Majors, Minors and Certificates

Watch the past come to life as you explore ruins and analyze artifacts. You’ll learn the origins of societies and understand how humans have interacted with themselves and nature for centuries, shaping how we live today.

Biology majors study living organisms and the processes of life. Choose from four areas of emphasis to focus your studies: cellular and molecular biology, ecology and environmental biology, genomics and neuroscience.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Ecology, Ecosystems and Global Change
• Genomics
• Neuroscience
• B.A. Biology: Pre-Medical Track
• B.S. Biology: Pre-Medical track

Students from the M.S. in Biology program consistently become leaders in their field with new discoveries and innovations. In many professions, the master's degree is now the minimum requirement for employment or advancement. Many students have used our M.S. in biology to launch to careers in research and the health professions.

The goal of the Ph.D. in Biology is to train students to become leaders in a sub-field within modern biology. Upon completion of the Ph.D., students will be prepared for post-graduate training and to eventually assume teaching or research positions in academia, industry, government or nonprofit agencies. The Ph.D. is a research degree and requires at least four to five years of academic study, including summer work.

When you understand chemistry, you begin to understand the extraordinary nature of the world down to its most basic particles. Chemistry is the science of the materials we use, the medicine we take, the environment we live in and the food we eat.

The Chemistry Department includes research in the areas of analytical, inorganic, organic and physical chemistry. Research is a key focus of the 22 faculty members who comprise the department.

We prepare skillful communicators at both the theoretical and applied levels. Choose from four areas of emphasis (health, interpersonal or strategic/organization communication and social media and communication technology) — or complete the integrated communication track for a more general focus.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Health Communication
• Integrated Communication
• Interpersonal Communication
• Social Media and Communication Technology
• Strategic/Organizational Communication

The Ph.D. program in Communication Studies is intended to qualify students to teach and conduct research in instructional communication, interpersonal communication, mediated communication, health communication, and organizational communication, among other courses, at the university level. Students who are accepted into the Ph.D. program in Communication Studies are awarded an assistantship for the first year that is renewable for the second and third years of the program.

The Master of Fine Arts at West Virginia University is a three-year program that combines work in a primary genre and at least one other genre with course offerings in literature, pedagogy and professional writing and editing.

Go beyond the legal definitions of criminality. Criminology seeks to understand the nature and causes of criminality, as well as the successes and limitations of criminal justice approaches and processes.

As a Data Science major, you will develop quantitative and computational skills to solve real-world problems. Customize the degree to fit your interests by choosing a focus area to create a degree with practical applications.

As an Earth and Environmental Science major, you'll learn about Earth systems, the processes that drive them, their impacts on human society and how to apply the scientific method to investigate real-world problems

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Climate and Environmental Science
• GIS Methods
• Geoscience and Sustainable Energy

Majoring in English develops skills in communication, research, critical thinking and focused creativity. You will deepen your understanding of people and cultures while learning how to use language effectively in a variety of contexts.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Professional Writing and Editing
• Creative Writing

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in English is designed for students who have shown an aptitude for sustained literary study, and who desire to pursue a more intensive and extensive academic training. The two-year M.A. program extends knowledge of the cultural, linguistic, and literary heritage of Great Britain, America, and other English-speaking lands, and develops the research, writing, and analytical skills necessary for professional success.

The doctoral program in English develops fluency in the critical discourses of the profession and prepares graduates to teach English professionally on the post-secondary level, or to enter a wide range of alternate academic careers.

The Department of Forensic and Investigative Sciences offers graduate studies leading to a Master of Science degree. The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) accredited degree program is rigorous, quantitative and science-based.

Deep within nearly every cell is a unique set of genetic markers. When a crime occurs, recovering those genetic markers and determining who they belong to is a job for forensic biologists.

We're a national leader in forensic science education and research. Our graduates work in law enforcement and forensic science laboratories across the country.

With world-class training facilities and a solid STEM foundation, this major prepares you to tackle the investigation of a crime from start to finish.

The doctorate is a research degree that culminates in a dissertation in an area that is jointly determined between a student and their faculty advisor. Each student takes three core courses and two colloquia as the academic foundation for developing their area of research.

Our Master of Arts in Geography provides students with cutting-edge training in the history and theory of geography, experience with advanced geographic research methodologies and specialized mentoring from faculty experts across the subdisciplinary fields of human geography, environmental geography and geographic information science.

The PhD in Geography is an advanced degree with a program made up of coursework, comprehensive exams and a major research investigation. Students are expected to be grounded in one or more of the geography program’s three areas of specialization: environmental geography, geographic information science and human geography.

Geology is a dynamic field of natural science that aims to understand how the Earth works and provide solutions to pressing global challenges such as global climate change, evolving demands for energy and water, and environmental issues.

WVU Geology offers both research Master’s and Doctoral degrees as well as a rigorous Master’s professional studies degree. Our graduate program comprises core geology faculty with expertise in the interdisciplinary subfields including:

History helps us discover new meaning in the past, present and future. Our students learn the best practices of historical research while developing skills for a successful career: thinking critically, communicating effectively and tackling complex problems.

The graduate history program has a long and distinguished record, dating back nearly a century. Early on, the Department of History established a reputation for diplomatic history, and later, West Virginian and Appalachian history. Today, the West Virginia and Regional History Collection is one of the strongest of its kind, housing primary source materials for political, economic, social, cultural and technological history of the state and region.

Ph.D. students in History at WVU create a curriculum in consultation with faculty advisors and the Director of Graduate Studies in four fields: one major field and three minor fields (one of which must be outside of the student’s area of research concentration). In addition to these areas, the Department of History encourages doctoral research that is transnational and comparative in perspective.

This interdisciplinary program includes courses in political science, languages, geography, history, sociology, anthropology, economics and other topics. You'll gain valuable real-life experience through study abroad, global service learning and internships.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Global Connections
• Security and Diplomacy
• Africa/Middle East
• Asia
• Europe
• The Americas

Mathematics can be found in almost every sector of the world. Our faculty’s interdisciplinary approach to mathematics will prepare you for careers as research analysts, technical consultants, computer scientists, educators and systems engineers.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Actuarial Science
• Computational Mathematical Science
• Mathematics Biology
• Mathematics Education
• Physical Applied Mathematics
• Pure Mathematics

Tailor your education to your interests by completing three related minors.

Tailor your education to your interests with the Multidisciplinary Studies program that consists of three minors of your choosing.

Neuroscience is one of the hottest fields of science that combines molecular and genetic, cellular, network and behavioral levels of analysis. This program will propel you into rewarding and lucrative careers in science, medicine, government and private industry, either with or without an additional advanced degree.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cellular, Molecular, Systems Neuroscience

Philosophy acts as a form of intellectual exercise that makes it easier to identify problems, seek out arguments against your own views and critically evaluate solutions. These skills, along with the ability to read, write, listen and communicate effectively, can prepare you for virtually any career path.

Physics is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us and the world beyond us. It is the basis of many other sciences, including chemistry, engineering, oceanography, seismology and astronomy (and can be applied to biology or medical science).

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Applied Physics
• Astro/Space Physics
• Biophysics
• Computational Physics
• Materials Science
• Medical Physics
• Physics Teaching
• Professional Preparation

The program is designed to give a fundamental theoretical background beyond that of undergraduate level and some research experience, if desired.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers Masters of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. Both degree programs provide a solid foundation in the fundamentals as well as a diverse range of specializations for research. In addition to working with Physics faculty in these research areas, graduate students have worked with faculty in a range of other departments at WVU.

Studying political science will help you understand why courts make the decisions they do, why legislatures pass the laws they do and why countries make the choices they make in the international arena.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• American Politics and Policy
• Elections and Campaigns
• International Relations, Comparative Politics and National Security
• Pre-Law and Legal Studies

The Department of Political Science offers a comprehensive curriculum leading to a Master’s Degree (MA) or to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Our PhD and MA graduates have also been employed by government agencies and non-profit institutions such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the U.S. Department of State.

The Department of Political Science offers a comprehensive curriculum leading to a Master’s Degree (MA) or to a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Many of our doctoral students have gone on to earn tenure track positions at college and universities, including the University of Pittsburgh, West Virginia Wesleyan College, Longwood University, Monmouth University, and Wright State University. Our PhD and MA graduates have also been employed by government agencies and non-profit institutions such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and the U.S. Department of State.

Regardless of what other subjects you're interested in and what careers you’re considering, PWE will improve your writing and communication skills — skills that are highly sought after by employers.

Professional writers do more than simply translate complex, technical information into easy-to-read prose. Professional writers assess the information needs of audiences from different languages and cultural backgrounds, and analyze how written texts circulate through the organizations in which they work. Professional writers possess the critical, rhetorical and technical knowledge necessary to produce successful and effective communications.

Psychology is the science of behavior. This major allows you to increase your intrapersonal and interpersonal understanding and develop problem-solving, project management and information literacy skills.

The Behavior Analysis area of emphasis is accredited at the doctoral level by the Behavior Analysis Accreditation Board, the accrediting body for the Association for Behavior Analysis International. In 2019, the program was re-accredited until 2025.

The behavioral neuroscience area of emphasis is the newest and fastest growing area in the Department of Psychology. Students in behavioral neuroscience work closely with highly experienced faculty to study the biological bases of behavior. Training in behavioral neuroscience prepares students for a career in research in academics, academic medicine, government and/or industry. We expect our graduates to succeed in research, with an emphasis on publishing and obtaining extramural funding to support their work. We also foster strong mentorship skills, so that our students are prepared to teach their skills and way of thinking to their own students upon completion of our program. Our graduates make significant contributions to solving important problems in their field.

The Clinical and Clinical Child Psychology areas of emphasis jointly comprise West Virginia University’s accredited doctoral training program in Health Service (Clinical) Psychology. It has been accredited continuously by the American Psychological Association since 1966. In 2020, the program was re-accredited for ten years, with the next site visit scheduled to occur in 2030.

WVU has an illustrious history in life-span development as the first program in this field. Our program continues to provide in-depth training to the next generation of life-span developmental psychologists. Graduates are highly successful in obtaining employment and find positions in academia, government, research institutions, foundations and applied settings.

The public history program trains historians who work in the public sector by grounding them in traditional research methodology learned in seminars and through public history courses designed to give students practical experience conducting client-based research. The work of public historians often requires a distinct set of research skills that moves beyond traditional archival research and historiographical argumentation. All students in public history learn to incorporate visual and material culture into historical narratives, use place as the center of historical analysis, and develop written and digital narratives that convey historical complexity that can engage public audiences.

A degree in STW provides you with the experience and credentials you need to write, design and communicate complex topics.

Can you name a teacher who made a difference in your life? How about a book that changed the way you think? Being an English education major will give you the knowledge and skills needed to bring both of those gifts to other students.

Do you love learning history, geography or economics? How about a desire to help young people discover the origins and complexities of world cultures? In this major, you'll learn to provide high quality instruction in the five areas of the social studies: history, geography, politics, economics and culture.

Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others? Social workers help people function the best they can in their environment and circumstance. They provide direct services to people in their homes or places of work and help people to help themselves.

Social work is a valuable profession with broad opportunities to serve local, national and international populations. The MSW program at WVU educates graduate students in advanced integrated practice with individuals, families, groups, and communities so that they can effectively address social and human problems across a wide range of practice areas.

The WVU School of Social Work develops leaders in solving the most demanding social issues of our day through rigorous research, academic innovation and public service. Our faculty and students are empowered to extend their reach, deepen their impact and engage in real-world social change. They learn to critically analyze personal, familial, and environmental factors affecting practice settings and practice techniques, and to advocate for those who confront barriers to achieving their fullest potential. The school’s programs prepare students for careers as professional social workers committed to public service in nonprofits, government, education, business, and higher education.

The WVU PhD program in Social Work will prepare students with the skills needed to excel in research, teaching, and leadership. The theme of the program, community-focused research, reflects the mission of WVU as a R1 land-grant institution to advance education, healthcare, and prosperity for all by intentionally promoting research that has significant impact on people’s lives. The PhD program is a full-time program with a hybrid course plan that allows flexibility to complete latter portions of the program remotely. It is designed to purposefully prepare students for dissertation research.

Sociology opens your mind to the hidden structures of social power that affect our everyday life and the major events that are happening around the world.

The Department of Sociology and Anthropology at WVU offers a Ph.D. in Sociology. All students entering the program will be enrolled as doctoral students. Students entering the program with a BA/BS will be dually enrolled in the M.A. and Ph.D. programs until they complete the M.A. requirements.

In Sustainability Studies, you'll take courses that combine geoscience, environmental, social and humanities research methods that involve geospatial analysis, mapping, development practice and community engagement.

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

• Environmental Studies
• GIS Methods
• Sustainable Development

Don’t let the name mislead you. Women’s and Gender Studies is not just about women, nor is it about male-bashing or gender wars. Rather, our courses cover a broad range of subjects with sensitivity to gender, race, sexual orientation and class.