The Heart of Stanford:
Where Ideas Begin and Futures Take Shape
Stanford's School of Humanities and Sciences fuels discovery, creativity, and critical thinking across the liberal arts and sciences.
Understanding change, together
Exploring the Changing Human Experience
The Changing Human Experience initiative fuels interdisciplinary research that examines how we live, adapt, and relate to one another in an evolving world—from climate change to global politics.
Explore the initiative
When tradition meets technology
Humanities Meet Data
Through initiatives like the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis (CESTA), Stanford scholars combine humanities inquiry with cutting-edge data science. Projects span from mapping historical social networks to analyzing ancient texts with modern algorithms—reshaping how we understand culture and history.
Explore digital humanitiesThe narratives behind change
Stories That Shape Us
Stanford’s humanities faculty explore the narratives that define identity, memory, and belonging. Whether examining global migration, literature, or visual culture, their work deepens our collective understanding of how stories influence behavior, policy, and social change.
Read the stories
Advancing Knowledge, Shaping the Future
Behind every breakthrough is the unseen work that drives discovery, innovation, and progress for all humankind.
New course showcases humanities, social science offerings for undergrads
With help from 30 professors, students were introduced to the breadth of these academic areas and gained insight into courses, research opportunities, and majors.
Josiah Ober's mission to revitalize democracy and civic education
The political science professor's innovative approach to teaching ancient political thought has inspired a new generation of students to engage with democratic principles and civic responsibility.
Common diversity argument linked to beliefs that maintain inequality
A groundbreaking study reveals how certain diversity narratives may inadvertently reinforce existing power structures, prompting a reevaluation of inclusion strategies.
Jamming with Joshua Redman
The renowned saxophonist and Stanford alumnus returns to campus for a series of masterclasses and performances, sharing his expertise with the next generation of jazz musicians.
Stanford researchers uncover ancient trade routes in Mediterranean
Using advanced archaeological techniques and historical analysis, a team of researchers has mapped previously unknown trade networks that shaped early Mediterranean civilizations.
New study reveals impact of digital media on political discourse
Research from the Communication Department shows how social media platforms are transforming political engagement and public opinion formation in contemporary society.
Celebrating Excellence in Humanities and Sciences
Recent Publications by H&S Faculty
Explore recent books published by faculty in the School of Humanities and Sciences—covering groundbreaking research, fresh perspectives, and influential scholarship.
In The Moment
Photographer LiPo Ching captures a rainbow on a winter day at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Ching produced stunning images of the preserve for a photo story about seasonal change at this unique H&S education and research site.
Explore all momentsPhoto by Dan Quinn, JRBP docent