Welcome families from the class of 2023! May 30-31 marks spring orientation on campus. Details
Study in Depth
Ursinus courses fit under one or more categories: Quest core requirements, major/minor requirements (also referred to as Study in Depth) or electives.
Through study in depth, students learn the modes of inquiry of an academic discipline, develop the insight to make informed judgments among conflicting methods and interpretations, and acquire the ability to make connections among different disciplines. Study in depth is achieved by the completion of a major.
Majors consist of 32 or more credits — minimum of eight courses — and include at least one writing-intensive course, a course that has a significant oral presentation, and a capstone course, where students review, apply, and demonstrate their mastery of concepts or approaches learned in earlier major courses. Writing-intensive classes are designated by a “W” in the course number; oral presentation and capstone courses within the major are listed at the end of the major requirement list. Minors generally consist of five courses or 20 credits.
Majors
The following majors have been approved by the faculty:
- American Studies
- Anthropology and Sociology
- Art and Art History
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Dance
- East Asian Studies
- Economics
- Educational Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Finance
- French
- German
- Health and Exercise Physiology
- Health and Society
- History
- International Relations
- Mathematics
- Media and Communication Studies
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Politics
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Spanish
- Theater
Student-Initiated Majors
Students who complete the freshman year and whose major interests span two or more recognized academic fields, if they have a cumulative B average (3.0 or above), may arrange a specialized major which combines these two fields, such as biophysics, biopsychology, chemical biology or comparative literature.
In order to set up such a specialized major, the student and the appropriate department heads, in consultation with other department members, must draw up a written statement of all courses and additional major requirements, which may include a comprehensive or an oral examination by members of both departments at the end of the program of studies. The proposal must identify the courses that will satisfy the College’s requirements for intensive writing, oral presentation, and capstone experience. This proposed course of studies must then be submitted to the Dean of the College, whose approval is needed. Upon successful completion of the major requirements so specified, the student will graduate in the subject field specified on the program proposal.
Minors
Students have the opportunity to develop a secondary academic specialty by developing a minor concentration.
The following minor concentrations have been approved by the faculty:
- Accounting
- African American and Africana Studies
- American Studies
- Animal Behavior
- Anthropology
- Applied Ethics
- Art History
- Astronomy
- Biology
- Biostatistics
- Chemistry
- Classical Studies
- Coaching
- Computer Science
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Data Analytics
- Digital Studies
- East Asian Studies
- Economics
- Educational Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- Film Studies
- Finance
- Food Studies
- French
- Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
- German
- German Studies
- Health and Society
- History
- Human Performance Assessment
- International Relations
- Japanese
- Latin
- Latin American Studies
- Legal Studies
- Management Studies
- Marine Science
- Mathematics
- Media and Communication Studies
- Museum Studies
- Music
- Neuroscience
- Peace and Social Justice Studies
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Politics
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Science and the Common Good
- Scientific Computing
- Sociology
- Spanish
- Statistics
- Studio Art
- Theater
- Wellness Education
Students who have interests spanning more than one department may design individual minors in consultation with the chairpersons of the involved departments.
Additional Opportunities
In addition, students may participate in other academic/advising programs that provide opportunities outside of the classroom and that may also include some coursework. These opportunities include:
- Research at Ursinus during the academic year or summer
- Research at other institutions
- Internships
- Study abroad
-
Washington Internship Initiative
-
Howard Semester Program
- Pre-professional programs
- Centers