Degree Programs

American Studies

Department of American Studies ba minor MA

Study the full scope of American culture — including music, movies, literature, art, history, and politics — in the largest American studies program in the Deep South. Work closely with faculty as you research topics like popular culture, the media, and social activism, and gain firsthand experience through internships and community service.

Anthropology

Department of Anthropology ba minor MA PhD

Explore human society — from cultural, linguistic, archaeological, and biological perspectives — at the bachelor’s and master’s level. Focus your doctoral studies on biocultural medical anthropology or archaeology of the complex societies of the Americas. Study under top-ranked professors and work with UA’s museums, including Moundville Archaeological Park, one of the nation’s premiere Native American Heritage sites.

Art (Studio)

Department of Art & Art History ba bfa minor MA MFA

Join a community of artists that encourages creative thinking, innovation, and intellectual inquiry. Choose a concentration in drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, digital media (undergrad only), printmaking, or sculpture while meeting guest artists and exhibiting your work at local galleries. Become a practicing artist, teacher in higher education, or professional in another art-related field.

Art History

Department of Art & Art History ba minor MA

Study the major masterpieces of world art and learn how to distinguish different periods and styles. Explore the legacy of American artists at the Paul R. Jones Museum, home to one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of 20th-century African-American art in the world.

Astronomy

Department of Physics & Astronomy bs minor MS PhD

Explore the universe, from stars and planets to black holes and galaxies. Apply knowledge in physics, computer science, and engineering to big questions about space and the Earth. Study extragalactic astronomy and particle astrophysics alongside internationally recognized faculty — including members of the international team that discovered neutrinos.

Biochemistry

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry bs bch MSC PhD

Study the chemistry of living organisms while working with top-of-the-line equipment in newly renovated research labs. Get involved with faculty research projects on materials science, biomolecular products, green chemistry, and more.

Biology

Department of Biological Sciences bs minor MA MS PhD

Get hands-on experience studying land, marine, and microscopic life while utilizing UA’s 60-acre arboretum, 480-acre nature preserve and research facility, and Gulf Coast sea lab. Get prepared for careers in research, medicine, education, conservation, and more.

Ceramics

Department of Art & Art History ba bfa MA MFA

Discover what you can make with clay. Master forming techniques, glaze calculations, kiln construction, and kiln-firings all in our large, fully equipped ceramics facility. Our 7,000-square-foot facility is the most advanced in the state, with a digital fabrication laboratory with two clay printers, a complete inventory of clay and glaze materials, and a variety of kilns.

Chemistry

Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry bs bch minor MSC PhD

Study general chemistry in our specialized research facilities. Discover the process for scientific inquiry, learn modern laboratory procedures, and get involved in faculty research projects on materials science, biomolecular products, green chemistry and more.

Communicative Disorders

Department of Communicative Disorders ba minor MS

Take the first step in launching a career in speech-language pathology or audiology. Study under the faculty leading one of the best speech pathology graduate programs in the nation.

Creative Writing

Department of English minor MFA

Learn to write fiction, poetry, and non-fiction from faculty leading one of the top 20 creative writing graduate programs in the nation.

Criminology & Criminal Justice

Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice ba minor MS

Study crime and law enforcement, and dive into the world of cybercrime with unique internship and research opportunities with local and national law enforcement.

Dance

Department of Theatre and Dance ba MFA

Perfect your technique and choreography in the 15th-ranked dance program in the country, home of the first American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive. Help choreograph the student showcase, Dance Alabama!, or participate in the department’s pre-professional company, Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre.

English

Department of English ba MA PhD

Improve your writing skills as you study classic and modern literature and poetry. Present your writing at international conferences, get published, produce a literary journal, and compete for awards through the award-winning English honor society.

Foreign Languages and Literature

Department of Modern Languages and Classics ba MA PhD

Become fluent in any language in the world and explore new places and cultures through study abroad programs in more than 30 countries.

French

Department of Modern Languages & Classics ba MA PhD

Study French language and culture at home and abroad through the UA in France program. Teach local elementary school students through the department’s outreach program. Earn a dual major in French and business as you prepare to succeed in a globalized world.

Geography

Department of Geography ba bs MS PhD

Learn to protect natural resources and solve environmental problems. Intern with the Geological Survey of Alabama and local planning agencies and get certified in geographic information systems (GIS).

Geology

Department of Geological Sciences ba bs bsg MS PhD

Make the world your laboratory as you answer fundamental questions about the origin, development, and future of the Earth. Explore the great outdoors receiving class credit through the department’s field course in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Contribute to dynamic faculty research projects in energy, tectonics, planetary science, and more.

German

Department of Modern Languages and Classics ba MA

Expand your career opportunities by learning German language, history, and culture. Immerse yourself in the German language through the German House, a living-learning community for German majors. See German automotive engineering technology up close through the student exchange program.

History

Department of History ba MA PhD

Explore past events and their consequences to find solutions to contemporary problems. Choose an undergraduate concentration in legal history or public history as you prepare for a career in law, museums, government, and more.

Through internships, our students have curated oral history exhibits, helped establish civil rights trials, and more.

Marine Science

Department of Biological Sciences bs minor MS

Dive into the world of marine science at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, where you’ll gain hands-on experience in marine geology, marine biology, marine technical methods, oceanography, and more.

Mathematics

Department of Mathematics bs minor MA PhD

Study pure and applied mathematics, statistics, and math education in a program that’s among the nation’s top producers of female mathematicians.

Music

School of Music ba bm minor MM DMA

Perform with renowned choirs, symphonies, and bands while learning from world-class musicians. Newly renovated facilities include a state-of-the-art recording studio and dedicated marching band rehearsal space.

Music Composition

School of Music bm MM DMA

Master the art of music composition and hear your work performed on stage. Learn about the latest music technology in our state-of-the-art electronic studio.

Music Performance

School of Music bm minor MM DMA

Study with the region’s finest musicians. Perform in instrumental ensembles, orchestras, and bands. Work toward a variety of music professions: soloist, opera and concert vocalist, orchestral and band musician, conductor, chamber musician, recording artist, church musician, and more.

Music Theory

School of Music bm MM DMA

Immerse yourself in the study of musical structure as you prepare for a career as a full-time musician, licensed music therapist, educator, and other positions within the music industry.

Painting

Department of Art & Art History ba bfa MA MFA

Turn your passion for painting into a career in fine art and new media. Explore all aspects of the painting medium in the studio, work alongside distinguished faculty artists, and exhibit your work in the Sella-Granata Art Gallery.

Photography

Department of Art & Art History ba bfa MA MFA

Develop your personal vision and gain hands-on experience in the technology, history, aesthetics, and theory of photography. Advance your technical skills in the department’s facilities, which include latest in digital processing and wide-format printing, a traditional darkroom, non-silver and alternative process, a lighting studio and a graduate studio space.

Physics

Department of Physics & Astronomy bs minor MS PhD

Study the laws of the universe with internationally recognized faculty — including members of the international team that discovered neutrinos. Conduct groundbreaking research, and find answers to some of the world’s most pressing questions. Investigate the physical nature of the universe, from subatomic elementary particles to the observable universe.

Political Science

Department of Political Science ba minor amp MA MPA PhD

Launch a career in public service or law while participating in our award-winning mock trial team, active student government, and internships in our state and nation’s capitals.

Printmaking

Department of Art & Art History ba bfa MA MFA

Discover the various types of printmaking, from traditional processes to new methods. Explore your own ideas in our printmaking facilities, and present your work at exhibits, conferences, and workshops.

Psychology

Department of Psychology ba bs MA PhD

Explore the complex world of the mind and brain, from thinking and memory to social and abnormal behaviors. Focus your graduate studies on experimental or clinical psychology. Become a skilled researcher and practitioner through classroom discovery, scientific research, and hands-on experience in our training facilities.

Religious Studies

Department of Religious Studies ba minor MA

Study history and human behavior through the lens of religion. Develop the cultural literacy and critical thinking skills required of 21st-century citizens.

Sculpture

Department of Art and Art History ba bfa MA MFA

Explore all aspects of three-dimensional problem-solving in the studio and in the department’s metal fabrication shop, foundry, and woodshop. Join the team that built the city’s bicentennial sculptures, and participate in public arts projects all over the state.

Spanish

Department of Modern Languages & Classics ba minor MA PhD

Learn one of the world’s most-spoken languages, and take advantage of the many opportunities for students, including a study abroad program in Spain and the popular Spanish Outreach Program.

Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL)

Department of English MA

Study applied linguistics and TESOL and join an exciting field with post-graduate opportunities around the world. Explore language and culture, and develop the specialized knowledge, cultural understanding, and teaching skills necessary for a successful career.

Theatre

Department of Theatre and Dance ba bfa minor MFA

Work with award-winning faculty to bring classic and modern works to life on stage in our on-campus theatres. Travel to New York to perform before casting directors and work alongside professionals on theatrical productions. Our graduates pursue careers in TV and film, with touring companies and cruise lines, and with magazines and studios.

Women’s Studies

Department of Gender and Race Studies minor MA Cert

Study the role and status of women over time, and examine their achievements and the many forces shaping their lives