Western Colorado University

Accounting

Western offers four programs of study in Accounting: a Comprehensive Major with a Professional, Financial Analysis, or Sustainability Accounting Emphasis, and a Standard Accounting Major. The curriculum pairs a broad liberal arts education with the accounting and business coursework needed to prepare graduates for careers as certified public accountants and in private, government, and management accounting.

Adult Degree Completion

An online, asynchronous degree-completion program for off-campus, non-traditional students who wish to finish their bachelor's degree while continuing to live and work beyond the traditional campus. ADC offers two majors: Business Communication and General Studies.

Adult Degree Completion--Business Communication

Advanced Coaching

Provides critical knowledge for coaches in strength and conditioning, nutrition, risk management, sport psychology, and inclusive activity. May be completed on its own or after the Foundations of Coaching Certificate.

Advanced Level Mathematics

For students who want to demonstrate numerical literacy and mathematical competence alongside their primary degree program. Cannot be combined with a mathematics minor or another mathematics certificate.

Advanced Spanish Proficiency

For students motivated to enhance their education with the study of the language, literature, and culture of Spanish-speaking countries, building broad understanding and proficiency in Spanish. Upon completion, a student may apply for the Spanish Language and Culture Certificate.

Anthropology

Anthropology investigates the nature of humanity both culturally and biologically. The Standard Major provides training in archaeology, physical anthropology, and cultural anthropology through classroom, laboratory, and field work, including a required anthropology field school.

Applied Exercise Science and Performance

Applied Statistics

Serves students interested in the mathematical aspects of statistics and data analysis, including how to access, interpret, and model data. Cannot be combined with the Data Analytics Minor or the Advanced Level Mathematics Certificate.

Art

Art (BA)

The Department of Art offers degree programs grounded in the fundamentals of art and design. The Bachelor of Arts is for students intending to graduate with a liberal arts background and an in-depth emphasis in Art, available as a Standard Major or a Comprehensive Major in studio art, graphic design, or K-12 art education licensure.

Art (BFA)

The Bachelor of Fine Arts is designed for students intending to become professional artists or to pursue graduate study in art. It is a Comprehensive Major specializing in Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Ceramics, Jewelry, Sculpture, or Graphic Design.

Behavioral Health: Principles of Health Navigation and Peer Support

Prepares students to work as health educators, health navigators/promoters, and peer support specialists in settings such as hospitals, recovery organizations, mental health centers, and the criminal justice system.

Behavioral Health: Principles of Health Navigation and Peer Support, Spanish Enhancement

A Spanish-enhanced version of the Behavioral Health certificate, preparing students to work as health educators, navigators, and peer support specialists in Spanish-speaking and bilingual community settings.

Behavioral Health: Prin. of Health Nav. & Peer Support, Spanish Lang.

Biology

The Biology Program provides a comprehensive education consistent with the University's liberal arts philosophy, emphasizing hands-on laboratory and field experience. Eight emphases culminating in Bachelor of Science degrees are offered, including fisheries, wildlife biology, environmental biology, pre-medicine, pre-nursing, pre-physical therapy, secondary licensure, and general biology.

Biomedical Engineering

Offered through the Western–University of Colorado Boulder Partnership, this program allows students to complete a Bachelor of Science engineering degree while studying at Western in Gunnison.

Business Administration

The Business Administration Major produces graduates with the skills to succeed in 21st-century business, emphasizing critical thinking, communication, liberal arts breadth, and fundamental business concepts. Students choose from emphasis areas including management, marketing, design thinking, energy management, finance, Latin American business, and sustainable tourism and hospitality management.

Chemistry

Chemistry is the study of the principles that govern matter and its chemical transformations. The Chemistry Major is a comprehensive program offering three areas of emphasis: general chemistry, biochemistry, and secondary licensure, with coordinated laboratory experiences and hands-on use of modern instrumentation.

Communication Arts

Communication Arts is a bachelor's degree program offered at Western Colorado University.

Communication Arts Comprehensive: Theatre Secondary Licensure Emphasis

Computer Science

Computer Science is a bachelor's degree program offered at Western Colorado University.

Creative Writing

Cultural Resource Management (CRM)

Offered through the Anthropology Program, provides specialized training for students seeking careers in archaeology, history, or historic preservation, laying a foundation of knowledge about CRM laws, procedures, and field techniques.

Design Thinking

A nine-credit program open to all undergraduates that instills a deep understanding of design thinking, innovation processes, and creative problem-solving, culminating in a collaborative capstone project.

Early Childhood Professional

Prepares students to work with young children (birth to age eight) in a variety of settings and provides coursework for those wishing to become Early Childhood Teacher Qualified, meeting Colorado Department of Early Childhood qualifications.

Ecological Analysis

Economic and Legal Foundations in the Outdoor Industry

Economics

Economics is a bachelor's degree program offered at Western Colorado University.

Ecosystem Restoration

Education

Elementary Education

Prepares candidates for Colorado elementary teacher licensure. Offered as a Standard Major or as Comprehensive Majors with emphases such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity; Global Citizenship; or STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics).

Energy Geoscience

Energy Law

For students interested in the legal aspects of energy and resource development, providing foundational knowledge of business law and ethics coupled with advanced understanding of energy development topics.

English

The English program offers a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Creative Writing and Secondary Licensure, developing skills in literature, writing, and critical analysis.

Environmental Law

For students interested in the legal aspects of environmental regulation and protection, covering environmental law and policy including water resource management and pollution control.

Environmental Science

A Bachelor of Science program with an Environmental Science Comprehensive Major emphasis, providing scientific training in environmental systems and analysis.

Environment and Sustainability

An interdisciplinary program offering a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases such as Climate Action Planning, Ecology, Environmental Management, Food Systems, Nature Writing, Public Land Management, and Water.

Ethics and Critical Thinking

Available to students who wish to enhance their major with the study of ethics, critical thinking and reasoning, or a combination of both, through lower-division skills-based courses and an upper-division course in a chosen field of philosophy.

Exercise and Sport Science

Offers a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Clinical Exercise Physiology, Clinical Exercise Science, Health and Fitness, K-12 Physical Education, and Sport and Fitness Management.

Foundations of Coaching

Provides basic knowledge for coaches in anatomy and physiology, motor learning, sport psychology, exercise physiology, and sport pedagogy. Meets prerequisites for the Advanced Coaching Certificate.

Full Stack Web Development

Provides skills to build attractive, fully functioning websites from scratch, including general programming, design principles, database management, and reactive modern web development.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Provides training in geographic information systems and geospatial analysis, including imagery acquisition, remote sensing, web GIS, and advanced GIS applications.

Geology

The Geology Comprehensive Major offers emphases including Environmental Geology, Geoarchaeology, Geology, Petroleum Geology, and Secondary Licensure in Earth-Space Science.

Graphic Design

Available to students who wish to enhance their major with a focus on graphic design, developing skills in conveying complex ideas visually, valuable in any professional field.

Graphic Design (BA)

Offered by the Department of Design, the Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design focuses on visual communication and design fundamentals within a liberal arts context.

Graphic Design (BFA)

Offered by the Department of Design, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design is a professional studio degree for students pursuing careers in visual communication and design.

History

Offers a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Public History and Secondary Licensure.

Illustration

Builds skills in foundational drawing techniques and advanced illustration, mastering visual communication and creative problem solving, and preparing students for professional opportunities in the visual arts.

Intellectual Property Law

For students interested in the legal aspects of intellectual property, covering business law and ethics with an advanced focus on trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets.

Marketing

Designed to equip students with the latest marketing principles and practices, ideal for individuals seeking marketing knowledge or entrepreneurs promoting their businesses, through a combination of theoretical coursework and practical applications.

Marketing and Branding in the Outdoor Industry

Master of Behavioral Science

Master’s in Ecology

Masters of Environmental Management

Mathematical Risk Analysis

Provides a solid foundation in mathematical risk analysis and prepares students for the Society of Actuaries Exam P (Probability), supporting careers in actuarial science. Cannot be combined with the Advanced Level Mathematics Certificate.

Mathematics

Offers a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Actuarial Science and Secondary Licensure.

Mechanical Engineering

Offered through the Western–University of Colorado Boulder Partnership, this program allows students to complete a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering while studying at Western in Gunnison.

Music

Offers Comprehensive Majors with emphases including K-12 Music Education, Music, and Music Industry. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.

Nonprofit Administration

Offered through the online Adult Degree Completion program, this nine-credit certificate provides knowledge and skills related to nonprofit operations for aspiring leaders seeking efficiency and effectiveness within their organizations.

Nutritional Science

Offers a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Community Nutrition and Pre-Dietetics.

Outdoor Industry Business

Integrates a specialized outdoor industry business course with electives in environmental economics, environmental law, environment and sustainability, and recreation and outdoor education, preparing participants for the outdoor industry.

Outdoor Industry Master of Business Administration

Outdoor Product Innovation and Management in the Outdoor Industry

Physics

A Bachelor of Science program with a Physics Comprehensive Major, including an Applied Physics/Pre-Engineering emphasis.

Political Science

Politics and Government

Offers a Standard Program and Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Environmental Management, Global Studies, Pre-Law, and Secondary Licensure.

Professional Land Management Skills

For students seeking in-depth comprehension and a core set of technical skills in professional land management, valuable for employment in resource production, energy development, utilities, mining, infrastructure, construction, conservation, and reclamation.

Professional Writing

Builds versatile skills in writing and analysis alongside specialized forms of technical and professional writing, signaling to employers and graduate programs expertise in professional writing.

Property & Contract Law

For students interested in the legal aspects of property and contracts, covering business law and ethics with an advanced focus on contract formation, real property law, recording statutes, and rights of ownership.

Psychology (BA)

The Psychology Standard Major (Bachelor of Arts) provides a foundation in psychological science through a core curriculum and elective coursework.

Psychology (BS)

The Psychology Comprehensive Major (Bachelor of Science) requires a 39-credit Psychology Core plus additional mathematics, statistics, and science coursework.

Recreation and Outdoor Education

A professional preparation program for careers in recreation, outdoor leadership, and outdoor environmental education, emphasizing experiential and field-based learning through backcountry expeditions. Offers Comprehensive Majors with emphases including Environmental Management, Outdoor Environmental Education, Outdoor Leadership, and Recreation.

Responsible Organizational Leadership in the Outdoor Industry

Restorative Facilitation

Service Excellence and Sustainable Operations in the Outdoor Industry

Sociology

Sociology examines the social forces that shape human behavior. The program offers a Standard Major (with an optional Criminal Justice emphasis) providing a mix of core courses and electives, and Comprehensive Majors with Community Health and Environmental Management emphases.

Software Engineering

Stands alone or stacks on top of the full stack web development certificate, furthering fundamentals in programming and data structures and building skills to design, develop, and manage larger software projects.

Spanish

Western's Spanish Program allows majors to study the language, literature, and culture of Spain and Spanish-speaking countries. Offers a Standard Major and a K-12 Licensure Comprehensive Major, aligned with ACTFL proficiency guidelines.

Spanish Language and Culture

For students motivated to enhance their education with the study of the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries, building basic understanding and proficiency in Spanish and appreciation of Hispanic civilization and culture.

Special Education

Special Education

The Special Education Standard Major prepares candidates for Colorado teacher licensure to work with students with special needs.

Sport Management

A 15-credit online program providing foundational knowledge and skills in sport marketing, facility management, event and program planning, leadership, and risk management, taught through the ESS and ROE programs.

Sustainable Financial Management in the Outdoor Industry

Sustainable Tourism & Hospitality Management (STHM)

Provides skills for careers in the sustainable tourism and hospitality sector, including immersive industry internships that connect students with tourism and hospitality employers.

Writing

Enhances students' skills in writing and analysis as a complement to any major, enabling students to demonstrate written communication credentials to employers and graduate programs.