MAJOR PATHWAYS
ACADEMIC GUIDEBOOK
Share your perspective
MODERN CAREERS welcome outside-the-box thinking. Even the most traditional industries are creating space for workers to incorporate a range of skills stemming from their diverse interests. Your education will give you the opportunity to explore across disciplines and develop your unique perspective and skillset.
OUR ACADEMIC
PROGRAMS
AMERICAN ETHNIC STUDIES Minor
ARCHAEOLOGY Major, Minor
ART HISTORY Major, Minor
ART, STUDIO Major, Minor
ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, & MULTIMEDIA
Minor
ASIAN STUDIES Minor
BIOCHEMISTRY Special Program
BIOLOGY Major, Minor
BUSINESS Major, Minor
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
3+2 BA/MBA Dual Degree
CHEMISTRY Major, Minor
CHINESE STUDIES Minor
CINEMA STUDIES Major, Minor
CIVIC COMMUNICATION
& MEDIA Major, Minor
CLASSICAL STUDIES Major, Minor
COMPUTER SCIENCE Major, Minor
CREATIVE WRITING Special Program
DATA SCIENCE Major, Minor
DATA SCIENCE 3+1 BS/MS Dual Degree
ECONOMICS Major, Minor
ENGINEERING 3+2 Dual Degree
ENGLISH Major, Minor
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Major, Minor
EXERCISE & HEALTH SCIENCE Major
FORESTRY 3+2 Dual Degree
FRENCH & FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
Minor
GERMAN Minor
GLOBAL CULTURAL STUDIES
Major, Minor
HISTORY Major, Minor
INDIVIDUALIZED MAJOR Major
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Major
JAPANESE STUDIES Major, Minor
LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES Minor
LAW 3+3 BA/JD Dual Degree
MATHEMATICS Major, Minor
NOT-FOR-PROFIT MANAGEMENT
3+2 BA/MBA Dual Degree
PHILOSOPHY Major, Minor
PHYSICS Major, Minor
POLITICS, POLICY, LAW, & ETHICS
Major, Minor
PRE-HEALTH Special Program
PRE-LAW Special Program
PRE-MEDICINE Special Program
PRE-VETERINARY MEDICINE
Special Program
PSYCHOLOGY Major, Minor
PUBLIC HEALTH Major, Minor
PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
3+2 BA/MBA Dual Degree
RELIGIOUS STUDIES Major, Minor
RUSSIAN Minor
SOCIOLOGY Major, Minor
STATISTICS Major, Minor
SPANISH Major, Minor
SUSTAINABILITY Minor
THEATRE Major, Minor
WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES
COMPUTER SCIENCE 3+1 BS/MS
Major, Minor How will you make your mark?
Dual Degree
MUSIC Major, Minor
HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC HEALTH, & WELLNESS
COURSES
• DISEASE EPIDEMICS
Improve the lives of others
PROMOTING WELLNESS within today’s healthcare system requires more than medical expertise. Your education will encourage you to think critically and devise an academic pathway that will help you become a wellrounded professional. Become the caregiver you were meant to be by gaining skills in complementary disciplines that will help you provide the highest quality of care and advocate for the well-being of others by helping them make their voices heard.
Complementary
FIELDS OF STUDY
BIOLOGY / BUSINESS / CHEMISTRY / CHINESE STUDIES
COMPUTER SCIENCE / DATA SCIENCE / FRENCH & FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
GERMAN / GLOBAL CULTURAL STUDIES / JAPANESE STUDIES
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES / LANGUAGE ARTS / PHILOSOPHY
POLITICS, POLICY, LAW, & ETHICS / PSYCHOLOGY / PUBLIC HEALTH
RUSSIAN / SOCIOLOGY / SPANISH
JOIN WILLAMETTE ALUMS at prestigious institutions like St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and Johns Hopkins University.
BUILD TECHNICAL SKILLS in our Human Cadaver Lab, Microscopy Lab, and Integrated Exercise and Health Science Lab.
GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE through internships at Salem Hospital or advocate for healthcare reform across the street from campus at the Oregon State Capitol.
STUDY THE CONNECTIONS
between health, the environment, and society and formulate strategies to promote healthcare equity and fight disease.
Expand your knowledge THROUGH A CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT CLUB
• BIOLOGY CLUB
• BURNING BRIGHT
• CHEMISTRY CLUB
• EYE HEALTH & PRE-OPTOMETRY CLUB
• GERMAN CLUB
• INSTITUTE FOR HEALTHCARE IMPROVEMENT & HEALTH PROFESSIONS CLUB
• SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE ADVOCATES
• SPANISH CLUB
• WILLAMETTE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
Think bigger
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to be ambitious. In addition to following traditional career paths, more people than ever feel motivated to invest in themselves, put their ideas into practice, and build a business they are passionate about. At Willamette, you will build an understanding of the many facets of entrepreneurship and running a successful business from finance to marketing to promoting a healthy workplace culture.
Complementary FIELDS OF STUDY
ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, & MULTIMEDIA / BUSINESS / CINEMA STUDIES
CIVIC COMMUNICATION & MEDIA / COMPUTER SCIENCE
DATA SCIENCE / ENGLISH / FRENCH & FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
GRAPHIC DESIGN / HISTORY / JAPANESE STUDIES
MATHEMATICS / PSYCHOLOGY / POLITICS, POLICY, LAW, & ETHICS
RUSSIAN / SOCIOLOGY
EXPERIENTIAL ELECTIVES provide opportunities to gain experience in project management, collaboration, marketing, and financial management and learn from guest speakers and case studies.
GAIN BUSINESS EXPERIENCE by participating in a business simulation at the International Collegiate Business Strategy Competition where you will face off against teams from other universities.
THE 3+2 PROGRAM offers the opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree in three years in any major and continue on to earn an MBA at Willamette's dual-accredited MBA program.
INTERN WITH MAJOR BUSINESSES here in Oregon including Nike, Dutch Bros Coffee, Salem Health, Columbia Sportswear, and Energy Trust of Oregon.
Expand your knowledge THROUGH A CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT CLUB
• BEARCAT PANTRY/SOAR
• CHOICE ACTION TEAM
• CLIMATE ACTION ALLIANCE
• DEBATE UNION
• INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
• PANHELLENIC COUNCIL
• STUDENT ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
• WILLAMETTE EVENTS BOARD
BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, & MATH
Popular COURSES
• EARTH’S CLIMATE
• CELL BIOPHYSICS
• BIODIVERSITY & CLIMATE CHANGE
• ANALYSIS OF ALGORITHMS
• ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
• CHEMISTRY OF RENEWABLE ENERGY
Find the solution
LIVING IN AN INFORMATION ERA has made the whole world a laboratory. The rate at which our collective knowledge is advancing has exponentially led to more opportunities to build upon the momentum of the information age and create solutions to modern problems.
At Willamette, we challenge you to explore issues relating to the physical world as well as digital spaces and discover ways to use cutting edge technology to preserve the natural environment, develop software, or combat the energy crisis.
Expand your knowledge THROUGH A CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT ORGANIZATION
• BIOLOGY CLUB
• CHEMISTRY CLUB
• CHESS CLUB
• MATH CLUB
• OUTDOOR PROGRAM
• PHYSICS CLUB
• ZENA FARM CLUB
CONDUCT HANDS-ON RESEARCH in your sophomore and junior year in our grant-funded, state-of-the-art optics training laboratory, augmented by teaching modules developed by the Physics Department.
GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE in our many research and lab spaces including the Microscopy, Cadaver, Dendrology, and iScience Laboratories.
Complementary FIELDS OF STUDY
ARCHAEOLOGY / BIOLOGY / CHEMISTRY
CIVIC COMMUNICATION & MEDIA / DATA SCIENCE / ECONOMICS
ENGINEERING / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE / EXERCISE SCIENCE
FORESTRY / MATHEMATICS / PHYSICS / PSYCHOLOGY / SUSTAINABILITY
THE WEBBER SCHOLARS program provides female-identifying students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or Physics the opportunity to participate in outreach programs in local schools.
CONNECT YOUR STUDIES to the real world at our ecologically diverse 305-acre Zena forest, a unique living laboratory that lends itself to environmental and sustainability research.
SAVE A YEAR OF SCHOOLING when you choose an accelerated program in Data Science, Engineering, or Forestry.
EDUCATION, CULTURE, & SOCIETY
Popular COURSES
• CAN ACTIVISTS CHANGE THE WORLD?
• COGNITIVE PROCESSES
• DIAGNOSIS OF “ABNORMAL”
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR
• MUSEUM STUDIES
• DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY: LIFESPAN
• THEORIES AND METHODOLOGIES OF ART HISTORY
Never stop growing
THERE IS NO MORE DIRECT WAY to shape the world around you than by raising questions, pursuing answers, and passing your knowledge along to others. Let your curiosity lead as you explore what we learn, how we learn it, and the methods and resources we use to document and share knowledge. Become an insightful scholar, adept at preserving the past and building a better future by educating the next generation of leaders and thinkers.
Complementary FIELDS OF STUDY
AMERICAN ETHNIC STUDIES / ARCHAEOLOGY / ART HISTORY
ASIAN STUDIES / CHINESE STUDIES / CINEMA STUDIES
CLASSICAL STUDIES / ENGLISH & CREATIVE WRITING
FRENCH & FRANCOPHONE STUDIES / GERMAN
GLOBAL CULTURAL STUDIES / HISTORY / INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
JAPANESE STUDIES / LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES / MUSIC
PHILOSOPHY / PSYCHOLOGY / RELIGIOUS STUDIES / RUSSIAN SOCIOLOGY / WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES
CONDUCT RESEARCH alongside award-winning professors and present your findings at our annual Student Scholarship Recognition Day.
BUILD YOUR SKILLS by serving as a peer mentor to students in Japanese through our partnership with Tokyo International University.
STUDY HUMAN COGNITION using a 32-channel BioSemi eventrelated brain potential system in our Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory.
WILLAMETTE’S ON-CAMPUS ARCHIVES include documents and artifacts relating to the history of the university, the Salem community, and global affairs.
Expand your knowledge THROUGH A CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT CLUB
• ALIANZA
• ARCHAEOLOGY CLUB
• ASIAN COALITION FOR EQUALITY
• BLACK STUDENT UNION
• HAWAI‘I CLUB
• INTERVARSITY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
• JAPAN STUDIES STUDENT LEADERS
• JEWISH STUDENT UNION
• MUSEUM CLUB
• NATIVE & INDIGENOUS STUDENT UNION
• NEURODIVERGENT STUDENT UNION
• QUEER STUDENT UNION
ARTS, MEDIA, & COMMUNICATION
Share your perspective
CREATIVES ARE DRIVEN to push boundaries. Because the ways in which we communicate are constantly evolving, our goal is for you to build skills in a variety of mediums and technologies so you are prepared to meet the challenges of rapidly changing industries. Create written, visual, and auditory work that will have a positive impact on the world around you by drawing on skills from different disciplines to communicate your ideas in an innovative way.
Complementary
FIELDS OF STUDY
ANIMATED ARTS / ARTS, TECHNOLOGY, AND MULTIMEDIA
ASIAN STUDIES / CINEMA STUDIES / CIVIC COMMUNICATION & MEDIA
ENGLISH & CREATIVE WRITING / GLOBAL CULTURAL STUDIES
GRAPHIC DESIGN / HISTORY / ILLUSTRATION / MUSIC
PHOTOGRAPHY / PRINTMAKING / SCULPTURE
STUDIO & FINE ARTS / THEATRE / VIDEO/SOUND
BUILD TECHNICAL and creative skills through coursework, internships, student organizations, and other on-campus opportunities.
GAIN EXPERIENCE presenting your perspective and refine your communication skills by writing for the Collegian, Willamette’s student newspaper.
Expand your knowledge THROUGH A CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT ORGANIZATION
• CHAMBER CHOIR
• THE COLLEGIAN (STUDENT NEWSPAPER)
• FABRIC, YARN, & TEXTILES CLUB
• FILM STUDIES CLUB
IMMERSE YOURSELF in the Pacific Northwest’s creative scene by visiting the Hallie Ford Museum of Art located on campus and experiencing Salem’s thriving artisanal culture.
AUGMENT YOUR EDUCATION with state-of-the-art facilities including a directing and lighting studio, costume shop, digital music studio, and recording studio, among others.
• HEADBAND
• IMPROV CLUB
• MILLSTREAM SAILORS
• POI CLUB
• RADIO CLUB
• STUDENT THEATRE ARTS GROUP
• TAIKO CLUB
• UNIVERSITY CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
• UP TOP
• WILLAMETTE DANCE COMPANY
• WILLAMETTE JAZZ COLLECTIVE
• WILLAMETTE SINGERS
Build a better world
WE ARE LIVING in a time when more people than ever are paying close attention to the state of society and feel a responsibility to make a difference in the world. There is no better way to create a more just and equitable society than by shaping policies and fighting for causes that promote justice and equality. Prepare to advocate for the future you envision through a career in law, government, or non-profit work.
Complementary FIELDS OF STUDY
AMERICAN ETHNIC STUDIES / ASIAN STUDIES / BUSINESS
DATA SCIENCE / ECONOMICS / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
GLOBAL CULTURAL STUDIES / HISTORY / INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
LAW / PHILOSOPHY / POLITICS, POLICY, LAW, & ETHICS
PSYCHOLOGY / PUBLIC HEALTH / SUSTAINABILITY
THEATRE / WOMEN’S & GENDER STUDIES
THE 3+3 DIRECT ADMISSION program gives Willamette students the opportunity to complete an undergraduate and law degree in six years instead of the usual seven.
ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABILITY and social justice by participating in the studentled Community Action Fund for Equity and Sustainability Committee.
OUR CAMPUS LOCATION across the street from the State Capitol offers unique access to learning opportunities and internships with legislators and policymakers.
GAIN MULTICULTURAL
PERSPECTIVES on laws, politics, and policymaking by spending a semester in Washington D.C. through our partnership with American University or through any one of our many international study abroad programs.
Expand your knowledge THROUGH A CO-CURRICULAR STUDENT CLUB
• BEARCAT PANTRY
• CHOICE ACTION TEAM
• CLIMATE ACTION ALLIANCE
• COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
• COLLEGE REPUBLICANS
• DEBATE UNION
• DISABILITY ADVOCACY CLUB
• INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
• PANHELLENIC COUNCIL
• POLITICS, POLICY, LAW, & ETHICS CLUB
• RESTORATIVE JUSTICE CLUB
• SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE ADVOCATES
COURSES
Cross-cultural immersion
AS A LIBERAL ARTS UNIVERSITY, we believe that participating in programs like study abroad can provide our students with both academic enrichment and the opportunity to develop real-world skills that will benefit them in their careers and in life. When you study abroad, you will experience different approaches to education and learning and gain new perspectives by living like a local and observing the rules and expectations of another culture day-to-day. This is a chance to elevate your education, build cultural bridges in an increasingly inter-connected world, and experience personal growth.
International Honors Program
This multi-country program allows students to gain a unique global perspective. In the International Honors Program, students travel to three countries on different continents, spending a month in each location.
Alongside faculty and local facilitators, students take a comparative approach to examining a specific global issue, using resources and their experiences in each country to form conclusions.
Scholarships and Grants
To help make your dream of studying abroad a reality, all merit-based and need-based aid you receive through the university will apply toward your semester abroad. We offer multiple additional sources of funding specifically designated for study abroad. There are countryspecific funding opportunities as well as scholarships you can use to study abroad in any of our partner locations.
NOT ONLY WILL YOU LEARN from your host country, but you will encounter people who are curious about your perspectives.
BUILD YOUR RESUME by gaining experiences you can refer to when applying for jobs.
DEVELOP YOUR LANGUAGE SKILLS by immersing yourself in an environment filled with native speakers.
COMBINE WILLAMETTE’S EMPHASIS on experiential learning with your time abroad by participating in research or completing an internship.
KAWAGOE JAPAN: Salem’s Sister City
Willamette’s unique relationship with Tokyo International University, located in Kawagoe, Japan, has led to the creation of two study abroad programs: the Japanese Studies Program (JSP) and the English Track (E-Track). JSP focuses on developing a deep understanding of Japanese culture and language while E-Track students choose courses in International Relations, Economics, or General Studies.
STUDY ABROAD
Popular COUNTRIES: with more than 50 to choose from
UNDECIDED?
HERE ARE SOME PRACTICAL STEPS you can take to help you decide what your major will be:
• GET ADVICE FROM YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR OR CAREER COUNSELOR
• JOIN ONE OR MORE OF OUR MANY CLUBS AND STUDENT-RUN ORGANIZATIONS
• TAKE EXPLORATORY CLASSES IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES TO SEE WHAT YOU ENJOY
• TALK TO YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR MAJORS
• MEET PROFESSORS AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR DEPARTMENTS
Undecided? Explore further
WE KNOW THAT THERE IS PRESSURE to choose a major and decide what your career will look like. It can feel overwhelming if you don’t know what you want to study or still want to explore your options. The good news is that a liberal arts university is the perfect place to discover your
passion and try different things. Because a liberal arts education takes an interdisciplinary approach, you not only have the time and opportunity to explore your varied interests, but are encouraged to do so. Allow us to help you build an education that is tailored to you.
EVERY FIRST YEAR STUDENT WILL TAKE A COLLOQUIUM COURSE.
This is a conversation-based course in which students are encouraged to steer discussions and ask questions that will spark discourse. A wide range of topics will be offered each year, taught by faculty from every department, giving you the opportunity to take an exploratory course and begin
your college journey by pursuing your interests.
Colloquium class sizes are kept small to foster participation and encourage meaningful intellectual bonds among students and with the professor. This will be important as your colloquium professor will act as your academic advisor until you declare a major.
Recent Colloquium COURSE OFFERINGS HAVE
• IMPROV: MAKING SOMETHING FROM NOTHING
• THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN FASCISM: 1920 TO THE PRESENT
• WHO IS BOB DYLAN?
INCLUDED
• BEYOND GOOD & EVIL: THE MYTHS & LEGENDS OF GENESIS
• PUTIN’S WARS
• KNITTING CULTURE
Learn more about our academic programs at: WILLAMETTE.EDU/GO/MAJORS
LOOK BEYOND your HORIZON: Visit willamette.edu for more info.
900 STATE STREET SALEM, OR 97301 / EMAIL: BEARCAT@WILLAMETTE.EDU / CALL: 503-370-6303 / TEXT: 503-967-4950
