Degree-seeking

Ocean health is vital to planetary well-being, and dedicated stewards are needed to develop innovative solutions for emerging challenges. Earning this degree positions you to economically and responsibly address the impacts of rising ocean temperatures, coral bleaching, sea level rise, overfishing and more. With interdisciplinary expertise, you’ll be prepared to engage communities and lead transformational changes in ocean-related industries and practice.

This program is accessible wherever you live and equips you for careers in the blue economy. You can pursue roles in areas such as coastal and marine protection and management, land-sea interactions and community-based stewardship. You’ll also gain the knowledge to assess fisheries’ impact on ocean health, support coral reef restoration and integrate intergenerational values into conservation efforts.

How our two ocean futures degrees compare

ASU offers two online bachelor’s degrees in ocean futures: this marine studies program and a degree concentrated in coastal and marine science. Both are STEM programs designed to train the next generation of ocean stewards and innovators. Regardless of which you choose, you can participate in optional hands-on opportunities at ASU locations, including the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences and the Center for Global Discovery and Conservation in Hawai’i. Your interests and career goals can help determine which program suits you best.

• Bachelor’s in ocean futures
  • This ocean sustainability and marine studies degree broadly explores the natural processes and human impacts shaping ocean health while addressing global marine challenges. It requires less advanced science coursework, including a lower level of chemistry than the concentration. You’ll also take stewardship and partnership courses to develop a practical understanding of the social and economic dimensions of ocean health.
• Bachelor’s in ocean futures – coastal and marine science
  • This concentration emphasizes quantitative approaches to solving coastal and marine challenges. It includes more advanced chemistry coursework and a quantitative applications requirement. This option is ideal if you plan to pursue graduate studies, such as ASU’s online master’s in coastal and marine science and management.

Support the blue economy with a degree in ocean sustainability

The multi-trillion-dollar blue economy encompasses careers that sustainably use ocean resources to drive economic growth and support thriving communities. Industries in this expanding sector include fisheries, marine conservation, coastal tourism and recreation, energy, transportation and research. Professionals dedicated to balancing economic development with environmental stewardship are essential to maintaining healthy, productive oceans for future generations.

With the ocean futures marine studies degree, you can build a career that makes a lasting impact on the blue economy across the public, private, nonprofit and nongovernmental sectors.

Taught by leading faculty, this program explores current research and best practices in elementary education. You’ll gain expertise in teaching reading, writing, math, science and social studies while supporting children’s personal development. The curriculum emphasizes:

• Designing lesson plans that engage whole-group, small-group and intervention learners.
• Effectively managing an elementary classroom.
• Implementing student-centered teaching methods and structured literacy approaches.
• Understanding how children learn and develop.

While you’ll focus on delivering elementary instruction, your impact will extend beyond the classroom. This career path allows you to foster curiosity, build confidence and lay the foundation for lifelong learning. You’ll also help students develop life skills in communication, teamwork, self-directed learning and responsibility.

Become a certified teacher as part of this program

Coursework will focus on the knowledge needed for teacher certification. You’ll also complete a series of in-person internships to apply your skills in real learning environments. Your final semester includes a full-time student teaching experience under the guidance of a certified mentor teacher.

You’ll graduate with an institutional recommendation for K–8 teaching certification in the state of Arizona, bringing you one step closer to becoming licensed. Teaching in public schools also requires passing state educator exams, such as the National Evaluation Series or Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments for Arizona certification.

Note: Licensure eligibility varies by state. This program is designed to meet Arizona’s requirements. Please check ASU’s professional licensure webpage for details on your state’s requirements.

State authorization:
We strongly recommend you visit our state authorization webpage to learn how ASU is authorized to operate in your state, policies for out-of-state students and program exceptions.

Choose the right education degree for your career goals

This program is an excellent choice for those committed to shaping the next generation of learners by embracing technology and integrating research-based strategies. It’s also ideal if you’re a reflective practitioner who values feedback and is dedicated to creating student-centered learning environments. Additionally, while not required, having connections at an educational institution can be helpful for securing placement in clinically embedded experiences.

You can also elevate your studies by earning a graduate degree. Pair this bachelor’s degree with an Accelerated Master’s and finish in as little as one additional year. Eligible programs include:

• Master of Arts in education

If you’re interested in educational roles outside of the classroom and don’t plan to pursue teacher certification, consider ASU’s online Bachelor of Arts in Education with an educational studies concentration or early childhood studies concentration.

Developed by community leaders and top-tier faculty, this curriculum aligns with industry trends to prepare you for the nonprofit workforce. You’ll gain the expertise to address society’s most pressing challenges, from environmental sustainability and public health to community development and international relief. This program also examines the future of the nonprofit sector, including emerging technologies, social entrepreneurship and data-driven decision-making.

Whether you want to contribute talent to a local nonprofit or lead global advocacy efforts, you’ll graduate prepared for the next step in your career. Your knowledge will enable you to oversee fundraising initiatives, recruit and train volunteers, build community partnerships, lead corporate social responsibility programs and advocate for policy change. As you gain experience, you can advance into leadership roles, including executive director positions.

The skills you’ll develop

This program builds versatile skills, equipping you to support causes that matter most to you. You’ll develop expertise in organizational management to set mission-focused goals, create strategic plans and navigate governance structures. Strong marketing and communication skills will allow you to craft compelling messages, engage donors and enhance nonprofit branding. Through practical learning opportunities, you’ll also gain abilities in:

• Advocating for public awareness on key issues
• Applying ethical research methods to support community-based initiatives
• Designing outreach programs that create a lasting impact
• Managing budgets with ethical financial stewardship

Who’s a good candidate for this program?

This program is ideal for individuals committed to making a difference, regardless of their nonprofit experience. Compatible backgrounds include work or volunteer experience in human services, education and youth development, government and public service, corporate social responsibility and related fields. A passion for service and a willingness to learn leadership and management skills are also essential. Completing this program can support your transition into nonprofit leadership or expand the impact of your current role.

With a focus on mission-driven leadership, this degree prepares you to guide nonprofit and public-sector organizations dedicated to social impact. If you’re more interested in corporate management and generating profit, one of ASU’s online business degrees may be a better fit. You could also pair this program with a business minor.

This program teaches you how to bring creative ideas to life by guiding apparel through the product lifecycle. You’ll learn to coordinate designers, merchandisers and manufacturers to turn concepts into viable products, ensuring they meet industry standards and consumer demands.

Gaining product development expertise can jumpstart your fashion career and open doors for growth. Exposure to the entire development process can further help you build industry connections and expand your skill set.

The knowledge and skills you’ll develop

Courses explore how to evaluate design choices for production feasibility, proper garment fit and suitability for mass production. You’ll develop an understanding of material sourcing and costing, as well as how to collaborate with merchandisers to position products for retail success.

The curriculum incorporates technology designed to enhance accuracy and efficiency in product development. You’ll use Optitex to develop patterns and analyze fit through 3D prototypes and Adobe Illustrator to create digital 2D technical drawings. Practical assignments also offer opportunities to gain proficiency in CAD, product lifecycle management systems and CLO 3D. Through this software and applied coursework, you’ll be able to:

• Apply the science of body sizing and scaling.
• Create production-ready tech packs (instructions for manufacturing garments).
• Develop grade rules that align with measurement charts.
• Use visual communication techniques in creative industries.

Choose the right fashion degree for your career goals

All fashion majors gain an understanding of the industry, from creative design and technical production to manufacturing, distribution, merchandising and retailing. The right specialization for you depends on your career goals and interests. Available concentrations include:

• Apparel product development
  • Ideal for those who want to be involved in the entire product lifecycle from concept to consumer. As a generalist, you’ll focus on bringing products to market.
• Merchandising
  • Designed for those interested in the core of the fashion business. You’ll study merchandising through the lens of branding, planning and buying.
• Technical design
  • Best suited for those passionate about garment fit, construction and design. As a specialist in this field, you'll turn creative ideas into tangible products.

With the rapid pace of AI innovation, businesses need professionals who can bring new technologies into systems, processes and strategies. This program teaches you to leverage AI mindfully to improve outcomes for both business and society.

Taught by industry-leading faculty, courses explore how AI technologies work and how to apply them ethically. You’ll learn to analyze operations and design AI solutions that streamline repetitive tasks and create more space for strategy and creativity. In hands-on projects, you’ll build AI business cases and implementation plans, develop tools and integrate them into existing systems.

The skills you’ll develop

This AI in business program strengthens your analytical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. The curriculum builds a foundation for applying and integrating machine learning models and other AI tools that improve efficiency. You’ll also gain technical expertise in Python programming, data analysis, data pipelines, databases and big data systems.

Additionally, you’ll explore data and technology governance in business contexts, preparing you to manage data and meet compliance requirements. With a focus on mindful AI, you’ll graduate equipped to lead responsibly, educate others and thrive in a digital economy that puts people first.

This digital concentration builds on traditional marketing principles to connect with audiences in the digital realm. In tailored courses, you’ll learn how organizations use digital media tactics, create engaging experiences and build relationships through social media. Topics range from content planning and paid media buying to email marketing and user experience. You’ll also get hands-on practice with Google Analytics, The Trade Desk, HubSpot, Hootsuite, Semrush, OpenAI and other industry tools.

As a digital marketing major, you’ll gain the skills to craft impactful campaigns and make strategic decisions. You’ll graduate prepared for careers in search engine optimization, growth marketing, social media marketing and analytics. This degree also provides a competitive edge for roles in media buying and planning, influencer marketing, e-commerce and more.

Who’s a good fit for this program?

This program is ideal if you’re passionate about combining marketing and technology to transform how brands engage with customers. It’s also a great fit if you’re interested in marketing beyond content creation, such as understanding consumer behavior and using insights to guide marketing initiatives. Whether you’ve gained experience through organizations or student-led ad agencies, or are new to marketing, this program provides the skills to launch your digital marketing career.

If you’re interested in exploring marketing more broadly — such as brand management, graphic design, video production or advertising — ASU’s online bachelor’s in marketing may better align with your goals.

In this online bachelor’s in kinesiology degree, you’ll explore the biological, psychological and physical aspects of human movement. Guided by expert faculty, you’ll engage in practical applications through mentorship and project-based learning. The curriculum combines biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, psychology and evidence-based practice to ensure a well-rounded foundation for your future education and career.

Courses delve into the scientific principles of human movement, from cellular processes to the body’s complex systems. Upon completing the program, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of:

• Biomechanics: The mechanics of movement and how the body generates force
• Exercise physiology: How the body responds and adapts to physical activity
• Human anatomy and physiology: The structure and function of the body
• Motor behavior and control: How the nervous system coordinates movement
• Psychosocial aspects of physical activity: The mental and social impacts of exercise

The skills you’ll develop

This program equips you with skills for careers focused on applying science to improve lives, promoting well-being and helping people stay active and injury-free. You’ll learn to assess human movement patterns, analyze the mechanics of motion and perform gain analysis and posture assessments. These skills will empower you to develop movement-based interventions and design safe, effective physical activity and rehabilitation programs tailored to individual needs and physiological factors.  

Additionally, you’ll refine your ability to interpret scientific research and apply evidence-based practices. These competencies will equip you to lead studies, conduct assessments and implement findings to solve complex problems, such as developing treatment protocols or optimizing performance outcomes. You’ll also strengthen your communication skills, ensuring you can effectively share scientific information with clients, patients and colleagues.