Arcadia University Courses & FeesGlenside, USA

The B.A. and B.S. in Accounting degrees provide detailed insight into accounting principles, theory and specialties such as tax, cost and auditing. Students are prepared for positions in business, government, and other organizations. The degrees provide all the courses required for students to sit for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination in Pennsylvania and some other states, as well as the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination.

In order to sit for the CPA examination in Pennsylvania, students must hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 24 credits in accounting-related courses. CPA candidates in Pennsylvania are permitted to sit for the CPA exam with less than 150 credit hours, but will be required to complete all 150 credit hours and satisfy the work experience requirement prior to CPA licensure.

The Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration provide a solid background in core business areas as well as in liberal arts. Students pursuing the Bachelor of Science are required to take additional math courses, secure internships, and complete an area of concentration.

Arcadia University offers a combined five-year (3+2) or six year (4+2) Engineering program in affiliation with University of Pittsburgh, and Washington University in Saint Louis. Students are also encouraged to apply to Columbia University, although students will not receive guaranteed admission, they are still eligible to apply. These programs blend a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences with an intensive engineering curriculum. Students are prepared for careers in industry, or for graduate work in engineering, mathematics, or the physical sciences. As part of the program, students will take the licensure examination for professional engineers.

Students spend either three or four years at Arcadia University, taking basic courses in mathematics and the physical sciences. Upon the recommendation of the program adviser, students then apply to their chosen college(s) of engineering for two years of engineering study.

Actuaries are professionals who find ways to manage risk. Actuaries use analytical/math skills, business knowledge, and understanding of human behavior to evaluate the likelihood of future events and design creative ways to reduce the probability of bad outcomes. It is one of the top-ranked jobs and a well-compensated business profession not only nationally but also internationally. Actuaries work in the insurance industry as well as for consulting companies, financial institutions, government, labor unions, etc.

A Bachelor’s degree in Biology prepares students in the major areas of the life sciences as well as in the cognate areas of Chemistry, Mathematics, and/or Physics.

Faculty advisers work closely with each student to plan a series of required and elective courses based on individual interests and career goals.

A core of basic science courses includes general biology, evolution and population biology, reading and writing in biology, comparative anatomy and physiology, genetics. A range of electives covers animal behavior, aquatic biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, conservation biology, developmental biology, histology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, pathophysiology and more..

Laboratory sections generally have smaller enrollments than lecture and thus are especially good for interaction with faculty and other students and for integrative, collaborative and inquiry-based learning.

It is the policy of the Biology Department that General Biology I and II must be taken in the Biology Department at Arcadia or transferred in from an accredited four- or two-year college. Credits earned through an Advanced Placement Exam or International Baccalaureate do not substitute for General Biology I or II.  Students enrolled in the biology major at Arcadia are expected to take their biology courses at Arcadia or at an approved study abroad site.

A Bachelor’s degree in Biology prepares students in the major areas of the life sciences as well as in the cognate areas of Chemistry, Mathematics, and/or Physics.

Faculty advisers work closely with each student to plan a series of required and elective courses based on individual interests and career goals.

A core of basic science courses includes general biology, evolution and population biology, reading and writing in biology, comparative anatomy and physiology, genetics. A range of electives covers animal behavior, aquatic biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell biology, conservation biology, developmental biology, histology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, neurobiology, pathophysiology and more..

Laboratory sections generally have smaller enrollments than lecture and thus are especially good for interaction with faculty and other students and for integrative, collaborative and inquiry-based learning.

It is the policy of the Biology Department that General Biology I and II must be taken in the Biology Department at Arcadia or transferred in from an accredited four- or two-year college. Credits earned through an Advanced Placement Exam or International Baccalaureate do not substitute for General Biology I or II.  Students enrolled in the biology major at Arcadia are expected to take their biology courses at Arcadia or at an approved study abroad site.

The Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry features three concentrations.

The Chemical Professions Concentration prepares students for entry-level positions in chemistry, chemical allied professions such as information science, or secondary education. This concentration is most often chosen by students in the combined Engineering program who elect a chemistry major. 

The Health Professions Concentration prepares students for medical, dental, pharmaceutical, and veterinary graduate programs or paramedical professions.

The Forensic Science Concentration is designed for students who intend to pursue graduate study in Forensic Science, either at Arcadia or elsewhere.

Arcadia’s Chemistry programs provide a working knowledge of the concepts that underlie chemical and physical phenomena. Each course develops the ability to solve real scientific problems quantitatively using structural models, mechanisms and the integrated application of physicochemical principles. Technological and cultural scientific problems—such as environmental pollution, energy resources and conservation of natural resources—are explored, along with material in astronomy, geology, chemistry and physics.

Bachelor of Science recipients are certified by the American Chemical Society as having met that society’s high standards for an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

Arcadia’s Chemistry programs provide a working knowledge of the concepts that underlie chemical and physical phenomena. Each course develops the ability to solve real scientific problems quantitatively using structural models, mechanisms and the integrated application of physicochemical principles. Technological and cultural scientific problems—such as environmental pollution, energy resources and conservation of natural resources—are explored, along with material in astronomy, geology, chemistry and physics.

Bachelor of Science recipients are certified by the American Chemical Society as having met that society’s high standards for an undergraduate degree in chemistry.

• Nurturing and small classroom environment
• Close interaction with and mentorship by faculty inside and outside of classrooms
• A diverse range of applied and research capstone projects
• Rich opportunities for faculty-student research
• Various undergraduate conference and programming contest opportunities, all 100% funded and sponsored by the department
• Engaging computer science club activities
• Opportunities to study abroad at universities around the world - not only is tuition the same as in Glenside, but you can take your scholarships with you

Arcadia University’s programs in Computer Science cover a wide spectrum of areas within the field of computing, including artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, mobile computing, networking, and theoretical computation. We offer both a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in computer science. Our courses provide a solid foundation in the principles and practices of computing and prepare students for successful careers and ongoing graduate studies in computer science.

• Nurturing and small classroom environment
• Close interaction with and mentorship by faculty inside and outside of classrooms
• A diverse range of applied and research capstone projects
• Rich opportunities for faculty-student research
• Various undergraduate conference and programming contest opportunities, all 100% funded and sponsored by the department”
• Engaging computer science club activities
• Opportunities to study abroad at some of the top universities around the world - not only is tuition the same as in Glenside, but you can take your scholarships with you

Arcadia University’s Computing Technology program combines a strong foundation in computing with fine arts skills. We work closely with the Department of Art and Design and offer the Bachelor of Arts in computing technology. Students explore a wide spectrum of areas within the field of computing, including web client-/server-side development, artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, mobile computing, networking, and theoretical computation. Additionally, within the field of fine arts, students gain knowledge in art foundations, digital imaging, graphics design, and 3D printing. Our courses provide a solid foundation in both computing and arts and prepare students for successful careers in web and mobile development and user interface design. 

This specialized major is specifically designed for students in the Optometry combined program and is ranted only after acceptance into Salus University after three years at Arcadia, and completion of a year’s work at that institution.  Students in this program should consider planning their coursework so that a conventional major, probably in either chemistry or biology, might alternatively be completed by spending a fourth year at Arcadia.

Mathematics at Arcadia University is part of a combined department in Computer Science and Mathematics. Our mathematics programs are designed to help students develop problem-solving skills as well as the theoretical insight needed both for applications and graduate study. Courses use state-of-the-art technology including graphing calculators, smart boards, Amazon Web Services cloud computing, programming tools such as Python, and statistical software such as SPSS, SAS, and R. Mathematics majors often minor in areas such as bioinformatics, computer science, or secondary education and many take advantage of our 3+2 engineering programs with the University of Pittsburgh and Washington University. Our recent graduates are actuaries, secondary teachers, biostatisticians, SAS programmers and graduate students in mathematics, statistics, and business. See the Careers tab for more information on job prospects after graduation.

The demand for professionals in the Sport Management field is increasing. Career opportunities in the field include working with professional teams and leagues, college athletic departments, conference offices, international amateur associations, public/private and recreational agencies, club and facility management marketing and event promotion, sports clothing and more.

Arcadia's Early Entry Master's Program enables students to complete their undergraduate and graduate work in just five years.  It provides an accelerated pathway for students to begin master's coursework while finishing their undergraduate degree, saving valuable money and time.

Arcadia students in any major may apply and become provisionally accepted in their junior year to the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Early Entry Master’s Program before completing their Bachelor's degree. Students may take up to three graduate ABA courses during their senior year. Students who meet the admission requirements are assured admission into the ABA Early Entry Master's Program at the start of their senior year.

Our curriculum is unique in that it covers a variety of specialties, unlike other graduate programs that require a commitment to a single field of study, making for more wellrounded forensic practitioners. The curriculum involves classroom and laboratory exposure to the field of criminalistics including forensic biology, chemistry and trace analysis as well as forensic toxicology. Coursework emphasizing the development of problemsolving abilities is designed to encourage a concentration in these forensic science specialty areas and expose students to both relevant laboratory techniques and relevant medico-legal developments. 

This program enables teachers, administrators, and other formal and non-formal educators at all grade levels to enact meaningful mathematics teaching and learning in all possible learning environments. Interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary approaches are used to support rich mathematical investigations and to implement challenging curricular structures that exceed state and local standards and objectives.

The program is suitable for elementary, middle and high school teachers and administrators who want to specialize in mathematics education, those who work in educational agencies and curriculum development, community college instructors, and others who are interested in the best mathematics education practices for all students.

Modular Master’s in Education degree program focuses on educational processes in either general education or specialized areas. The foundations courses provide knowledge basic to all aspects of education. The culminating project provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their expertise on a particular topic and apply their learning across the courses in their program towards real-world issues and problems.

In consultation with a faculty member, students design a Modular Master program that fits their individual needs by combining two  Certificate modules , along with  two foundations courses and a culminating experience, For example, a student interested in the education of inner-city children whose first language is not English might choose to combine certificate modules in ESL and Urban Education for a Modular Master’s Degree.

Data Science is a dynamic and rapidly changing field where new approaches, content and techniques for manipulating data are constantly being introduced. It uses tools from Computer Science and Statistics to analyze large amounts of raw data to discover patterns, relationships and insights, and inform decisions in multiple industries, domains and contexts. 

Both Arcadia University’s B.A. and B.S. programs in Data Science provide a solid foundation in the principles and practices of data science and prepare students for successful careers in the field. With its fewer number of mathematics and other required courses, the B.A. program provides the opportunity for students to add minors or even a second major in another field.  The more extensive B.S. program prepares students to pursue data science jobs in the industry as well as graduate studies in data science. Both programs include opportunities to select major electives from a number of disciplines where students can enhance their skills in the application of data science tools and techniques to a specific domain.

The Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Culture provides a foundation for those who want to function effectively in careers with both domestic and international organizations.

The program combines liberal arts, business, language, and international study. In addition, the degree in International Business and Culture can be completed in three years, giving you an opportunity to start one year earlier on your post-graduate career, enrichment, or study plans.