William & Mary

What is the history of William & Mary?

William & Mary is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, founded in 1693 by a royal charter from King William III and Queen Mary II. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States. Its original purpose included educating clergy and public leaders in colonial Virginia.

The Wren Building, begun in the 1690s, remains a central part of campus. William & Mary became a public institution in the early 20th century and began admitting women to its degree programs in 1918. Its history also includes the labor of enslaved people and a long period of racial exclusion; the university's Lemon Project researches and documents those histories. Today, the institution combines undergraduate liberal arts study with graduate and professional education.

What are the faculties and departments at William & Mary?

William & Mary organizes its academics across Arts & Sciences and professional schools in business, education, law, and marine science. Undergraduates can pursue majors in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and other fields; graduate and professional study includes the Raymond A. Mason School of Business, School of Education, William & Mary Law School, and the School of Marine Science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Examples of undergraduate fields include biology, computer science, economics, English, international relations, psychology, and public policy. Some professionally oriented subjects have separate admission processes or prerequisites, so admission to the university does not necessarily mean immediate admission to every program. Students comparing majors should consult the current undergraduate catalog for degree requirements, available concentrations, and any application steps within a school.

What is the location of William & Mary?

William & Mary's main campus is in Williamsburg, Virginia, next to the Colonial Williamsburg historic area. The setting is a small city rather than a large metropolitan campus; the nearby historic district, local businesses, and student-oriented services are accessible from campus.

Williamsburg has an Amtrak station, and regional highways connect it with Richmond and the Hampton Roads area. Newport News/Williamsburg Airport is a nearby air-travel option, although flight availability and ground transportation should be checked before relying on it. Students considering an off-campus home should account for the distance to classes and parking rules; first-year students generally cannot register a car to park on campus. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science also has facilities in Gloucester Point, so marine science students should check where their particular classes or research take place.

What is the mission and vision of William & Mary?

William & Mary describes its mission in terms of education, research, and service. Its stated approach emphasizes learning across disciplines, close engagement between students and faculty, the creation of knowledge, and contributions to communities beyond campus.

The university's strategic priorities also address research and teaching with public relevance. Prospective students can assess how those stated aims appear in a particular major by examining course offerings, undergraduate research opportunities, advising arrangements, and graduation requirements. William & Mary is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated college; its colonial origins do not define a present-day religious requirement for students.