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A transformative vision.

Launched in 2021, our strategic plan was the result of hundreds of collaborators working toward a bold vision for Arts & Sciences at WashU. The plan has elevated Arts & Sciences into a world leader for groundbreaking research, transdisciplinary collaboration, and academic excellence. 
 

Read our latest impact report

Advancing our research enterprise

Since implementing our Strategic Plan in 2022, Arts & Sciences has had three of its strongest years ever for external funding, setting new records and fueling ambitious proposals from faculty. Enhanced internal seed funding opportunities, robust faculty collaboration, and increased support for faculty during the application process have helped fuel the growth and scope of external proposals.

Launching the Department of Statistics and Data Science (SDS)

The new Department of Statistics & Data Science is a close collaboration with the McKelvey School of Engineering. Under the leadership of renowned statistician and department chair Xuming He, the department has recruited some of the field's most talented data scientists, staking its claim as a national data science powerhouse.

Demonstrating the value of an Arts & Sciences education

Literacies for Life and Career (LLC) equips undergraduate students with a toolkit of personal and professional skills that will help them adapt and thrive in an evolving global workforce. LLC is transforming the educational experience for undergraduates and preparing them for competitive careers.

Sparking collaborative research

A standout model of cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Incubator for Transdisciplinary Futures (ITF) provided seed funding to eight multiyear teams to prototype new models of learning and research. Securing millions in external grant funding, these projects generated a 9x return on investment.

Climbing in national rankings

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report named WashU’s Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences one of the top 10 psychology graduate programs in the nation — a significant milestone for the department and Arts & Sciences. The department is frequently lauded for its pioneering research on emotion regulation, human memory, clinical science, and lifespan development.