Ways of Thinking Ways of Doing
Main content start
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 below.
Clarification on EARTHSYS 10 and ECON 50 Ways Certification
In June 2026, the Breadth Governance Board determined that ECON 50 (Social Inquiry) and EARTHSYS 10 (Scientific Method and Analysis) would no longer be certified to fulfill their respective Ways requirements, effective 2026-27. Due to an administrative error, these changes were not reflected in Navigate Classes or Explore Courses when enrollment opened for Autumn 2026-27.
- Students enrolled in ECON 50 during Autumn Quarter 2026-27 will continue to be eligible to use the course to fulfill the Ways-SI requirement.
- Students enrolled in EARTHSYS 10 during Autumn Quarter 2026-27 will continue to be eligible to use the course to fulfill the Ways-SMA requirement.
- These errors have been corrected, and Ways decertification will apply to future EARTHSYS 10 and ECON 50 course offerings.