In-demand careers

Preveterinary medicine is an undergraduate degree concentration that prepares students for admission to veterinary school and a career in veterinary medicine or animal science.

Program coursework provides a strong foundation in biology, chemistry, physics, math and animal science. It also offers specialized courses in veterinary medicine and opportunities to gain clinical hours or animal experience through internships and study abroad programs.

The online pre-vet major includes several advanced lab courses. Most are completed online, but the two organic chemistry labs must be taken in person at ASU’s Tempe campus. These are offered in a compressed one-week format over the summer. Learn more about the on-campus sessions and how to prepare.

What can I do with a preveterinary medicine degree concentration?

This concentration focuses on biology with an emphasis on animal behavior, anatomy and nutrition. You’ll have the opportunity to take classes exploring the field of veterinary medicine, ethical issues in biology, infectious diseases, comparative immunology and more. The preveterinary medicine concentration will help you develop the skills needed to effectively work with animals and use science to formulate solutions to various problems. These skills are important for many careers related to veterinary medicine, animal science and biology.

Why earn a pre-vet major?

Earning an applied biological sciences with a concentration in preveterinary medicine degree does not guarantee your admission into veterinary school, but it can help make you a competitive applicant. Our online preveterinary medicine degree concentration is designed to help you meet the common prerequisites required to apply to veterinary school. It also connects you with advisors who can help ensure you’re staying on track to apply to veterinary school or other animal-focused graduate programs.

Even if you’re a pre-vet major, it’s still important to thoroughly research the veterinary schools and graduate programs you’re most interested in applying to as each school has its own specific prerequisites and admission requirements. For more information on ASU’s pre-health education programs, please visit the ASU pre-health website.

Students must understand that completing this program does not guarantee admission to veterinary school. For students who may be interested in applying for veterinary school upon graduation, it is highly recommended they take the ABS 484 Internship course for experiential learning.

In this neuroscience program, you’ll study the brain and nervous system, which are two of the most complex biological structures. You’ll have the opportunity to analyze behavior, thoughts, consciousness and emotion related to the nervous system.

You’ll also learn the basic elements of the nervous system and how it functions in relation to cognition, behavior, thought and emotion in humans and animals through field research. Foundations in biochemistry, biology, engineering, mathematics and psychology provide you with a deeper understanding of the structure and function of the brain and nervous system.

Tailor your studies to fit your interests

Neuroscience provides opportunities to uncover the mystery of consciousness and to gain insight into health promotion and maintenance. With a variety of paths you can take, this program allows you to tailor your curriculum to fit your interests and goals. You’ll have the opportunity to select your upper-division courses from four focal areas of neuroscience that use different levels of analysis:

• Behavioral neuroscience: Learn about the biological processes of neural activity and transmission that underlie subsequent behavior, largely using animal models.
• Cellular and molecular neuroscience: Examine the basic biological processes of the neural cells, both individually and as they connect.
• Cognitive neuroscience: Study the correlation between brain processes and our thoughts and experiences of the world using a range of approaches that draw on neuroimaging and cognitive psychology.
• Systems neuroscience: Explore how the billions of neural cells work together in neural networks.

What can you do with a bachelor’s in neuroscience?

Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for a variety of careers in health and research. While many neuroscience career paths require a master’s- or doctorate-level degree, there are some that don’t, such as a clinical research assistant, health educator and more.

Building skills in computer programming, experimental design, behavioral understanding and data science will equip you as a marketable STEM professional. This degree also provides you with the foundations needed to continue on to medical school; however, it doesn’t prepare you for counseling psychology.

This program is the first of its kind to integrate three related areas of life science research: cell biology, developmental biology and genetics. Studying these fields together has advanced a better understanding of diseases, regeneration and aging, and promises to prove even more important in the future.

This program offers coursework at the intersection of genetics, genomes and developmental biology. You’ll also gain knowledge of fundamental concepts in biological sciences, chemistry, physics and statistics. Developing scientific process and critical thinking skills will prepare you for a variety of career or professional degrees in genetics, medicine and genomes. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for graduate and professional degrees in genetics, medicine and genomes.

How cell and developmental biology relate to genetics

Genetics examines the blueprints of life, providing critical information such as what makes living things unique, how diseases develop and how and when organisms live, survive and thrive.

While genes and genomes provide the instructions for all living things, this machinery of life is enclosed within the boundaries of cells. Since cells provide all activities critical for life, from metabolism to reproduction, cell biology serves as the nexus for understanding cellular function and connections and interactions across cells.

Cellular interconnectivity leads to the growth and development of tissues and organs, which is the foundation of developmental biology. Modern developmental biology uses both genetics and cell biology to understand how genes and the environment interact to produce an individual from a single cell as well as understand the various developmental changes that organisms undergo throughout life.

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal if you’re interested in studying classical genetics, genomics, molecular biology, developmental biology, evolution, biochemistry, cellular biology or regenerative medicine. This concentration is also a good fit if you’re considering a career in epidemiology. Check out our article on how to become an epidemiologist.

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

This counseling and applied psychological science degree equips you with foundational training in trauma, lifespan development, group counseling and professional ethics. A unique aspect of this program is its attention to cultural diversity, which focuses on age, gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion and socioeconomic status. In addition, you’ll also gain transferable skills that will prepare you for many roles, including:

• Adaptability
• Analytical skills
• Cultural sensitivity
• Interpersonal skills
• Leadership
• Problem solving
• Research methods
• Understanding group dynamics

Tailor your studies to fit your career goals

In this program, you’ll learn the foundational principles of counseling and explore strategies that promote psychological well-being in others. Ideal candidates include those interested in improving behavioral health among individuals and families. This program is beneficial if you have an associate degree in a related field or are working in human services roles, such as care coordinator, caseworker and clinical school liaison.

Interested in exploring specific areas of counseling and applied psychological science? Check out the three online concentrations available:

• Counseling military members and veterans.
  • In this concentration, you’ll explore the distinct challenges that military members and veterans encounter. You’ll also learn how to effectively address these issues, enabling you to make a meaningful impact in their lives.
• Sports and performance counseling.
  • In this concentration, you’ll discover the psychological challenges athletes face after a major injury or retiring from their sport. You’ll also examine why humans are captivated by sports and how games bring people together.
• Substance abuse and addictions.
  • In this concentration, you’ll focus on counseling strategies for clients experiencing addiction. You’ll learn how to screen, assess, diagnose and treat those with substance abuse problems, behavioral addictions or other related conditions.

Does this program lead to counseling licensure?

While this program doesn’t lead to counseling licensure, it’ll prepare you for graduate programs and other advanced training. Upon graduation, you’ll feel confident supporting licensed counselors in behavioral health care delivery settings or beginning a graduate degree program in a counseling-related field. As part of the program, you’ll also participate in a hands-on internship where you may shadow a licensed therapist and practice counseling theory in a supportive training environment.

Please note: Only the BS with a concentration in substance abuse and addictions offers a pathway to licensure in Arizona as a Licensed Addiction Counselor Technician (LACT).

Mechanical engineering is the most diverse and versatile field of engineering, playing a critical role in numerous modern industries such as aerospace, construction, power, technology and transportation. As a mechanical engineer, you'll design, build and control devices, machines, processes and systems that are the cornerstones of our industrialized society. These systems include heating and cooling systems, solar power solutions, robotics, manufacturing processes and electronics.

To succeed in this field, you'll need advanced knowledge of physics and mathematics to tackle the complexity of these mechanical systems. The job duties of a mechanical engineer are incredibly versatile, allowing you to find a position that aligns with your interests. Whether designing biomedical devices, internal combustion engines, fuel-efficient vehicles or planning energy systems in the electrical power industry, the opportunities are vast and varied.

The skills you’ll develop in this program

Throughout this mechanical engineering degree concentration, you’ll gain the skills needed to design, manufacture and operate components, devices and systems, including:

• Computer-aided design.
• Computer programming.
• Data science and statistics.
• Engineering design process.
• Finite-element analysis.
• Rapid prototyping.
• Technical writing.
• Testing and validation.

You’ll also learn how to use governing energy transfer, mechanical design, sensors and control devices principles to solve practical and timely engineering problems. This might include analyzing pollution, dissecting mechanical systems or creating automatic control systems.

What you can do with a mechanical engineering degree

Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared for careers in automotive research, heating and cooling systems design, robotics development and more. This mechanical engineering degree concentration provides a robust foundation for diverse engineering and technical roles, and may lead you to advanced graduate programs.

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 materials science and engineering.

Data science is an interdisciplinary area between statistics, mathematics and computer science. This degree prepares you to be a critical analyst and user of data in a variety of areas such as business, research and government.

This program also focuses on the ethical production and use of data. Utilizing cutting-edge trends in data, you’ll gain a strong mathematics background to understand how it works. You’ll learn from esteemed faculty who are performing their own research in the areas of probability, statistics, scientific computing, applied math and more.

Designed to support your career goals, you can choose a focus area and complete six courses tailored to relevant topics. Available tracks include:

• Behavioral science: This track positions you for data science careers centered on human behaviors and attitudes, cognitive science, human development and medicine. It also prepares you for graduate training in quantitative psychology, human development, education and biostatistics.
• Bioscience: In this track, you’ll learn how to apply computational skills to life sciences research.
• Business analytics: This track teaches you how to be an effective data scientist within a business environment.
• Computer science: In this track, you’ll build enhanced programming and data skills, with a focus on information assurance.
• Mathematics: This track provides a broad set of data science skills. In addition to providing you a solid background in statistics and computational and applied math required for solving engineering problems, this track also trains you for practical solutions regarding databases, agricultural and environmental data, and more.
• Social science: This track provides you with the knowledge and skills to understand and analyze how macro-scale patterns of organization and social structures emerge from individual behavior and decentralized decision-making.
• Spatial science: This track offers you a unique angle for analyzing the world with geospatial big data that’s being generated in real-time today.

What data science skills will I learn?

You’ll develop data-related skills beneficial to solving practical issues in a variety of fields. You’ll learn how modern science and technology use sophisticated mathematical, statistical and computational tools to extract patterns from large, complex and often unordered data sets. You’ll also become proficient in:

• Machine learning and data mining.
• Personalizing medical treatments based on a tumor’s unique genetic profile.
• Technologies with applications as diverse as detecting fraudulent online credit card transactions.
• Understanding the dynamic of social movements.

Additionally, you’ll expand your teamwork, critical thinking, programming, research and coding skills.

Data science: An in-demand, high-paying career

There’s a high need for those who can think critically and provide analysis of the world around them through large data sets. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for data scientists was $108,020 in 2023. And employment of data scientists is projected to grow 36% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Earning an online data science degree and becoming a proficient user and producer of data prepares you to be a strong candidate for these roles. From predicting consumer behavior to extracting information from medical images and more, you’ll graduate ready for a career that inspires global change.

In addition, 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 computational life sciences.

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