College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) awards Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS) and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice (BSCJ) degrees.

Through the college's Educator Preparation Programs, teacher licensure may be obtained in Biology, Chemistry, English, French, Earth/Environmental Science, History/Social Studies, Mathematics, Physics and Spanish.

Department of Anthropology

Degrees

• Anthropology (BA)

• Anthropology (BS)

• Anthropology (BS) – Multidisciplinary

Minors

• Anthropology

• Evolutionary Anthropology and Primatology

Certificates

• Cultural Resource Management Certificate

Department of Biology

Degrees

• Biology (BA)

• Biology (BS) – Cellular/Molecular Biology

• Biology (BS) – Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology

• Biology (BS) – Integrative Biology

• Biology (BS) – Secondary Education

Minors

• Biology

Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences

Degrees

• Chemistry (BA)

• Chemistry (BS) – Biochemistry

• Chemistry (BS) – Certified Chemist

• Chemistry (BS) – Environmental

• Chemistry (BS) – Fermentation Sciences

• Chemistry (BS) – Forensic Science

• Chemistry (BS) – Individually Designed

• Chemistry (BS) – Marketing and Business

• Chemistry (BS) – Secondary Education

• Fermentation Sciences (BS)

Minors

• Chemistry

• Fermentation Sciences

Certificates

• Forensic Science

Department of Computer Science

Degrees

• Computer Science (BS)

Minors

• Computer Science

Certificates

• Data Science

Department of English

Degrees

• English (BA) – Creative Writing

• English (BA) – Film Studies

• English (BA) – Literary Studies

• English (BA) – Rhetoric and Technical Writing

• English, Secondary Education (BS)

Minors

• English

• Film Studies

• Rhetoric and Technical Writing

Department of Geography and Planning

Degrees

• Community and Regional Planning (BS)

• Geography (BA)

• Geography (BS) – General Geography

• Geography (BS) – Geographic Information Systems

Minors

• Community and Regional Planning

• Geography

Certificates

• Geographic Information Systems

Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

Degrees

• Environmental Science (BS) – Earth Systems Science

• Environmental Science (BS) – Natural Resources

• Environmental Science (BS) – Quantitative Environmental Science

• Geology (BA)

• Geology (BS)

• Geology (BS) – Earth/Environmental Science, Secondary Education

• Geology (BS) – Environmental Geology

• Geology (BS) – Paleontology

• Geology (BS) – Quantitative Geoscience

Minors

• Geology

Department of Government and Justice Studies

Degrees

• Criminal Justice (BSCJ) (Hickory Option) (Online Option)

• Criminal Justice (BSCJ) – International Studies

• Political Science (BA)

• Political Science (BS) – American Politics

• Political Science (BS) – International and Comparative Politics

• Political Science (BS) – Legal Studies

• Political Science (BS) – Public Administration

Minors

• Criminal Justice

• Political Science

Department of History

Degrees

• History (BA)

• History (BS) – Applied and Public History

• History (BS) – Multidisciplinary

• History/Social Studies Education (BS)

Minors

• History

Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

Degrees

• Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies (BA)

• Global Studies (BA)

• Individually Designed (BA)

• Individually Designed (BS)

Minors

• African and African Diaspora Studies

• Appalachian Music: Roots and Influences

• Appalachian Studies

• Creative Engagement and Social Change

• Documentary Studies

• Experiential, Integrative Learning

• Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies

• Girls’ Studies

• Global Studies

• Labor Studies

• LGBT Studies

• New Media and Digital Cultures

• Nonprofit Organizations

Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures

Degrees

• Languages, Literatures and Cultures (BA) – East Asian Languages and Cultures

• Languages, Literatures and Cultures (BA) – French and Francophone Studies

• Languages, Literatures and Cultures (BA) – German

• Languages, Literatures and Cultures (BA) – Spanish and Hispanic Studies

• Languages, Literatures and Cultures (BS) – French and Francophone Studies, Education (K-12)

• Languages, Literatures and Cultures (BS) – Spanish, Education (K-12)

Minors

• Arabic

• Chinese

• French and Francophone Studies

• German

• Japanese

• Latine/x and Latin American Studies

• Russian

• Spanish for the Health and Helping Professions

• Spanish

• TESL/Applied Linguistics

Certificates

• Global Connections

Department of Mathematical Sciences

Degrees

• Actuarial Science (BS)

• Mathematics (BA)

• Mathematics (BS) – Business

• Mathematics (BS) – Computation

• Mathematics (BS) – General Mathematics

• Mathematics (BS) – Life Sciences

• Mathematics (BS) – Physical Sciences

• Mathematics (BS) – Secondary Education

• Mathematics (BS) – Statistics

Minors

• Mathematics

• Statistics

Certificates

• Sports Analytics

Department of Philosophy and Religion

Degrees

• Philosophy (BA)

• Religious Studies (BA) – General Religious Studies

• Religious Studies (BA) – Religion and Public Health

Minors

• Philosophy and Religious Studies

• Philosophy

• Philosophy, Politics and Economics

• Religious Studies

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Degrees

• Physics (BA)

• Physics (BS)

• Physics (BS) – Applied Physics

• Physics (BS) – Astronomy

• Physics (BS) – Automation and Instrumentation

• Physics (BS) – Interdisciplinary Science

• Physics (BS) – Secondary Education

Minors

• Astronomy

• Medical Physics

• Physics

• Physics Minor for Secondary Education Majors

Department of Psychology

Degrees

• Psychology (BA)

• Psychology (BS) – Business (Hickory Option)

• Psychology (BS) – Education Studies

• Psychology (BS) – Health Studies

• Psychology (BS) – Human Services

• Psychology (BS) – Natural Science

• Psychology (BS) – Social Science

• Psychology (BS) – Sustainability

Minors

• Psychology

Department of Rural Resilience and Innovation

Degrees

• Veterinary Technology (BS) (Online Only)

Department of Sociology

Degrees

• Sociology (BA)

• Sociology (BS) – Applied Research Methods

• Sociology (BS) – Criminology

• Sociology (BS) – Families and Intimate Relationships

• Sociology (BS) – Individually Designed

• Sociology (BS) – Power and Social Change

• Sociology (BS) – Social Inequalities

• Sociology (BS) – Sociology of Health and Aging

Minors

• Health and Aging

• Sociology

Minors Offered by the College

In addition to the degrees, minors, and certificates offered through departments, several multidisciplinary minors are offered by CAS. The classes in these minors are taught by experts in multiple departments and span several disciplines.

• Animal Studies

• Atmospheric Science

• Classical and Mediterranean Civilizations

• Judaic, Holocaust and Peace Studies

• Medical Humanities

• Medieval Studies

• Southern Studies

Last Updated November 2025