As another academic year begins, Willamette University continues to grow its programs to meet the changing needs of the Pacific Northwest and the world. With new majors, minors, and degrees launching at the undergraduate and graduate level, students will have even more opportunities to follow their passions, pursue their career goals, and lead across fields.
These new programs are designed to prepare students for some of the most in-demand sectors of the economy, shaping the next generation of industry leaders for the region and beyond.
Master’s in Accounting & Finance degree provides a strong foundation in a changing economy
The traditional lines between accounting and finance are blurring. Increasingly, employers seek professionals who can navigate both disciplines and leverage technology to drive decisions. Starting this fall, Willamette’s new Master’s in Accounting & Finance will meet this demand head-on, equipping students to lead in this evolving and growing sector through an integrated curriculum, experiential learning opportunities, and a strong foundation in technology.
While many graduate programs limit students to either area, Willamette’s new program enables students to combine these two highly complementary fields. The degree can be completed in just one year, giving graduates a leg up in their job search and the flexibility to work and lead across sectors.
2D Animation minor builds visual storytelling skills in a center of animation excellence
Home to leading animation studios, creative businesses, and a thriving arts community, Portland is a haven for animators. At Willamette University's Pacific Northwest College of Art, students in the 2D Animation minor explore traditional and digital animation techniques while building storytelling, drawing, and motion design skills.
With the flexibility of a minor, students can 2D animation to their repertoire of skills — pairing specialized courses with work in illustration, graphic design, painting, filmmaking, comics, and many other disciplines.
AI minors give students a liberal arts approach to world-changing technologies
Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to computer science labs. It’s reshaping public policy, business, healthcare, and even art. Willamette has launched two new minors to help students build it and make sense of it. Designed to flexibly pair with any major, the programs offer two distinct approaches to AI for both technical and non-technical students.
The Engineering AI minor dives into the mechanics of building, evaluating, and improving AI systems — focusing on technical concepts like neural networks, computer vision, and software design. The Understanding AI minor examines how AI shapes society, tackling questions of ethics, the nature of intelligence, and the cultural impact of technology through coursework in subjects like philosophy, psychology, and linguistics.
Students interested in diving deeper can pursue both minors, gaining a comprehensive understanding of both the “how” and the “why” of AI.
Students gain real-world investment opportunities with Finance minor
Students looking to make an impact in the world of finance will find a place in the new Finance minor. Students will explore topics like accounting principles, investments, managerial finance, and valuation while building a strong foundation in financial decision-making.
Hands-on learning is at the heart of the minor. Students will have access to an undergraduate investment fund course, similar to the popular investment courses taken by MBA students at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management. In this course, theory becomes practice as students manage real investments with real money.
Industrial Engineering major trains students to reinvent systems
It’s one of the most in-demand engineering careers in the country, and it starts with an interdisciplinary education that blends engineering, math, and the social sciences.
In Willamette’s Industrial Engineering major, students learn how to design and optimize systems, evaluate output, and analyze human impact. In a liberal arts environment, they'll build skills across engineering, data, and the social sciences, preparing them to create systems that work.
Willamette alums working in the field have found successful careers reengineering industrial processes to create sweet treats at Tillamook creamery, testing safer and more environmentally-friendly aircraft at Boeing, and more.
