The College of Arts and Sciences prepares NDSU graduates for careers in industry, theater, medicine, education, government, music and many others. Graduates find fulfilling employment opportunities both in the United States and abroad.
Our graduates serve in traditional arts and science positions, such as architects, artists, researchers or managers in chemical and biotechnology companies, physicists for NASA or technology companies, physicians and other health specialists, wildlife/natural resource scientists, explorers for mineral and energy resources, anthropologists, and K-12 or university teachers. But they also are competitive for positions in emerging areas, like biometrics, forensic science, neuroscience, public health, sustainable materials, sustainability and more.
You can be part of this pace-setting, extraordinary world. You can make a difference.
Degree Programs
The College of Arts and Sciences provides undergraduate programs leading to a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. All majors are required to complete departmental and general education requirements. Available majors include:
- Agricultural Communication
- Anthropology
- Apparel, Retail Merchandising & Design
- Architecture
- Art & Design+
- Art Education
- Biochemistry
- Click to view all Majors & Minors
Graduate programs at the master’s and doctoral levels also are offered. Minors are also available in most departments
Interdisciplinary Programs
The College of Arts and Sciences participates in the following undergraduate interdisciplinary programs.
Biotechnology Major
Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary field based on a combination of biology and technology. It includes the application of science and technology to the design of new plants, animals, and microorganisms that have improved characteristics.
Natural Resources Management Major
This interdisciplinary program is available through the College of Arts and Sciences' Biological Sciences Department and the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources’ School of Natural Resources and the College of Engineering.
Pre-Professional Programs
Pre-professional curricula are offered by a number of departments for students interested in preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, mortuary science, chiropractic, optometry, osteopathy, and other health related fields. Most pre-professional programs are flexible and can be developed around many different majors. Departments that advise pre-professional majors include biological sciences, chemistry and biochemistry, physics and psychology.
A number of departments have also developed other specializations to meet today’s rapidly changing job markets. These may be found in the individual department sections as follows:
- Biological Sciences: environmental science, biotechnology, biological sciences education, comprehensive science education, wildlife and fisheries biology, cell biology/physiology, and zoology
- Chemistry: biochemistry, biotechnology, chemistry education, pre-professional chemistry, coatings and polymeric materials
- Geosciences: geochemistry
- Psychology: natural science, social sciences, behavioral neuroscience, industrial-organizational, human services, managerial psychology, and experimental
Teacher Certification
Several of the majors available through the College of Arts and Sciences lead to careers in teaching.
Students initially select a pre-education curriculum and then apply for admission to the School of Education to undertake the additional requirements necessary to qualify for teacher licensure. Alternatively, students may begin completing the requirements for a major in a disciplinary degree program and then undertake the additional requirements necessary to qualify for teacher licensure.
Programs leading to K-12 teacher licensure are available in art, music, and physical education. Programs leading to secondary teacher licensure are available in the following areas: agriculture, biological sciences, business, chemistry, comprehensive science, earth science, family and consumer sciences, health, history, mathematics, physics, social science, and Spanish.
Students interested in teacher education are able to declare a double major in education and their discipline (i.e., chemistry education and chemistry). Such double majors may be earned by successful completion of a few additional credits. Students should contact their advisers for details and are encouraged to declare their primary and secondary majors with the Office of Registration and Records, 110 Ceres Hall.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education, a program of the NDSU Career and Advising Center, offers undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity to integrate classroom study with paid, career-related work experience for academic credit. Work may be full or part time. A Cooperative Education experience may substantially improve students’ employment opportunities after graduation.
Students may obtain one or two semesters of professional work experience related to their studies; however, no more than a total of three credits may be applied to the minimum of 122 credits required for the degree.
Each department has specific requirements for earning these credits. The student must have approval from the department chair prior to beginning the Cooperative Education program. See Career and Advising Center for more information.
Major Research
NDSU always has been strong in basic and applied sciences, and the College of Arts and Sciences is involved in all phases of study and research. All of our faculty have doctoral degrees and are widely recognized on a national and international level for their professional status and contributions to the new body of scientific and mathematic knowledge.
Many of our undergraduates participate in faculty research. Students are encouraged to select research that interests them through the Research Opportunities for Engaging Students, or ROPES, program.
Our students graduate equipped with excellent classroom, laboratory and field training, as well as sound research experience.