Bucknell University

Accounting

Students who choose accounting as a major have an excellent foundation for exploring a wide variety of career paths, with most majors beginning their careers in public accounting firms or corporate financial leadership programs. Accounting majors must take eight courses beyond the Freeman College core, and the flexibility of the major enables students to satisfy the educational requirements established by many states to sit for the CPA exam.

Animal Behavior

Bucknell grants master's degrees in animal behavior. Students are admitted to graduate standing by the dean of graduate studies, and non-degree students wishing to enroll in graduate courses must apply to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Animal Behavior (Bachelor of Arts)

Animal behavior is an interdisciplinary major drawing on biology and psychology to study the causes, development, function and evolution of behavior. The Bachelor of Arts major consists of 11 required courses, including core work in animal behavior, biology, psychology and statistics, plus a Culminating Experience.

Animal Behavior (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science major in animal behavior consists of 17 required courses, adding advanced research methods, quantitative requirements and allied science coursework to the animal behavior core. Students conduct experimental research and present their work in conference-style sessions and journal-style papers.

Anthropology

Cultural anthropology explores the basis of and implications for human diversity by posing general and specific questions about the varieties of human experience. The aim of the anthropology major is to introduce students to the theories and methods anthropologists use to study and analyze different cultures around the world. The major requires that students complete nine courses.

Applied Mathematics

The Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics major requires nine mathematics courses beyond the introductory year of calculus, a computing course, at least three approved courses in an approved program, and a Culminating Experience. It is designed for students with strong interests in fields that apply mathematics.

Arabic & Arab World Studies

The Arabic & Arab world studies major consists of three components of knowledge: language skills, cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge, and a culminating experience. The major comprises nine credits, including four language credits beyond introductory Arabic and four interdisciplinary credits.

Art & Design

Classes in art & design allow students to translate their creative vision into works of art, with small classes offering one-on-one instruction that encourages a synergy between technical skills, imagination and conceptual depth. The major consists of a minimum of nine courses, eight of which must be in art & design and one in art history.

Art History

The art history major develops students' creative and critical skills through the analysis of art, connecting the visual arts to broader ideas and global culture. Coursework emphasizes writing, speaking, research and information literacy, and students may use the Samek Art Museum's collections for study and research.

Biology

Bucknell grants master's degrees in biology. Students are admitted to graduate standing by the dean of graduate studies, and non-degree students wishing to enroll in graduate courses must apply to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Biology (Bachelor of Arts)

Biology is the natural science that concerns itself with study of the living world, and the department approaches the principles of the science from the unifying perspective of the theory of evolution. The Bachelor of Arts major requires eight courses in biology.

Biology (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science major requires nine courses in biology, with five rather than four 300-level electives, plus required coursework in chemistry and calculus. A major in biology may serve as sound preparation for careers in the life sciences, including graduate or medical school.

Biomedical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering is for students seeking a comprehensive education in biomedical engineering, preparing them with the technical and professional skills and empathy to equitably improve human health and well-being. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Biophysics

Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field that applies the theories and methods of physics to problems in biology, medicine and related fields. The biophysics major is highly interdisciplinary, resulting in a strong foundation in physics, biology, chemistry and mathematics, and consists of a total of 14 courses.

Business Analytics

The business analytics major allows students with an interest in quantitative analysis to explore their interests in an organizational context, covering descriptive, predictive and prescriptive analytics while addressing the ethical implications of data analysis. The major provides graduates the analytical and communication skills, built upon a broad management education, needed to become effective managers in any data-driven organization.

Cell Biology/Biochemistry

Developed jointly by the biology and chemistry departments, the major in cell biology/biochemistry is interdisciplinary in nature and is designed for students interested in understanding living organisms at the cellular and molecular level. The program provides strong foundations in biology and chemistry and strongly emphasizes independent student research.

Chemical Engineering

Bucknell University's graduate program leads to the degrees of master of science in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental or mechanical engineering. Each graduate program is individually tailored to meet the needs, preparation and goals of the student. Traditional master's degree programs are offered in addition to the special 3-2 integrated bachelor's/master's program, and assistantships are available.

Chemical Engineering

The chemical engineering department provides educational opportunities to a predominantly undergraduate student body, emphasizing active learning with a strong laboratory component and close interaction between students and faculty. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Chemistry

Bucknell grants master's degrees in chemistry. A five-year coordinated bachelor's and master's program is also provided in chemistry, allowing selected undergraduates to complete all requirements for both degrees in five years.

Chemistry (Bachelor of Arts)

The chemistry department emphasizes the importance of research experience, and the opportunity to engage in original research in collaboration with a faculty member is a distinctive feature of the program. A Bachelor of Arts major consists of 10 course credits and a Culminating Experience.

Chemistry (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science major in chemistry consists of 16 course credits and a Culminating Experience. Students interested in biochemistry may pursue the Bachelor of Science in Chemistry curriculum with biochemistry and biology electives.

Chinese

The Chinese major entails a program of study focused on the history, culture and language of China, and requires a minimum of 10 courses. Students must demonstrate proficiency in Chinese language at the 202 level and complete a Culminating Experience presented at the spring Majors' Symposium.

Civil Engineering

Bucknell University's graduate program leads to the degrees of master of science in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental or mechanical engineering. Each graduate program is individually tailored to meet the needs, preparation and goals of the student. Traditional master's degree programs are offered in addition to the special 3-2 integrated bachelor's/master's program, and assistantships are available.

Civil Engineering

Bucknell's civil engineering program prepares the next generation of leaders in the stewardship of our natural and built environment, delivering a student-centered four-year curriculum with hands-on and experiential learning. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies

A major in classics & ancient Mediterranean studies consists of a minimum of eight courses, including at least two courses in Greek or Latin and two in classics & ancient Mediterranean studies. The department recommends that students develop a focus in one of the categories within the department.

Comparative & Digital Humanities

The program helps students develop intellectual tools for working across different cultures, media and historical periods that conventional disciplinary boundaries often exclude. The major consists of eight courses, including a senior thesis, and a demonstration of reading proficiency in a foreign language.

Computer Engineering

The computer engineering program supplements Bucknell's broad, liberal education with quantitative reasoning skills and the ability to address complex, abstract problems so graduates can address challenging human, social and technical problems across a range of careers. The requirements in the first two years are identical to those of electrical engineering, and the program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Computer Science (Bachelor of Arts)

The Bachelor of Arts major curriculum provides the student with an opportunity to combine the liberal arts tradition with strong preparation in computer science. It requires eight course credits in computer science.

Computer Science (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science degree program is for students seeking a solid foundation in the sciences while gaining an in-depth preparation in computer science. The programs stress fundamental principles of computational thinking, and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Computer Science & Engineering

The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Engineering is offered in the College of Engineering for students seeking a rigorous engineering education in computer software and hardware systems with an emphasis on computer software. The degree program is accredited by both the Engineering Accreditation Commission and the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Creative Writing

The Creative Writing Program offers students the opportunity to focus their study on the creation of literary texts through workshops in poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Students electing the creative writing major take a minimum of nine courses.

Critical Black Studies

Critical Black studies is devoted to the critical examination of the artistic, historical, literary, political and theoretical developments of the global Black experience. Majors must complete nine courses, including an independent study whose object is a thesis that fulfills the Culminating Experience.

Data Science

This coordinate major provides a suite of linked courses that supplement a technical major in business analytics, computer science, statistics or mathematics by adding breadth and a liberal arts perspective. The Bachelor of Arts in Data Science requires eight courses and is available only as a co-major alongside a primary technical major.

Early Childhood Education

The Bachelor of Science with a major in early childhood education (Pre-K to grade 4) is designed for students who have clearly defined professional interests in the field of education and who desire to pursue a career in early childhood education with certification in grades pre-K-4.

East Asian Studies

The East Asian studies major provides a broad introduction to the histories and cultures of China and Japan and requires a minimum of 10 courses. Students demonstrate language proficiency at the 102 level and complete five cultural courses plus a Culminating Experience.

Economics

The study of economics attempts to explain various types of human behavior and the impact that society's institutions have in determining that behavior, with particular interest in the forces that determine production, employment, distribution of income, poverty and international economic relationships. The major requires 10 course credits.

Education

The Bachelor of Arts in Education is designed for students who are interested in studying education as an academic field, including the process and structure of education in both traditional schooling situations and other educational arenas of public life. It requires eight courses: four core requirements plus four courses in a concentration.

Electrical Engineering

Bucknell University's graduate program leads to the degrees of master of science in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental or mechanical engineering. Each graduate program is individually tailored to meet the needs, preparation and goals of the student. Traditional master's degree programs are offered in addition to the special 3-2 integrated bachelor's/master's program, and assistantships are available.

Electrical Engineering

The electrical engineering program supplements Bucknell's broad, liberal education with quantitative reasoning skills and the ability to address complex, abstract problems so that graduates can address challenging human, social and technical problems across a range of careers. The degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

English

Bucknell grants master's degrees in English. Students are admitted to graduate standing by the dean of graduate studies, and non-degree students wishing to enroll in graduate courses must apply to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Environmental Engineering

Bucknell University's graduate program leads to the degrees of master of science in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental or mechanical engineering. Each graduate program is individually tailored to meet the needs, preparation and goals of the student. Traditional master's degree programs are offered in addition to the special 3-2 integrated bachelor's/master's program, and assistantships are available.

Environmental Engineering

The environmental engineering program prepares students to be successful professionals who excel in critical thinking, problem-solving and communication, collaborative work on diverse teams, and the integration of equity, ethics and sustainability. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Environmental Science

The B.A. in Environmental Science is designed for students who want in-depth knowledge of natural sciences as the core of their interdisciplinary environmental education. It is available only as a second major to students who major in biology, chemistry or geology, and requires eight courses.

Environmental Studies

An interdisciplinary bachelor of arts major in environmental studies is offered for the student with an abiding interest in the general environmental problems faced by humans, and with special concern for their humanistic, policy and social sciences aspects. The major requires 10 courses.

Film/Media Studies

The film/media studies major teaches students to critically engage, understand and produce moving images, challenging them to think historically, theoretically and analytically about cinema, radio, television and new media. Beyond the introductory course, the major requires a minimum of nine additional courses.

Finance

Finance majors experience the best of theoretical, applied, technical and behavioral finance across a broad range of courses, building a foundation in core finance and accounting classes before choosing from electives such as derivatives, behavioral finance, ESG investing and global finance. Finance majors must take six required courses beyond the Freeman College core and have access to modern finance tools in the Moriarty Investment Lab.

French & Francophone Studies

The French & Francophone studies major develops advanced language proficiency along with the critical methods used to study the literatures and cultures of the French-speaking world. Students are encouraged to participate in the study abroad program in France.

Geography

Geographers are devoted to thinking spatially about people, environments and relations among them, spanning human geography, environmental geography and physical geography. The major in geography consists of a minimum of eight courses, including applied G.I.S. and a Culminating Experience.

Geosciences (Bachelor of Arts)

Students majoring in geosciences explore the breadth of the science, culminating with the common course Geosciences Futures. The Bachelor of Arts track requires nine GEOL courses and two additional courses and offers greater curricular flexibility, allowing for a second major.

Geosciences (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science track is appropriate for students who have decided to begin a career in geoscience or pursue a graduate degree in an environmental or economic geoscience profession. It requires 11 GEOL courses, six additional courses, and a supervised research experience.

German Studies

The major in German develops advanced proficiency in German language along with knowledge of German cultural issues, literature and history. Requirements include conversation and composition, an introduction to German studies, German cultural issues courses at the 200 and 300 level, and a Culminating Experience course.

History

The study of history stimulates our imagination, cultivates critical thinking and develops the skills necessary for communicating complex arguments. Majors are allowed great latitude in designing a program with depth and breadth, eventually focusing on a particular field of study while including coursework outside Europe and North America and in pre-modern history.

Individual Interdepartmental Major

Students in the bachelor of arts curriculum who wish to study subjects, issues or interests that cannot be met by the offerings of an established major may propose an interdepartmental major. The major consists of no fewer than eight and no more than 12 courses chosen from among the offerings of two or more departments, plus a senior project serving as the Culminating Experience.

International Relations

International relations is a field of study concerned with the cultural, economic, environmental, historic, military and political interactions among the major units of the world. Courses from a number of departments and programs are drawn upon to offer a multidisciplinary major, which consists of at least 11 courses counting exclusively toward the major.

Italian Studies

The Italian studies major combines language proficiency, cultural knowledge and a Culminating Experience completed in the senior year. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in Italy as part of the program.

Japanese

The Japanese major entails a program of study focused on the history, culture and language of Japan, and requires a minimum of 10 courses. Students must demonstrate proficiency in Japanese language at the 202 level and complete a Culminating Experience.

Latin American, Latinx & Caribbean Studies

The Latin American, Latinx & Caribbean studies program offers an interdisciplinary major examining the histories, cultures and contemporary issues of Latin America, the Caribbean and Latinx diasporas. Majors are expected to become proficient in a non-English language spoken in the region and are strongly encouraged to study abroad.

Liberal Studies

The liberal studies major does not require competence in only one academic discipline but focuses instead on the overall intellectual development of the individual student. Students design a coherent course of study with their advisers and complete a senior project that integrates the diverse material they have studied and serves as the culminating experience.

Linguistics

The linguistics major introduces students to the scientific study of language, including phonology, syntax, language acquisition, sociolinguistics and language contact. Requirements include foundational courses that may be taken in any order plus three 200-level courses, one from each pair.

Literary Studies

Literary studies offers students courses in global English literatures, from medieval poetry to postmodern theory, supporting their growth as critical writers and readers with skills in literary rhetoric and poetics. The minimum requirement for a major in literary studies is nine courses.

Management for Engineers

The Bachelor of Management for Engineers degree is open to students admitted to the five-year joint degree program in engineering and management. The program leads to a joint degree comprising the Bachelor of Management for Engineers degree and the Bachelor of Science degree in one of the specific engineering disciplines, and requires six required and two elective management courses in addition to University degree requirements.

Management & Organizations

Students majoring in management and organizations gain a broad perspective on organizational forms in the private, public, nonprofit, cross-sectoral and hybrid sectors, learning to think in an integrated, systemic and strategic manner. Majors complete a core of three courses plus five electives, either self-defined in consultation with an adviser or through a defined concentration.

Markets, Innovation & Design

The Markets, Innovation & Design program exposes students to the orchestration, design, logic and strategy underlying organizations' key marketing practices, highlighting the interplay between market research and the strategic management of the marketing mix and brands. Students learn quantitative, empathic, interpretive and visual methods to assess relationships between consumers and their environments and practice techniques that transform ideas into reality.

Mathematical Economics

Developed jointly by the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Economics, mathematical economics is a coordinated curriculum that incorporates economics, mathematics and statistics to provide students with the intellectual and quantitative skills to grapple with questions at the interface of these two disciplines. The major requires a total of 18 credits.

Mathematics (Bachelor of Arts)

The Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics major consists of eight mathematics courses beyond the introductory year of calculus, plus one additional course in a related field and a Culminating Experience. The major suits students with strong interests outside mathematics.

Mathematics (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science in Mathematics major requires 10 mathematics courses beyond the introductory year of calculus, a computing course, two physics courses, an additional lab science course and a Culminating Experience. It is recommended for students planning to continue on to Ph.D. programs in the mathematical sciences.

Mechanical Engineering

Bucknell University's graduate program leads to the degrees of master of science in chemical, civil, electrical, environmental or mechanical engineering. Each graduate program is individually tailored to meet the needs, preparation and goals of the student. Traditional master's degree programs are offered in addition to the special 3-2 integrated bachelor's/master's program, and assistantships are available.

Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals predominantly with the conversion, transmission and storage of mechanical and thermal energy; the generation, transmission and control of forces; the production and regulation of mechanical motion; and the optimal use of materials in the design and fabrication of machines and mechanisms. The program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Music

The Bachelor of Arts with a major in music comprises eight courses covering theory, history and performance, and students may elect to follow the general requirements or pursue a concentration. All music majors participate in a department ensemble each semester, attend approved music events and present work in a public department showcase.

Music Education

The Bachelor of Music in Music Education provides professional development strongly grounded in the larger context of a liberal education, preparing students to teach music. Students must pass a functional keyboard requirement, fulfill recital requirements and participate in prescribed assessment activities.

Neuroscience

Neuroscience is an interdisciplinary major with course offerings from biology, psychology, animal behavior, linguistics, chemistry, mathematics, physics and biomedical engineering, giving students opportunities to study the nervous system and its development and influence on behavior. The Bachelor of Science major in neuroscience requires 18 courses.

Philosophy

The philosophy major consists of a minimum of nine courses drawn from different areas, including introduction to philosophy, logic, history of philosophy and advanced seminars. Students may complete a senior or honors thesis as part of the culminating experience for the major.

Physics (Bachelor of Arts)

A Bachelor of Arts major in physics consists of core courses in classical and modern physics, classical mechanics, wave mechanics and quantum physics, and experimental physics, plus a minimum of three other 200- or 300-level physics courses. The department encourages students to participate in research projects as a complement to classroom study.

Physics (Bachelor of Science)

The Bachelor of Science major in physics builds on the core physics sequence with additional advanced coursework for students seeking a rigorous science foundation. The department offers research opportunities in atomic and molecular physics, chaos and nonlinear dynamics, astronomy and astrophysics, quantum optics, laser spectroscopy, nuclear physics, biophysics and condensed matter theory.

Political Science

A major in political science consists of a minimum of nine courses, including a core of four courses grounding students in the traditional subfields of the discipline. One methods course must be taken before the senior year, along with three electives and one 300-level seminar.

Psychology

Bucknell grants master's degrees in psychology. Students are admitted to graduate standing by the dean of graduate studies, and non-degree students wishing to enroll in graduate courses must apply to the Office of Graduate Studies.

Psychology

The science of psychology investigates human and animal behavior, cognition and emotion by analyzing the complex interactions among environmental, social, cultural and biological influences. A major in psychology consists of 10 course credits, including statistics, research methods and a course meeting the Culminating Experience requirement.

Religious Studies

The academic study of religion equips students to analyze one of the most powerful and contested forces in the world, fostering deep understanding of different cultures and thoughtful, engaged citizenship. The religious studies major consists of at least eight courses, including theories and methods and a Culminating Experience.

Russian Studies

The Russian studies program examines Russian language, literature, culture and European society in both Russian and English. The major in Russian studies consists of eight courses.

Sociology

Sociology examines groups, organizations, communities, cultures and nation states, and offers a background for careers in law, journalism, government and international affairs, teaching, social work and public service. The major in sociology requires nine courses, including a methods course and an advanced seminar serving as the Culminating Experience.

Spanish

The major in Spanish is designed to cultivate students' understanding and appreciation of the rich literary, linguistic and cultural traditions of Spanish-speaking peoples and to develop the ability to critically analyze literary and cultural works in Spanish. The major requires at least eight credits above Intermediate Spanish, four of which must be taken at Bucknell.

Statistics

The study of statistics is the bridge between data and understanding and offers insights otherwise unobtainable. The Bachelor of Science in Statistics major requires 13 mathematics and statistics courses beyond the introductory year of calculus, a computing course, and a Culminating Experience.

Theatre

The major in theatre offers opportunities in all phases of theatre arts and consists of a minimum of 10 course credits, including theatre histories, dramatic literature, stagecraft and design. The Department of Theatre & Dance trains students to express understandings of multiple cultures and perspectives through the powerful mediums of theatre and dance.

Vocal Performance

The Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance requires 19 music credits and demonstrated basic proficiency in Italian, French and German. Candidates are reviewed each semester by a faculty jury and present a full public recital in the senior year as the Culminating Experience.

Women's & Gender Studies

Women's & gender studies is an interdisciplinary academic field that examines the complex ways gender interacts with other identity vectors such as race, sexuality, class, ability, nation and religion. The minimum requirement for a major is eight courses, with no more than two 100-level courses counting toward the major.