ACADEMICS

60+ Areas of Study

Find the major, minor or program that’s right for you.
Wartburg offers more than 60 areas of study in the liberal arts and in professional areas such as business administration, education, music, and journalism and communication. Our graduates find satisfying jobs and are admitted into top graduate and professional schools. Students may also participate in a variety of interdisciplinary minors and programs that enrich the academic experience and prepare graduates for success. At Wartburg you will take a journey of discovery, embrace your passions, and unlock your potential to realize your purpose in life. The Academic Resource Center and Student Success Center provide comprehensive advising services and your faculty adviser will also help you on your path.

Areas of Study

Major Icon Major    Minor Icon Minor     Concentration Icon Concentration    Pre-Professional Icon Pre-Professional    Cooperative Program Icon Cooperative Program    Graduate Program Icon Graduate Program

Experiential Learning

Wartburg is one of the only colleges in Iowa that offers a path to combine vocational expertise with a liberal arts education especially designed for transfer students

Students who complete an Associate of Arts/Science degree at a community college can then complete a Bachelor of Applied Arts (B.A.A.) or Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) degree at Wartburg in only two additional years. Students will receive academic advising and mentoring as well as assistance in understanding the financial aid process. Below are some examples of majors students could consider through these programs. Ask us if you have another technical area of interest that may not be listed. 

  • Agricultural Business
  • Agricultural Power
  • Animal Science
  • Automotive Technology
  • Construction Management
  • Fire Science
  • Hospitality Management
  • Human Resource Management
  • Medical Assistant
  • Natural Resource Management
  • Professional Photography
  • Respiratory Care
  • Sustainable Construction and Design
  • Turf and Landscape Management
  • Veterinarian Assistant
  • Web Programming and Development
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)-liberal arts studies with a concentration of courses in a major.
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.)-liberal arts studies with a major in engineering science.
  • Bachelor of Music (B.M.)-liberal arts studies with an extended concentration in musical performance or music therapy.
  • Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.)-liberal arts studies with a concentration in teaching music.
  • Bachelor of Music Education/Music Therapy (B.M.E.)-liberal arts studies with a concentration in teaching music and a major in music therapy.
  • Bachelor of Applied Arts (B.A.A.) or Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.)-liberal arts studies in addition to either an Associate of Applied Arts or an Associate of Applied Science degree earned from an accredited institution. Graduates with a B.A.A. or B.A.S. degree have a more technical background. Their associate degree substitutes for the major.
  • Master of Arts (M.A.)-graduate studies in an area of specialty.

How to Choose a Major
Ultimately the only one who can choose the right major for you is you! However, there are many support services on campus that can facilitate this process.  The Academic Resource Center and Student Success Center teams can educate you about every major offered at Wartburg and how they can fit with your personal/professional goals.

Connect Majors with Your Passions 
To discover your calling, you have to reflect on who you are and how you can use your gifts for the needs of the world.  The answers to these big questions can be uncovered by reflecting on your values, passions, skills, gifts, interests, and a variety of other factors that may point you in the direction of your vocation(s).

Declaring a Major 
You declare your major by completing the Declaration of Major form. Your adviser can assist you with filling the form out and they must sign it.  If you wish to change majors and thus need a new adviser, you need to inform the Registrar’s Office.  Although there is not a specific deadline for declaring a major, it is recommended that the sooner one does the better.  Typically midway through your second year your adviser will encourage you to begin serious consideration of what major you want to choose.

Resources from the Student Success Center – Career Services

Work Values, Personality Preference, Skills & Interests

Wondering What You Can Do With Certain Majors?

Occupation / Career Research Resources

At Wartburg College, you have the option to create your own major so your coursework fits your professional and personal goals. These are a few of the individualized majors that students have recently created under the guidance of their faculty advisors:

American English Language/Culture
Archaeological Studies
Athletic Training
Business Technology
Child Life Studies
Community Youth/Child Care
Computer Technology
Education and Ministry
Elementary School/Community Liaison
Elementary School/Community Relations
Exercise Science

Human Behavior and Wellness
Humanity and Culture
Media Management
Media Production and Design
Music Business
Piano Pedagogy
Public Health
Recreational Specialist
School/Community Liaison
Social Justice & Advocacy
Social/Physical Science Studies

Social Welfare/Hispanic Culture Study
Socio-Cultural Development
Special Needs Advocacy
Special Populations Recreational Studies
Sports Management
Sports Management and Public Relations
Sports Marketing and Public Relations
Theatre Management
Web Design Administration
Women’s Studies
Youth Program Coordination

Interdepartmental majors combine course work in a maximum of three departments. Such majors usually consist of 13 to 15 course credits, with a maximum of 20. No more than 11 course credits may be from one department. Students completing interdepartmental majors must fulfill the Wartburg Plan of Essential Education and take at least nine course credits at the 300 and 400 level.

Students must obtain approval of their interdepartmental major title and course requirements before the end of the first term of the third year. The Educational Policies Committee and a committee consisting of one faculty member from each department involved in the major approve the title and course requirements. The academic adviser approves other components of the program, such as electives. The interdepartmental major form is available from the Registrar’s Office or the Wartburg website. Requests for an interdepartmental major are made through the Dean of the Faculty.

ACCELERATED PROGRAMS

LAW

Preprofessional Programs law

B.A. Wartburg College
J.D. University of Iowa

NURSING

Preprofessional Programs nursing

B.A. Wartburg College
B.S.N. Allen College

ENGINEERING

Engineering 4+1

B.S. Wartburg College
M.S. Iowa State University

MUSEUM STUDIES

Museum Studies 4+1

B.A. Wartburg
M.A. Western Illinois