Undergraduate Degree Programs: Arts and Sciences

The Actuarial Science program at Saint Joseph's University provides an analytical foundation in understanding how to assess, manage and analyze business risk. This interdisciplinary program will prepare you for the series of professional actuarial exams and prepare you for your career.

Through Saint Joseph's University's art program, you will discover your creative potential and develop an awareness of lasting cultural traditions.

The Art History program at Saint Joseph’s University covers major artistic developments in painting, architecture, sculpture, photography and new media throughout history and around the world.

The Asian studies program at Saint Joseph’s University prepares students for graduate study or professional work by exposing them to the language, history, culture, and politics of the region. This interdisciplinary program is designed to offer greater understanding by immersing students into the study of Asia.

A biology degree from Saint Joseph’s University exposes you to all levels of biological organization, from the sub-cellular to the broad ecosystem. Our program is built with core courses covering the fundamentals of biology, a distribution of upper-level course across the major areas of biology and free electives.

The chemical biology major at Saint Joseph’s University, offered by the departments of biology and chemistry, will provide you with the tools needed to understand the chemical processes that occur at the molecular level.

The chemistry major at Saint Joseph’s introduces students to all of the major sub-disciplines in chemistry: analytical, biochemical, inorganic, organic and physical. Emphasis is placed on chemistry as a laboratory science.

As a communication studies major, you will gain knowledge and experience to pursue a career in media, journalism, public relations, marketing, advertising, law, film and more.

A computer science degree from Saint Joseph’s University will help you become part of an exciting and fast-paced industry, opening the door to a wide range of technical fields and opportunities. 

Saint Joseph’s University's criminal justice degree program will help cultivate a sense of honesty, fairness and integrity and prepare you for a productive and rewarding career dedicated to helping others. As a criminal justice major at Saint Joseph's University, you will explore an interdisciplinary perspective on crime and justice.

Economics majors at Saint Joseph’s University will study how economic reasoning is used to determine how society can effectively meet its human and material needs. By analyzing buyer and seller behavior in various markets, students will be able to think like an economist and how they view the world in terms of problem solving and decision making.

An English degree from Saint Joseph’s University offers excellent training for a broad range of careers, from public relations to teaching to journalism and beyond. Employers continue to seek talented and articulate individuals who can analyze complex situations, and a degree in English will teach you how to write both creatively and persuasively. 

All over the world, societies have become increasingly concerned about the safety of air, food and water. Recent weather‐related events have sparked an interest in understanding the earth's climate and the human factors that play a role in global climate change. This heightened public awareness of the perils facing our natural resources has increased the demand for environmental scientists and specialists.

Saint Joseph’s University's francophone studies program offers a wide range of courses for students at all levels, from beginner to advanced. You can learn about the cultures of French-speaking countries, be introduced to or review grammatical points, practice your conversation skills, act in a French play, and study topics such as cinema, the press, French-speaking regions in the United States and the legend of King Arthur.

At Saint Joseph's University, French majors focus on full language immersion and will read French literary works in their original language. You will graduate with the fluent speaking skills necessary to excel in teaching, journalism, international marketing and government.

The history program at Saint Joseph’s University encourages students to become researchers, critical thinkers, clear writers and historically aware global citizens. Through coursework, students develop an understanding of the political, cultural and institutional advances that have shaped the world.

The information technology major at Saint Joseph's University includes courses in computer science, economics, finance, accounting and business intelligence. This coursework prepares you to work both in the fast-changing computer science industry and the business world. 

The curriculum provides a foundation in financial and managerial accounting while offering courses in data structures, computer architecture, discrete structures and database systems. Through the information technology major, you will learn to maintain a business network infrastructure. If you wish to study IT with a stronger focus on math and science, you may also consider Saint Joseph's University’s computer science major. 

As an international relations major, you will study world regions, global affairs, economic development and human rights from various disciplinary perspectives.

Saint Joseph's University Italian program promotes the understanding of linguistic, literary and cultural competency. Additionally, we aim to provide students with experiential knowledge of the language and culture through study tours, study abroad opportunities and internships in Italy.

The Italian studies major at Saint Joseph's University provides students the opportunity to build competency in the Italian language. As an Italian studies major, you will acquire the knowledge that will prepare you for a career in cultural preservation, diplomacy, governmental service, business, teaching, museum education or the arts. It also prepares you to pursue graduate study in international relations, law and advanced work in the humanities.

We use language to describe our world, interact with people from our own or other cultures, strengthen relationships and more. The linguistics major at Saint Joseph’s University welcomes students who are interested in studying how all aspects of language work physiologically, cognitively, pragmatically and socially.

The Department of Mathematics at Saint Joseph's University trains students to be careful, precise and mature thinkers. Students are well-equipped with the preparation needed to apply the mathematical principles they have learned, communicate them to others and continue their education for the rest of their lives.

The music major at Saint Joseph’s University provides a comprehensive curriculum that deepens musical understanding and awareness, fosters creative expression and encourages critical analysis and inquiry. It combines coursework in music theory, composition, history and performance.

At Saint Joseph’s University, the philosophy program offers a creative and critical exploration of the meanings and values by which we live our lives. Students inquire, in a disciplined yet free and unrestricted manner, into matters, society, state and culture.

The Department of Physics at Saint Joseph's University offers areas of study in the properties and behavior of matter and energy in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from the sub-microscopic particles from which all ordinary matter is made (particle physics) to the behavior of the universe as a whole (cosmology). Students also study interfaces of physics and biology, and physics and chemistry.

The political science major at Saint Joseph’s University offers the opportunity to examine politics, government and the political process. This program is ideal for those interested in the study of power, behavior, compromise and relationships between political figures in a variety of different contexts.

The department of psychology offers a clinical concentration of courses in support of those who are interested in pursuing careers in clinical psychology, counseling psychology and related mental health fields.

The public policy degree program at Saint Joseph's University prepares you for a future career in public policy. You will gain important critical-thinking skills through an inclusive and diverse community lens to help populations that are often marginalized in the policymaking process. The interdisciplinary coursework focuses on theory, analysis and application of policy to prepare you for a future career or graduate work.

The religious studies program at Saint Joseph’s University exposes students to multiple disciplines including history, philosophy, psychology, sociology and political science while providing insight into the culture and geopolitical events that have affected religion throughout history.

The Department of Sociology at Saint Joseph’s University provides students with opportunities to analyze and assess human behavior and its impact on society. The sociology department is comprised of expert teachers and active researchers working to understand society and make positive, practical applications of their findings. Sociology majors go on to work in government, law, public service, criminology, research and nonprofit organizations.

The Spanish program at Saint Joseph's University focuses on the language, literature, history and cultures of Spain and Latin America, as well as Spanish linguistics. Small class sizes allow for the individual attention necessary in learning a language.

The theatre and film program at Saint Joseph's University nurtures creative expression and technical agility while fostering intellectual curiosity and cultural awareness.

As a Theology major at Saint Joseph's, you will learn about and use the methods of its sub-fields – systematic theology, ethics, biblical studies – to explore the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Church, tradition history, doctrinal development, liturgy, personal and communal morality and interfaith relations. The curriculum’s flexibility allows majors to complete double majors in such disciplines as English, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, religious studies or the arts. You will also acquire important skills that are essential in any career: how to read carefully, think critically, formulate persuasive arguments, and communicate clearly.

Saint Joseph’s University is the perfect place to begin your studies if you're undecided about your major. Our undergraduate curriculum includes a comprehensive General Education Program (GEP) which is designed to keep you on track for graduation while exploring entry-level courses in a number of disciplines.

The American studies program at Saint Joseph’s University is dedicated to the study of historical and modern cultures in the United States. This program will encourage you to explore sources, texts, and media to help better understand various aspects of culture, ranging from art to zoos, religion to race, politics to class, and language to literature.

At Saint Joseph's University, Classical Studies majors have the opportunity to choose between two concentrations: classical languages and literatures or ancient cultures. Ancient cultures is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to specialize in an area of their own interest.

The Animal Studies minor is an interdisciplinary field that invites students to not only learn more about animals, but to also investigate the relationship between human and non-human animals.

In the art therapy program at Saint Joseph's University, you will learn the theories and concepts in psychology and art to deliver transformational and whole-person-focused care.

The Behavioral Neuroscience program at Saint Joseph's University is a first step for undergraduate students contemplating professional, academic and/or research careers in neuroscience, medicine, neuropsychology, pharmaceuticals, veterinary medicine and/or animal science.

The Business Administration minor, designed for non-business majors at Saint Joseph’s University, equips students with a general understanding of the critical foundations of business. Classes include accounting, information systems, business law, economics, marketing and management.

The Chinese language and culture program at Saint Joseph’s University prepares students for opportunities and challenges involving the greater region of China and its people — economically, socially and politically. You will learn the Chinese language and gain a window into the history and culture of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, with roots extending more than 6,000 years.

Saint Joseph's University offers an interdisciplinary study across the departments of computer science, physics, and mathematics for students interested in minoring in computational engineering & applied physics. This interdisciplinary minor gives you a broad understanding of all the elements of computational science and engineering to ensure that you leave the program with the knowledge you need to be competitive in your field.

Behavioral health professionals provide critically important services to millions of people each year.  Offered 100% online, Saint Joseph's University's Counseling and Psychology Professions Post-Baccalaureate Certificate is designed to help you pivot into a career in mental health by preparing you for graduate training in a variety of mental health fields including counseling and clinical psychology.

The creative writing minor at Saint Joseph’s University prepares students to tell stories. Courses help students develop narrative skills in various kinds of writing including fiction, poetry, screenwriting, magazine writing, food writing and personal memoir.

The data science minor at Saint Joseph’s University is an interdisciplinary field that utilizes statistics, math, and computer science to extract insights from data. It includes topics such as machine learning, cluster analysis, data mining and data visualization. There is a heavy focus on organizing and analyzing large amounts of data.

A minor in environmental and sustainability studies at Saint Joseph’s University help students understand how human activities affect the natural world. As they develop an appreciation for the interdependencies of ecology, economics, society, politics and governmental regulation, students begin to understand the role these relationships play in the biggest issues affecting our environment: climate change, declining energy resources, environmental disasters and other sustainability-related concerns.

The faith-justice program at Saint Joseph’s University promotes social analysis and critical thought around faith and justice issues. The institute explores contemporary issues of faith and justice through academic courses, public forums and experiential field seminars.

The film and TV studies program at Saint Joseph’s University is a great option for students fascinated by cinema and television. The program values creative expression, analytical rigor, historical insight and technical proficiency within a liberal arts format, providing tools that will help launch any future endeavor.

Gender studies minors are involved in working for change. Students take part in a variety of social justice efforts and internships outside of the classroom including Active Minds, Beautiful Social, Hawk Hub, the Rape Education Prevention Program, SJUPride, and the Women's Leadership Initiative. They have also been involved in a variety of internships in organizations that are pursuing justice and equality at the intersections in the Philadelphia area, Washington, DC, and around the world.

At Saint Joseph's University, students in the German program achieve proficiency in the language by completing courses regarding the country's social, business and political cultures taught entirely in German.

Effective visual communication is vital in today's world. With an interdisciplinary study in communications, media studies, marketing and the arts, Saint Joseph's University's Graphic Design minor will prepare you with the skills you need to be successful in the fast-paced, dynamic field of media communications.

The health care ethics program at Saint Joseph’s University is designed to encourage the study and appreciation of philosophical and theological ethics involved in healthcare — through coursework and hands-on activities. You'll also be encouraged to seek independent study programs that will give you practical experience in the health care industry.

The organizational psychology and development concentration strengthens the ability of organization development practitioners, human resource professionals, project leaders, managers, change agents, internal and external consultants, mental health professionals and individuals in career transition to develop assessment, planning, facilitation and consulting skills in guiding and implementing change in individuals, groups and organizations.

With its interdisciplinary focus on Irish literature, culture and politics, Saint Joseph’s University’s Irish Studies minor is an exceptional platform from which to investigate issues of diversity, globalization and social justice.

The journalism program at Saint Joseph’s University provides students with a wide array of news writing, reporting, editing and multimedia skills. The program prepares students for a profession in all forms of journalism.

At Saint Joseph’s University, the justice and ethics in the law minor examines how justice is defined in legal governments. Students take courses in legal reasoning and ethics and the program encourages students to develop a commitment to serving others.

At Saint Joseph’s University, the Latin American studies program offers interdisciplinary coursework in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Haub School of Business. Students in this program participate in programs in countries such as Mexico, Chilé, El Salvador, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.

The medieval, renaissance and reformation studies program at Saint Joseph’s University offers an in-depth understanding of the development of Western civilization by studying the medieval renaissance and reformation periods. Students garner a deep appreciation for history and culture while gaining the skills necessary to succeed in a variety of history-related career paths.

The music industry program at Saint Joseph’s University provides a strong foundation in the theoretical and creative aspects of music, along with practical training in business, music marketing and promotion. Whether you're interested in writing, performing or just want to feed your passion for the arts, this program will be fulfilling for you.

At Saint Joseph’s University, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is a six-course minor that provides essential training for the challenging task of teaching the English language at home or abroad in private language schools, community centers or bilingual programs, and in other contexts that do not require state certification.

At Saint Joseph’s University, the theology and religious studies program teaches students the methods of systematic theology, ethics and biblical studies to explore the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Church, traditional history, doctrinal development, liturgy, personal and communal morality and interfaith relations. The curriculum’s flexibility allows majors to complete double majors in such disciplines as English, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, religious studies or the arts. The department of theology and religious studies at Saint Joseph’s University is committed to exposing students to the methods and content of both the scholarly study of Christian theology and the academic discipline of religious studies. We view these combined areas as an important approach within the liberal arts curriculum of a Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit tradition.

The Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Certificate prepares students for a career analyzing and interpreting data to create visualizations of society's biggest problems. The certificate curriculum teaches you the technical skills to build GIS models while understanding the context surrounding the field.