Society, Culture & Thought
What it is to be human
Anthropology, economics, history, media studies, philosophy, politics, psychology, sociolinguistics, sociology—to study these fields at Bennington means diving deep into the range of human experience in order to investigate history, explore the human psyche, and analyze the workings of states, societies, institutions, and cultures.
Classes are small, discussion‐based seminars, with faculty who are practicing historians, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, policymakers, and diplomats. Extensive reading and writing and lively conversation are complemented by the yearly Field Work Term, with internships in the field, and, if desired, study abroad.
The list of faculty who have taught at Bennington since its founding include some of the most consequential thinkers of their eras, and people who were shaping the world that they were expert at observing: Theodore Newcomb, a pioneer in social psychology, Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, Erich Fromm, the psychoanalyst and social theorist, and Mansour Farhang, Revolutionary Iran’s first ambassador to the United Nations, to name a few.
Our faculty continue this tradition while breaking new intellectual ground, their feet firmly planted in theory and in practice. They model new ways to be engaged in the world as they guide students in their quest to formulate rigorous questions, gather evidence and analyze data, and think through and across boundaries of thought.
Learn more about studying at Bennington by contacting our admissions office
At Bennington, students work closely with faculty to design the content, structure, and sequence of their study and practice—their Plan—taking advantage of resources inside and outside the classroom to pursue their work.
Faculty
Your faculty are active scholars in their fields, advancing the work by doing the work.
Field Work Term
During Field Work Term, you’ll work with experts outside the College to observe the world, test your ideas in the field, and gather insight to bring back to your classes.
- Africana Studies Institute, University of Connecticut
- Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania
- Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls
- Philosophy On Stage, University of Vienna
- Rudolf Steiner Schule, Pötzleinsdorf
- San Francisco Zen Center
- Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
- The Institute for Women, Religion & Globalization, Union Theological Seminary
- The Knox Museum
- The University Center Svalbard, Norway
- Tufts University
- U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali