Exploring Tulane University Majors: A Comprehensive Guide
Choosing a college major is a pivotal step in shaping your academic and professional future. Tulane University, renowned for its vibrant campus culture and outstanding academics, offers a diverse array of majors to cater to a wide range of interests and career aspirations. This guide provides a structured overview of Tulane University majors, designed to help prospective students navigate their options and make informed decisions.
Academic Colleges and Schools at Tulane
All full-time undergraduates enter the university as part of the Newcomb-Tulane College. The college will be your academic home during your career here; it’s also where you’ll turn for academic services, including advising, honors, study abroad programs, and other support. Once you pick a major, you’ll become part of one of these undergraduate schools:
- School of Architecture and Built Environment
- A. B. Freeman School of Business
- School of Liberal Arts
- Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
- School of Science and Engineering.
Diverse Academic Programs
Tulane University offers a wide array of academic programs across its various schools and colleges. Here's a categorized overview of the majors, minors, certificates, and graduate programs available:
Accounting
- Department: Accounting
- School/College: A. B. Freeman School of Business
- Degrees: Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Master of Accounting
- Focus: Accounting Fundamentals
Law
- Department: Master of Laws
- School/College: School of Law
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Laws, Master Laws in American Law
- Focus: Admiralty, American Law, Energy Law, Civil Law
Emergency Management & Security
- Department: Emergency & Security Studies
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Graduate Graduate Certificate, Master of Professional Studies
- Focus: Advanced Emergency Management, Emergency Management
Africana Studies
- Department: Africana Studies
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Minor
- Related: Africana Studies and Art History (Graduate Master of Arts)
Interdisciplinary Studies
- Department: Interdisciplinary
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts, Newcomb-Tulane College
- Degrees: Graduate Doctor of Philosophy, Undergraduate Minor
- Focus: City, Culture, and Community, Climate Change: Science & Practice
Aging Studies
- School/College: School of Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Doctor of Philosophy
Anthropology
- Department: Anthropology
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Minor, Graduate Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy
Applied Business
- Department: Leadership and Business Studies
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Undergraduate Certificate, Minor
Mathematics
- Department: Mathematics
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science
- Focus: Applied Mathematics, Data Science
Middle East and North African Studies
- Department: Middle East and North African Studies
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Minor
- Focus: Arabic
Architecture and Design
- Department: Architecture
- School/College: School of Architecture and Built Environment
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor Science Architecture, Minor, Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Master of Sust Real Est Dev
- Focus: Architectural Research and Design, Architecture, Design
Art
- Department: Art
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Minor, Graduate Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts
- Focus: Art History, Art Studio
Artificial Intelligence
- Department: Computer Science
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Minor
Asian Studies
- Department: Asian Studies
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Minor
- Focus: Asian Studies, Chinese Track, Japanese Track
Behavioral Health
- Department: Psychology
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Department: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- School/College: School of Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science
- Related: Biochemistry & Applied Bioinformatics (Graduate Master of Science)
Biomedical Sciences
- Department: Biomedical Sciences, Structural & Cellular Biology
- School/College: School of Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
- Related: Bioethics & Medical Humanities (Graduate Master of Science), Biomedical Sciences, PhD with Pharmacology Concentration (Graduate Doctor of Philosophy), Clinical Research (Undergraduate Certificate)
Engineering
- Department: Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Civil Engineering - Water and Environment, Physics and Engineering Physics, River-Coastal Science & Engineering.
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor Science Engineering, Minor, Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
- Focus: Bioinnovation, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biomolec Eng, Civil Engineering - Water and Environment, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Physics, Engineering Science
Biostatistics
- Department: Global Biostatistics and Data Science, Biostatistics
- School/College: Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy, Graduate Certificate, Master of Public Health, Public Health
Business
- School/College: A. B. Freeman School of Business
- Degrees: Undergraduate Minor, Graduate Master Business Administration, Master of Global Management, Doctor of Philosophy
- Focus: Business, Business Analytics and AI Certificate, Busn/Analytics, Busn/International Busn, Entrepreneurship Business Minor
Cell & Molecular Biology
- Department: Cell & Molecular Biology
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science, Minor, Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
- Focus: Cell & Molecular Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology Thesis Research
Chemistry
- Department: Chemistry
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science, Minor, Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
- Focus: Biological Chemistry
Cinema Studies
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Minor
Clinical Anatomy
- Department: Structural & Cellular Biology
- School/College: School of Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science
Clinical Investigation & Research
- Department: Epidemiology, Biomedical Sciences
- School/College: Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
- Focus: Clinical Ethics Certificate, Clinical Investigation, Clinical Research, Clinical Research Methods
Clinical Tropical Medicine
- Department: Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
- School/College: Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Graduate Certificate
Cognitive Studies
- Department: Interdisciplinary
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts
Communication
- Department: Communication
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts
Community Health Sciences
- Department: Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences
- School/College: Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Public Health
Computational Science
- Department: Center Computational Science
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science
Computer Science
- Department: Computer Science
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science, Certificate, Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
Creative Industries
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Certificate
Cyber Security
- Department: Information Technology
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Science, Graduate Certificate
- Focus: Cyber Defense, Cyber Leadership, Cyber Technology, Cyber Technology Fundamentals, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Management, Data & Artificial Intelligence, Data Science & Cloud
Dance
- Department: Theatre and Dance
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Graduate Master of Fine Arts
Digital Media & Design
- Department: Media & Design
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Certificate, Minor, Graduate Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
- Focus: Digital Design, Digital Media & Marketing Communications, Digital Media Practices
Disaster Management
- School/College: Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, School of Social Work
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Public Health, Graduate Certificate, Master of Science
- Focus: Disaster Resilience Leader St, Disaster Management
Early Childhood Education
- Department: Education
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Arts in Teaching
Earth & Environmental Sciences
- Department: Earth & Environmental Sciences
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science, Minor, Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
Ecology & Evol Biology
- Department: Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- School/College: School of Science & Engineering
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Science, Minor, Graduate Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy
Economic Development
- Department: Public Administration
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Graduate Graduate Certificate
Economics
- Department: Economics
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Minor, Graduate Doctor of Philosophy
Education
- Department: Education
- School/College: School of Professional Advancement
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Education, Graduate Certificate, Master of Arts in Teaching, Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts
- Focus: Educational Leadership, Elementary Education, Elementary Education (Grades 1-5) Coordinate Major
Energy
- Department: Energy
- School/College: A. B. Freeman School of Business, School of Law
- Degrees: Graduate Master of Management in Energy, Master of Jurisprudence, Undergraduate Certificate
- Focus: Energy Certificate (A. B. Freeman School of Business), Energy Law
English
- Department: English
- School/College: School of Liberal Arts
- Degrees: Undergraduate Bachelor of Arts, Minor, Graduate Master of Arts
Entrepreneurship
- Department: Entrepreneurship
- School/College: A. B. Freeman School of Business
- Focus: Entrepreneurship Business Minor
Popular Majors at Tulane University
Tulane University of Louisiana offers a variety of impressive programs. The most popular majors at Tulane University of Louisiana include:
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Health Professions and Related Programs
- Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Architecture and Related Services
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
- Natural Resources and Conservation
Public Health, B.S.
Tulane’s School of Public Health is top-notch, and it offers students a Bachelor of Science in Public Health. The academics focus on health of populations and communities, and lean heavily on community-based field and lab research. All students pursue a broad course load that covers the foundations of public health, which sets students up for professional work or graduate studies. Some students also choose to take advantage of study abroad opportunities specifically geared towards a public health degree. In 2023-2024, for example, public health students were able to earn credit in South Africa, Ghana, India, Australia, the Netherlands, London, Spain, Chile, Jordan, and many, many more. And while on campus you can take courses like “Health Challenges and Climate Change” and “Nutrition and Chronic Disease.”
Read also: Gibson Hall History
Music, B.A.
It’s possible that there’s no better city in the world to study music than New Orleans. The uniqueness of the program at Tulane, though, isn’t just about the place. It’s also that the program embraces both a specific and a generalist approach to music, encouraging exploration and discovery - very on-brand for one of the best jazz cities in the world. Students take courses in composition, performance, ethnomusicology, musical creativity, and more. All of this is to both create a rock-solid foundation, and to “set the stage for musical experimentation and innovation.” Courses you probably can’t find anywhere else (at least not with such an authentic lens include Big Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Jazz Piano, Music in New Orleans, Musical Cultures-New Orleans, and Black American Music Lab. Music majors at Tulane can also seek out coursework with community service-learning components, and internships with major local musical institutions. You can spend weekends going to shows, jamming out with friends, or even busking yourself on Frenchmen St.
Architecture, B. Arch
Tulane offers a five-year Bachelor of Architecture, and it’s an astonishing program for anyone interest in the European-influenced classic, but also fascinating modern, architecture in New Orleans. Like all of the best programs at Tulane, the major in Architecture leans into the local environment. Students take part in studio courses where they design and present for critique by their professors and peers alongside high-level math and physics courses that teach the numbers knowledge you need to know to design safe buildings. You can also choose to pursue a minor in Historic Preservation, which is similarly rooted in the history and architecture of New Orleans, including required fieldwork to regional sites.
Business, B.S.
Tulane’s undergraduate business program within the Freeman School of Business is highly-renowned, very respected, and known for turning out exciting start-ups and young business leaders. The business school offers focused majors in Finance, Legal Studies in Business, Management, Marketing, and a five-year joint business major and accounting masters. We love how the programs are so focused, and you can even pair two things up through a major/minor match. The Entrepreneurial Business minor is also super compelling, and there are two specializations available: Energy Specialization and Entrepreneurship Specialization. Students go on to found companies, become industry leaders, build careers in investment and venture capital, and take over family businesses. While you’re still at Tulane, though, take advantage of study abroad and exchange opportunities with over 50 peer institutions in more than 25 countries.
Anthropology
The Department of Anthropology offers coursework in anthropological archaeology, biological anthropology, sociocultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. The program is extremely deep, and the faculty within the department pursue research that spans the globe. What’s most exciting to us, though, is the work being done in and around New Orleans. This offers immersive and dynamic field research (or ethnographic) opportunities, which immerse anthropology students in the granular details of their area of focus building upon courses like “Creoles & Creolization” and “Languages of Louisiana.” Courses aren’t limited to New Orleans, though, with options that span the globe and particular depth in Mexican, Central American, and South American cultures.
Key Considerations for Choosing a Major
- Interests and Passions: The best college majors should spark your intellectual interest. Align your major with what you enjoy and your future career goals.
- Career Goals: Consider how different majors can set you up for a bright future.
- Interdisciplinary Opportunities: Tulane's interdisciplinary offerings provide the tools to have an impact across a vast sea of careers.
- Community Engagement: Tulane is the first private research university to make community engagement a graduation requirement.
Additional Academic Opportunities
- Double and Triple Majors: As a Tulane student, you’re able to double or even triple major. There is no limit to the combinations of Tulane majors you can take.
- Study Abroad: About a third of Tulane students study abroad, participating in 100 programs in more than 40 countries.
- Core Curriculum: All students enter Tulane in the Newcomb-Tulane Undergraduate College. There, students will complete their core curriculum.
Tulane University: An Overview
Tulane is a private university located in New Orleans. The Big Easy is a huge part of the campus culture, which is vibrant, community-oriented, and electric with creativity and entrepreneurial energy. Nestled in beautiful Uptown, Tulane students have the opportunity to be on a true college campus while getting the best of one of America’s most dynamic (and fun) cities. All this, paired with outstanding academics, has led to Tulane becoming a hyper-competitive school to get into.
Read also: Famous Figures from Tulane
The college has an undergraduate population of about 8,500, and an acceptance rate of only about 13%. If you are eyeing Tulane, you need a strategy. We always require the students we work with to target a specific program or major when they are applying. “Undecided,” in our world, isn’t a thing. Yes, you may change your mind - which is totally ok for the vast majority of programs - once you get there, but showing Tulane that you have focus will massively increase your chances of acceptance.
The student-faculty ratio at Tulane University of Louisiana is 7:1, and the school has 60.5% of its classes with fewer than 20 students.
Read also: Your Guide to Volunteering at Tulane
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