RFI

Religious studies is rooted in the humanities and fosters an appreciation for how humans express themselves through religious beliefs, practices and traditions. The academic study of religion can illuminate the complex relationships between religion, social structures, political power and globalization. 

Many degrees in religious studies focus on Christianity, with an emphasis upon preparation for Christian ministry. Differently, ASU’s religious studies degrees are global and comparative, examining multiple traditions, religions, practices and beliefs, including but not limited to Christianity. 

As a religious studies major, you’ll analyze how the study of religion has shaped the modern world. You’ll learn how religion influences political culture, communal formation, nationalism and citizenship in local and global contexts. You’ll also gain theoretical training and research skills needed to analyze the role religion has in shaping political values, social movements and communal norms.

Is the religion, politics and global affairs concentration right for me?

If you’re interested in exploring religion’s impact on all aspects of life, this program may be a great fit. Throughout this program, you’ll examine cultural diversity and investigate issues from different perspectives. Your coursework may cover a variety of themes, such as bodily norms, dietary practices and the rites marking life transitions.

ASU Online also offers a BA in religious studies with a concentration in religion, culture and public life. While both concentrations analyze the impact of religion in society, the religion, politics and global affairs concentration provides a broader and more contemporary analysis of political movements, international relations and ethical trends across societies. In comparison, the religion, culture and public life concentration focuses on in-depth examinations of specific places and times, as well as particular religious traditions, such as Buddhism, Islam and Christianity.

An online chemistry degree provides a foundation of knowledge applicable to a variety of career paths, such as forensics, environmental sciences, teaching and more.

Grounded in physical science, this liberal arts degree complements a range of other interests and may be a good option for those looking to earn an additional degree. For example, chemistry can be combined with law for patent work, with economics for sales and marketing careers and with computer science for careers in bioinformatics and computational chemistry. Additionally, this degree is often pursued by those who are interested in teaching science at K-12 levels.

If you’re looking to pursue a scientific research career, you should consider ASU Online's Bachelor of Science in biochemistry instead. Those looking to pursue a career in health care should consider the Bachelor of Science in medicinal chemistry. For more information about pre-health education and ASU’s tailored pre-health advisor program, please visit our pre-health website.

The skills you’ll gain from a BA in chemistry

Both the lectures and lab courses in this online chemistry degree equip you with problem solving and critical thinking skills that are beneficial for nearly any career path you choose.

Upon graduation, you’ll be well-versed in specialized chemistry knowledge and competencies, such as:

• Compound analysis.
• Laboratory experiment procedures.
• Material structure and composition.
• Nanoscience.
• Scientific language and citations.
• Substance analysis at the molecular level.
• Synthesizing materials.
• Toxicology processes.

Gain hands-on experience with our in-person chemistry labs

In this program, you’ll complete both online and in-person lab courses. Organic chemistry includes a seven-day in-person lab component, while biochemistry requires five days. These on-campus sessions take place in the summer and provide valuable hands-on experience needed to pursue a variety of chemistry career paths.

Courses also feature eScience lab kits delivered to your home. These experiences equip you with essential technical skills and strengthen your ability to work in teams in a lab setting. After conducting experiments, you’ll analyze and document your work using scientific language and citations.

Accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), this program delivers the critical thinking, team-building, communication and information technology skills needed to thrive in your career. All of that, plus close ties with major local, national and international accounting firms, provide a competitive edge in the job market. Upon graduating from this program, you’ll be prepared for careers in public, corporate and governmental accounting or personal financial planning and portfolio analysis.

Additionally, this bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Accountancy and Data Analytics (MACC)

Please note, this program is not available to students with BA, BS or MS degrees in accountancy, and the courses are not available to non-degree students.

Will this degree support me in becoming a CPA?

The CPA designation isn’t critical for all accounting career paths, but becoming a CPA could be advantageous in the accounting profession. CPA requirements are set by each state, and all states require a minimum total of 150 credit hours. Students are encouraged to review the requirements of the state(s) in which they intend to seek a CPA license. Each state has a board of accountancy that can provide this information. Visit the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) for additional information.

The skills you’ll gain in this bachelor’s in accounting

This program explores authentic business processes and strategies, including the latest software and technologies. In your courses, you’ll study database analysis, financial reporting and analysis, federal income taxation and ways to use accounting data for internal decision-making processes. You’ll also gain a range of transferable skills, such as:

• Critical thinking
• Ethical decision making
• Problem solving
• Written and oral communication

In this program, you’ll learn through a combination of courses and hands-on learning experiences. You’ll also gain an understanding of how living organisms interact with the natural world, as well as how to reduce human interference with these natural processes. Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped with a wide skill set applicable to a variety of areas of conservation biology and ecology, such as:

• Animal and plant physiology
• Behavioral ecology
• Community and landscape ecology
• Population biology
• Restoring degraded ecosystems

This program’s innovative courses enable new ways of learning and applying skills. Narrative storytelling tools such as Dreamscape Learn allow you to explore virtual worlds as a scientific investigator. In this interactive 2D environment, you’ll gather and analyze data to solve realistic problems in biology. Actively participating in the story will deepen your understanding and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Additional practical learning opportunities may include at-home lab kits, in-person lab sessions, internships and research.

Understanding conservation ecology

Conservation ecology is an applied science that focuses on preserving biological diversity and maintaining healthy ecosystems. Conservation ecologists are concerned with evaluating and reducing the human impact on Earth’s biodiversity. In the field and at the policy level, ecologists use practical strategies to mitigate risks of species extinction and promote the sustainable use of biological resources.

Conservation ecology involves a multipronged approach: Protecting the integrity of existing ecosystems, investigating causes for degradation and reestablishing optimal conditions. The work of conservation ecologists reaches a wide array of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, rivers, urban landscapes, wetlands and more.

Does this program prepare for roles in wildlife conservation and wildlife biology?

Yes, this program can support a variety of career opportunities in the field, such as park ranger, fish and wildlife biologist, soil conservationist and more. Some conservation and wildlife biology roles, such as those in academia and research, require additional study and training.

This bachelor’s degree can be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field. Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Science in biology
• Master of Science in computational life sciences

Biology plays an integral part in our social context. And as a biology and society major, you’ll study science from a humanities perspective. Biological research may impact society in diverse ways, such as adapting water systems, curing human diseases and protecting our planet.

The biology and society concentration curriculum covers bioethics, conservation, ecology, genomics and more. You'll engage in scientific inquiry and investigate ethical, historical, philosophical and social issues. It also explores the impact of biology on humanity and our environment. Additionally, you'll learn about past and present controversies of applications of biology, including gene editing, human cloning and stem cell research.

This program’s innovative courses enable new ways of learning and applying skills. Narrative storytelling tools such as Dreamscape Learn allow you to explore virtual worlds as a scientific investigator. In this interactive 2D environment, you’ll gather and analyze data to solve realistic problems in biology. Actively participating in the story will deepen your understanding and strengthen your problem-solving skills. Additional practical learning opportunities may include at-home lab kits, in-person lab sessions, internships and research.

The career paths and master’s programs this degree prepares you for

Studying biology ethics gives you a diverse skill set applicable to a variety of careers. Upon graduating, you’ll have quantitative reasoning and scientific abilities, as well as intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. You’ll relate biological concepts to social and historical problems and know how to communicate science ethically. These competencies have proven to be instrumental in both biological and humanities careers. Potential career fields for graduates include environmental law, public policy and public health.

This bachelor’s degree can also be completed as part of an Accelerated Master’s program. When accepted, you can earn a master’s degree in as little as one year after completing your undergraduate degree. This opportunity saves you time and money while giving you advanced knowledge in your field.

Applicable master's degrees include:

• Master of Science in biology
• Master of Science in computational life sciences

You’ve probably heard about data breaches at major businesses or maybe your personal information has been compromised. Cybercrimes such as these are a threat to most every organization and business. Thus, information security officers who can recognize and prevent these crises are in high demand. 

This information security degree concentration equips you with the skills needed to organize, manage and safekeep a business’s cyber infrastructure. Businesses will turn to you to understand privacy regulations and keep their data, and that of their clients, out of the hands of others.

What is information security?

Information security is the process of keeping private information safe from unauthorized users, thus preventing information theft, manipulation or destruction. Information security is vital to businesses as unauthorized access to private data can lead to revenue loss, loss of client trust or even the eventual end of a business.

How this degree prepares you to be an information security analyst

Today's organizations rely on cyber infrastructure to conduct business transactions with their customers and business partners. Throughout this information security concentration, you’ll develop the requisite digital expertise needed to assist these businesses in finding solutions to cyberthreats and minimizing risks within their organizational processes and transactions. 

You’ll graduate with the core business, critical thinking and problem solving skills necessary in understanding how digital infrastructure should be organized and managed within business policies and frameworks.

Join the next generation of financial planning professionals by gaining the knowledge and skills needed to develop solutions for your clients’ personal financial needs. This program’s curriculum prepares you to assist clients in navigating life’s most important personal financial decisions, including financial investments, insurance needs and estate and tax planning.

This program is best suited for those seeking client-facing roles in the financial services industry. Students interested in working in corporate finance should check out the corporate accounting degree concentration, whereas those looking to become accountants should check out the bachelor’s in accountancy.

Personal financial advisor: An in-demand and high-paying career

As the population ages and life expectancy rises, the demand for financial planning services will increase. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of personal financial advisors is projected to rise 13% between 2022 and 2032, with 25,600 job openings projected each year, on average, during that time. That’s much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.

These roles are well-paid, too, with the median annual salary being $95,390 as of May 2022, per the BLS.

What you’ll learn in this program

Throughout your coursework, you’ll become skilled across multiple dimensions of the financial planning process. You’ll learn how to value financial assets and assess portfolio risk and performance. You’ll also become familiar with tax strategies and calculations around income realization, exclusions and deductions, passive activities, considerations of business forms, property transactions and the taxation of gift and estate transfers. Additionally, you’ll gain a variety of transferable skills, including:

• Communication.
• Critical thinking.
• Data analysis and quantitative reasoning.
• Management.
• Problem solving.

In this program, you’ll build a strong foundation in business while gaining a specialized understanding of legal considerations. You’ll study how laws shape business formation, daily operations and strategic decisions. Courses explore the U.S. legal system and key areas of business law, including contracts, compliance, human resources, intellectual property and taxation.

You’ll also examine the broader legal and regulatory climate that impacts business policies and risk management. Through coursework, you’ll strengthen skills in logic, negotiation, case analysis, critical thinking and problem solving. This concentration prepares you to evaluate legal issues, navigate complex challenges and lead with confidence where business and law intersect.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal for those interested in bridging passion for business and law and who want to stand out when applying for future roles. You’ll graduate prepared to navigate regulatory challenges, reduce risk and contribute to strategic decisions in a wide range of industries.

This program is also a great fit if you have experience or interest in areas such as administration, legal support, policy, compliance or management. Entrepreneurs and professionals seeking to better understand how legal regulations shape business operations and decision-making may also find it to be a good fit for their goals.

Note: This is not a pre-law degree ideal for those looking to become lawyers. Although ASU Law does accept students who graduate from this program, this degree was designed for law needed for business use, such as case studies and negotiations.