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Ways of Thinking/Ways of Doing

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  • About
    • About
    • Quickstart Guide for Students
    • Aesthetic and Interpretive Inquiry
    • Applied Quantitative Reasoning
    • Creative Expression
    • Engaging Diversity
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Formal Reasoning
    • Scientific Method and Analysis
    • Social Inquiry
  • Ways Categories
    • Ways
    • Aesthetic and Interpretive Inquiry (AII)
    • Applied Quantitative Reasoning (AQR)
    • Creative Expression (CE)
    • Engaging Diversity (ED)
    • Ethical Reasoning (ER)
    • Formal Reasoning (FR)
    • Scientific Method and Analysis (SMA)
    • Social Inquiry (SI)
    • Choose
  • Check Your Ways
    • Check Your Ways
    • Ways Planning Tool
    • Ways Update Request Form
  • Transfer Credit
    • Transfer Credit
    • Incoming Transfer Students
    • Matriculated Students Requesting Transfer Credit
    • Changing from GER to WAYS
  • Common Questions
  • For Faculty
    • For Faculty
    • Submit Your Course
    • Standard Submittal Process
    • Streamlined Submittal Process
    • Ways Guidelines
    • Sample Syllabi
    • Common Questions
  • Contact

 Covid-19 Resources

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Group project. Photo by L.A. Cicero / Stanford News Service

Ways of Thinking / Ways of Doing

Ways is Stanford’s unique general education breadth requirement. Create your own custom toolkit with a set of intellectual skills to use here and take with you when you graduate.  

You must take 11 courses in 8 Ways any time during your undergraduate years. Explore our brochure and learn more about the Ways in the tiles below.
 

Find out how to fulfill your Ways requirements

A Brief Introduction to the Ways


Download a PDF of this booklet here

Explore the Different Ways

Devices and books, AII Ways
Aesthetic and Interpretive Inquiry (AII)

Woman in lab setting. Photo by L.A. Cicero / Stanford News Service
Applied Quantitative Reasoning (AQR)

Women working on illuminated manuscripts.
Creative Expression (CE)

People wearing masks of various skin colors.
Engaging Diversity (ED)

Hand holding a phone showing a security app.
Ethical Reasoning (ER)

Detail of an image by M.C. Escher
Formal Reasoning (FR)

Varroa destructor on honeybee host
Scientific Method and Analysis (SMA)

Students chatting
Social Inquiry (SI)

The resources Stanford provides makes it easy to find a huge amount of interesting classes that meet each Ways requirement; in fact, I find it hard to choose how to meet each requirement!
Allison Tielking
Allison Tielking. Photo by Rod Searcey

Ways of Thinking / Ways of Doing Signature

Contact Us

If none of the information on this website or in our Common Questions answers your inquiry, please email Melinda at waysofthinking@stanford.edu.  

Common Questions About the Ways
 

  • Common Questions asked by Students
  • Common Questions asked by Faculty

Reporting Accessibility Issues

If you have trouble accessing content or using features of this website due to a disability, please contact us via HelpSU. 

You can also email us at web-accessibility@stanford.edu. 

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