Undergraduate Majors

Areas of Study

At Simpson University, our undergradate students focus on three areas of study:

• General Education

  Simpson's General Education (GE) curriculum immerses students into a breadth of courses drawn from the traditional disciplines that have been the cornerstone of a liberal arts education. Students take a variety of courses that introduce them to the rich heritage of the humanities and sciences as well as the testimony revealed in the biblical narrative and Christian traditions and provide essential knowledge in human and global understandings, Bible and theology, English, communication, history, and the sciences.

• CORE Courses

  True to its Christian heritage, Simpson University's signature CORE courses draw inspiration from the cross of Christ. The CORE curriculum helps students apply the disciplinary knowledge learned in GE courses to global issues through the lens of a Christian worldview. CORE courses are team-taught by faculty members from different disciplines and are designed to teach students to engage in cross-disciplinary dialogue as they confront issues facing today's generation of students.

• Major Courses

  Our major courses give students the foundational knowledge (new word) and hands-on experience necessary to succeed in their chosen career. Simpson offers more than 20 majors, and each one has its own set of requirements.

The Value of a Liberal Arts Education

Do you wonder if all that you learn in the liberal arts will help you find employment after graduation? Well, here is some good news. According to a study done by Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, “College students earning a liberal arts degree can nearly double their job prospects—and boost their starting salaries to boot—by picking up a few technical skills before they graduate” (USATODAY, August 8, 2013).

• Read More About the Georgetown Study

  And here is some more good news: Simpson offers courses in areas that are recommended to enhance your employment prospects. They are BUSS 1900, “Introduction to Business”; BUSS 1950, “Introduction to Economics”; BUSS 3270, “Desktop Publishing”; and BUSS 4950, “Entrepreneurship.”

  The Georgetown study also notes “that employers first and foremost hire people who can communicate clearly, think critically and solve problems—all hallmarks of a traditional liberal arts education.”

  Combine these hallmarks “With just a little bit greater awareness of what employers need, [students can] unlock a huge array of jobs that might not otherwise have been open to them,” says Matthew Sigelman, CEO of a Boston-based business (USATODAY, August 8, 2013).

  Sigelman’s analysis of some 4 million entry-level job openings available between July 2012 and June 2013 indicates that a recent liberal arts graduate is qualified for about 955,000 jobs. But add a few additional courses, and they compete for another 862,000 positions! (USATODAY, August 8, 2013).

  Starting salaries increase dramatically too: from $43,000 to $49,000 with the extra coursework in field-specific skills. So consider using some of your unrestricted electives to strengthen your resume.