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.

The Certificate in Applied Statistics (CAS) is designed for professionals or students who what to take applied statistics courses to enhance their quantitative skills and job opportunities. The certificate will provide students with a solid foundation in statistical methodology, and depending on the elective courses selected, predictive analytics, statistical computing, or statistical theory. The flexibility in the certificate course work is intended to allow the student to select courses that will meet their needs, whether enhancing professional quantitative skills or research productivity.

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 and Environmental Biology
• Genomics
• Neuroscience
• B.A. Biology: Pre-Medical Track
• B.S. Biology: Pre-Medical track

The Department of Biology offers graduate courses and research that lead to MS and PhD degrees in the areas of ecology, bioinformatics, genetics, genomics and evolutionary biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, neurobiology, behavior and physiology, plant sciences, cell and developmental biology, biology education and forensic biology.

The Department of Biology offers graduate courses and research that lead to MS and PhD degrees in the areas of ecology, bioinformatics, genetics, genomics and evolutionary biology, biochemistry and molecular biology, neurobiology, behavior and physiology, plant sciences, cell and developmental biology, biology education and forensic biology.

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.

Studying Chinese will prepare you for opportunities in the greater China region and the global socio-political and economic arena.

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 PhD program in Communication Studies is intended to qualify the student to teach and conduct research in instructional communication, interpersonal communication or organizational communication at the university level.

The MA program in Communication Studies is intended to qualify the student to assume a variety of professional roles in educational, industrial and government institutions; teach the subject matter at the college level; or undertake advanced training toward a doctorate in communication studies.

Are you seeking to make a difference in your community? Community developers make a direct impact on our social, economic and environmental quality of life. As social entrepreneurs, we generate the innovative solutions necessary to grapple with the pressing issues communities face around the world. Whether at the level of policymaking or program implementation, WVU’s graduate certificate in Community Development Policy and Practice will prepare you to design and implement fair, sustainable and effective outcomes.

The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree in creative writing. MFA students at WVU study within a three-year academic/studio program that combines an apprenticeship to the craft with more traditionally academic elements.

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.

The Cultural Resource Management Certificate Program (CRM) is housed within the Department of History in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences. The graduate-level fifteen-hour certificate is designed to augment nearly any graduate degree at West Virginia University, or it may be obtained independently for non-degree graduate students. We partner with other WVU units and community organizations to perform valuable service for the state and region. Our students and partners alike come from diverse backgrounds, with a variety of needs. Whether it is surveying a historic building or tracing community histories, our program is on the forefront of instruction and service in the world of Cultural Resource Management.

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.

Majoring in English develops skills in communication, research, critical thinking and focused creativity. You’ll 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’s program is designed for students who have shown an aptitude for sustained literary study and who now wish to pursue a more intensive and extensive training.

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.

Are you interested in environmental issues — and changing the world around you? This major combines geoscience and environmental awareness to examine the impact of human behavior on our world.

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.

One of WVU’s most highly ranked majors, Forensic Investigative Science is for students with a passion for research and a desire to apply scientific analysis to legal proceedings.

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.

As a global language, French opens opportunities in international business and research in the 88 countries where it is an official language or has special status.

Geography opens worlds of discovery. You’ll learn to analyze the variation of human activity that exists among places, regions and countries, and examine the relationship between the natural environment and human activities.

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

• Geographic Information Science
• Global Environmental Change
• Globalization and Development

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 is an advanced research degree, with coursework, comprehensive exams and a major research investigation. Students are expected to be well-grounded in the one or more of the Geography program's three areas of specialization.

Geologists look back millions of years in the past, conduct experiments in the present and predict what the earth’s future might be. Geology is an interdisciplinary science that trains you to study the natural resources that shape our lives.

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:

Knowing German can boost your annual salary by 4%. Many businesses seek employees fluent in German to interact with partners around the world.

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.

The graduate History program at WVU includes about 80-90 students and 23 faculty. Most students concentrate in U.S. history or Appalachian history, but students may choose to work in other areas supported by the faculty, especially European, African and Latin American history.

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

You will understand leadership in a global context and learn to enhance your leadership abilities in both your work and in your daily life by learning to manage conflict and change.

The Master of Legal Studies program (part of the Division of Public Administration) is designed to build greater public understanding of law and the legal system, to provide graduates with the ability to apply knowledge and skill gained to performing their jobs more effectively and/or pursue further career opportunities and to provide private and public sector organizations the benefit of enhanced expertise of their employees.

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

• Healthcare
• Homeland Security
• Justice System

The M.A. program in Linguistics includes 30 hours of core and elective courses and is designed to provide students with a well-rounded perspective on the field. Students also have the opportunity to engage in research projects that reflect their interests within a given subject and that serve to complement and augment the information imparted through in-class activities. The program may be completed either by taking comprehensive exams, or by writing and defending a Master's thesis. The program is intended both for students seeking preparation for doctoral studies in linguistics or a related field, as well as for those seeking a terminal professional degree with a goal of pursuing careers in language related fields.

The Graduate Certificate in Linguistics is a 12-hour program that provides students with foundational knowledge in the science of human language: what is the nature of human linguistic knowledge, how is that knowledge acquired, and how human linguistic behavior makes use of such knowledge.

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

The master's degree program offers specializations in pure and applied mathematics, each with different requirements. The master's degree programs are designed either for students who intend to go on to pursue a PhD in Mathematics, or for those planning to seek employment in education, government or industry.

The Department of Mathematics offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Science (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. The Ph.D. program provides for a common core of fundamental mathematics followed by specialized studies culminating in an original research dissertation directed by a faculty advisor. Depending on the student's program and interests, there are diverse career opportunities available in education, government, and industry.

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 Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a solid foundation in the fundamentals as well as a diverse range of specializations for MS and PhD research.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a solid foundation in the fundamentals as well as a diverse range of specializations for MS and PhD research.

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

Political science is built on the core aspects of the great liberal arts tradition. Our strengths are logic, appropriate data, analysis and communication.

Political Science is built on the core aspects of the great liberal arts tradition. Our strengths are logic, appropriate data, analysis and communication.

The MA in Professional Writing and Editing is a 30-hour degree that combines theories of writing with practice in real-world writing situations.

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 Psychology Department offers doctoral training in clinical child psychology, clinical psychology, behavior analysis, behavioral neuroscience and lifespan developmental psychology.

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.

The Ph.D. in developmental psychology combines breadth of training in perspectives on normal development across the life span with depth and rigor of training in an area of specialization selected by the student. The program produces disciplined researchers who are also skilled classroom instructors. Students are funded via teaching and research assistantships.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree prepares individuals for a career in public service. Alumni work in government and nonprofit agencies to develop and implement public policies and programs.

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.

Learning Russian is a gateway to a dynamic world that involves global energy corporations, national defense and security, and an ancient and fascinating culture.

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.

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 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.

This is the first doctoral sociology program in the state of West Virginia. It emphasizes foundational course work in sociology, including theory, methods and statistics, as well as courses and independent research in an area related to the department’s specializations in crime, community and culture.

Learning Spanish can help open doors in your future career — and prepare you for life in an increasingly global society.

The Graduate Certificate in Spanish is a 12-hour program that builds the knowledge of the Spanish language and Hispanic literature and culture. The Certificate is open to anyone eligible to take graduate courses, including non-degree seeking students. While the Certificate integrates well with our M.A. programs in TESOL and Linguistics, it also opens the door for students in other fields (e.g., Education, History, Political Science, and others) to enhance their graduate studies.

The M.A. program in TESOL prepares teachers to teach English as a second language in an English-speaking setting as well as English as a foreign language in countries around the world. The program includes 30 hours of coursework focusing on language, linguistics, literature and culture in conjunction with different aspects of teaching English, while balancing both the theoretical and practical aspects of TESOL.

The graduate certificate in TESOL prepares teachers to teach English as a second language in an English-speaking setting as well as English as a foreign language in countries around the world.

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.

The Women’s Studies Graduate Certificate consists of 15 hours of graduate-level work in women’s studies, using those courses that are approved by the women’s studies curriculum committee as primary or component courses for the women’s studies program.