as for advanced degrees in engineering, biophysics and biochemistry, law and medicine.
Philosophy, Politics and Economics Students majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics use both normative and empirical tools to understand social and legal institutions, political relations, and markets. Though specialisation is expected, the major also integrates qualitative and quantitative approaches from philosophy, politics, and ec onomics. It prepares students for a range of careers including law, public policy, social work, journalism, finance, management consulting, and academia.
Psychology Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behaviour. Inquiries in psychology include how we are influenced by others, why we become the persons that we are, how our brains work, and why people sometimes behave in seemingly unusual or even bizarre ways. The study of psychology seeks to understand people both out of curiosity and for numerous applied reasons, ranging from business management to promoting personal wellbeing.
Urban Studies Urban Studies is an interdisciplinary programme focused on the study of cities and processes of urbanisation. Students learn about urban development and city life from multiple disciplinary perspectives: historical, political economic, sociological, architectural and geographical. They acquire skills in critical thinking, creative problem solving, as well as social-spatial analysis methods, and get to apply these in both their classroom and field-based learning. Urban Studies majors are prepared for careers and postgraduate opportunities in many areas, including urban affairs, international and community development, public policy, social work, education, tourism and heritage, journalism, management consulting, real estate, architecture, and planning.
Student Body
- Male students: 46%
- Female students: 54%
- Singaporean – Permanent Resident and International students ratio: Approximately 60:40
- Student-Faculty ratio: 8:1
- Average class size: 18-20
- Common curriculum: Yes, 31% of total curriculum
- Majors:
- Anthropology
- Arts & Humanities
- Economics
- Environmental Studies
- Global Affairs
- History
- Life Sciences
- Literature
- Mathematical, Computational and Statistical Sciences
- Philosophy
- Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Physical Sciences
- Psychology
- Urban Studies
- Independent Minors:
- Chinese Studies
- Global Antiquity
- Innovation and Design