Christopher Newport University

Applied Physics and Computer Science

The Master of Science in Applied Physics and Computer Science is built around a core of physics and computer science courses that are the foundation of four areas of concentration: computer science, computer systems engineering and instrumentation, cybersecurity, and physics.

Art and Art History

The Department of Fine Art and Art History offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in art and art history with majors in art history and studio art. Art history is the study of works of art, architecture, and material culture with emphasis on the original context of works of art, their making, and reception; studio art is a process-oriented and creative practice in the language of the visual art with emphasis on the exploration of ideas and personal expression.

Biology (Bachelor of Arts)

The Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology for students who want a strong foundation in the biological sciences combined with the breadth of a liberal arts education. The degree provides preparation for a wide range of careers and for further study in the life sciences.

Biology (Bachelor of Science)

The Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry offers a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, within which students select a major in cellular, molecular and physiological biology; integrative biology; kinesiology; or organismal and environmental biology. The degree provides rigorous scientific training with laboratory and research experience in preparation for graduate and professional school and for careers in the life sciences.

Chemistry

The Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry offers a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with majors available in biochemistry and in chemistry. The program combines coursework with substantial laboratory and undergraduate research experience, preparing graduates for careers in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries and for graduate and professional study.

Communication

The Department of Communication offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication. The curriculum examines how messages are created, transmitted, and interpreted across interpersonal, organizational, media, and public contexts, and prepares students for careers in fields such as public relations, journalism, media production, and organizational communication as well as for graduate study.

Computer Engineering

The Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Computer engineering encompasses design and analysis of both hardware and software systems, and engineering problem solving is practiced in all areas studied for this degree.

Computer Foundations

Students in the Bachelor of Science degree program in Computer Foundations choose to major in physics, computer science, cybersecurity, or artificial intelligence. The program provides a common foundation in computing, mathematics, and science while allowing students to specialize in areas such as data structures and operating systems, scientific computing, machine learning, or the protection of computing systems including hardware, software, and data.

Data Analytics for the Social Sciences

The certificate in data analytics for the social sciences provides undergraduate students with a planned sequence of courses developing skills in the collection, management, analysis, and presentation of social science data. It is not a stand-alone certificate; students are required to complete a bachelor's degree to obtain this certificate.

Economics

The Bachelor of Arts degree in economics provides students with the analytical tools to understand how individuals, firms, and governments make decisions and allocate scarce resources. Optional concentrations are available in economic policy, international economics, and mathematical economics. Graduates are prepared for careers in business, government, and non-profit organizations, and for graduate or professional study.

Electrical Engineering

The Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Electrical engineers design and fabricate electrical devices and systems that have become an indispensable part of our lives; the program of study provides each graduate with a firm foundation in electrical engineering principles while gaining the tools to adapt to technical changes and career opportunities.

Elementary Education

The Teacher Preparation Program offers the Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education (BAEd), which requires successful completion of the courses required for a Commonwealth of Virginia PreK-6 Elementary teaching license. The program prepares students with the clinical and pedagogical knowledge, skills, and professional abilities to meet the needs of diverse learners in schools and districts across the Commonwealth, and includes a field-based internship in a public or accredited school.

English

The Department of English offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in English built on an English major core plus additional courses in literature and writing. Optional concentrations are available in literature and in writing. The program develops close reading, critical analysis, and clear written expression.

Environmental Science

The Master of Science in Environmental Science is designed for students in the rapidly growing field of environmental monitoring and conservation, and prepares students to pursue a PhD or careers involving environmental assessment, monitoring, and conservation.

Financial Analysis

The Master of Financial Analysis (MFinA) degree program is designed to prepare students for careers in accounting firms, investment and wealth management firms, financial institutions, and corporations that require a combined understanding of finance, data analytics, and new technologies.

Fine and Performing Arts

Theatre and Dance offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in fine and performing arts with a major in theater. A theatre education at Christopher Newport University combines hands-on experience in all aspects of stagecraft, acting, directing, playwriting, music-theater/dance, design/technical theater, stage management, and theater management with a critical appreciation of dramatic literature and theater history.

General Business

The Joseph W. Luter, III School of Business offers the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in general business, within which students complete a major in accounting, finance, management, or marketing. The program combines a common business core with a chosen functional specialization to prepare students for professional careers in business and for graduate study.

General Foreign Languages

The Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in general foreign languages, with majors available in classical studies, French, German, and Spanish. The program develops linguistic proficiency along with an understanding of the literatures and cultures associated with the language of study.

Geographic Information Systems

The purpose of the Baccalaureate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is to provide students with foundational and applied skills in GIS, geospatial data analysis, cartographic visualization, and GIS programming. Coursework emphasizes the foundations of geographic information systems, geospatial data management, spatial analysis, cartographic visualization, GIS programming, and the application of GIS in the social and environmental sciences.

History

The Department of History offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in history. The major develops students' ability to research, analyze, and interpret the human past and to communicate historical arguments effectively in writing and speech, providing preparation for careers in education, law, government, public history, and business as well as for graduate study.

Information Science

The Bachelor of Science in Information Science degree is an applied major intended to address the broad scope of modern business, information, and technology problems. Information science requires a diverse set of skills from the fields of computer science, business, mathematics, and psychology, and the degree allows students to specialize in one of three areas of emphasis: cybersecurity, software engineering, or data analytics/big data.

Interdisciplinary Studies (Bachelor of Arts)

The interdisciplinary studies degree program permits a student, under the guidance of a faculty committee, to design and carry out an individual plan of study involving two or more academic disciplines. An important objective of the program is to involve the student in formulating a coherent program of study that blends multiple disciplines for a desired outcome.

Interdisciplinary Studies (Bachelor of Science)

The interdisciplinary studies degree program permits a student, under the guidance of a faculty committee, to design and carry out an individual plan of study involving two or more academic disciplines. The student may earn either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree in interdisciplinary studies, with the total program of study including at least 42 credit hours of coursework beyond those completed at the time of approval and a senior capstone project.

Mathematics (Bachelor of Arts)

The Department of Mathematics offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics for students seeking a strong mathematical foundation within a liberal arts context. The curriculum emphasizes mathematical reasoning, abstraction, and problem solving, and prepares students for careers in education, business, and government as well as for graduate study.

Mathematics (Bachelor of Science)

The Department of Mathematics offers a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, with an optional major in computational and applied mathematics. The curriculum emphasizes mathematical theory together with computational and applied methods, preparing students for technical careers and for graduate study in mathematics and related fields.

Music (Bachelor of Arts)

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music degree provides a strong education in the liberal arts, irrespective of specific career aspirations. With concentrations in music studies and creative studies, the degree provides a fundamental knowledge of written and aural skills, the history and development of music, and performance. This degree serves individuals who seek a broad program of general education rather than intense specialization in the undergraduate years.

Music (Bachelor of Music)

The Bachelor of Music (BM) degree is the initial professional degree in music. Its primary emphasis is on the development of the skills and knowledge necessary to function as a music teacher, performer, composer, and scholar. The areas of concentration include pre-certification choral, pre-certification instrumental, composition, and performance.

Neuroscience

The Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience is an interdisciplinary program that studies the structure and function of the nervous system and its relationship to behavior and cognition. Drawing on biology, chemistry, psychology, and philosophy, the curriculum combines coursework with laboratory and research experience and prepares students for graduate and health professions study and for careers in research.

Philosophy

The Department of Philosophy and Religion offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, with optional concentrations in philosophy of law, pre-seminary studies, and studies in religion. The program develops rigorous analytical reasoning, argumentation, and ethical reflection, and serves as strong preparation for law school, graduate study, and a wide range of professions.

Political Science

The Department of Political Science offers a Bachelor of Arts in political science; within this degree there are two possible majors, political science and international affairs. The degree in political science is a rigorous academic program that provides a general liberal arts background for the study of politics and government, and the department faculty present a diversity of ideological orientations and methodological approaches.

Professional Ethics

The certificate in professional ethics provides students with a planned sequence of courses in ethical theory and its application to professional practice, giving them an added credential to present to employers and graduate schools. It is not a stand-alone certificate; students are required to complete a bachelor's degree to obtain this certificate.

Psychology (Bachelor of Arts)

The Department of Psychology offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The department requires each undergraduate major, through a rigorous curriculum, to study and master the literature and methods of psychology, with curricular emphases on fundamental conceptual knowledge, methods of psychological science, practical applications of both knowledge and skills, and theoretical considerations.

Psychology (Bachelor of Science)

The Department of Psychology offers a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in addition to the Bachelor of Arts. In addition to the psychology major coursework, the Bachelor of Science degree requires a sequence of natural science courses satisfying the University Bachelor of Science Degree Requirement, providing stronger preparation for scientific research and for graduate study in the natural and behavioral sciences.

Research and Creative Activity

The certificate provides undergraduate students with a planned sequence of courses to support their systematic development as undergraduate researchers and artists, providing an added credential to present to employers and graduate schools. The certificate affords students the opportunity for transcriptable evidence of their involvement in undergraduate research and creative activity.

Social Work

The Bachelor of Arts degree in social work, accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, prepares students for generalist social work practice integrating the Council on Social Work Education's nine competency areas.

Sociology

The Department of Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology; students may major in anthropology, criminology, or sociology. All majors acquire a strong liberal arts background as well as experience in understanding society from a sociological perspective, emphasizing the ability to analyze significant social issues, conduct research, and communicate the results of scholarly investigation.

Spanish for the Professions

The Undergraduate Certificate in Spanish for the Professions develops students' Spanish language proficiency and cultural competence for use in professional settings such as business, health care, and public service. It is designed to complement a student's major by documenting practical, career-oriented language skills.

Sustainability

The certificate program is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, equipping students with the skills necessary to address complex environmental, economic, and social challenges. Students will learn methods of assessment and evaluation to identify solutions that will help organizations operate sustainably, and will develop the ability to articulate complex sustainability concepts clearly and collaborate with others to achieve shared goals.

Teaching

The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) is a practitioner-oriented degree designed to translate theory into effective instructional practice, with a curriculum based on standards from bodies such as the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and InTASC.