New majors, minors expand opportunities for students

Tulane University students have more ways than ever to shape their academic paths this fall, with new majors, minors and interdisciplinary offerings available for the 2026-27 academic year.

The additions span disciplines from accounting, education and artificial intelligence to health policy, nutrition and creative writing. Several represent entirely new areas of study, while others expand existing programs in a vast array of fields.

"Tulane is continually strengthened by the creativity and ambition of our faculty," said Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robin Forman. "These new offerings reflect our commitment to creating programs that excite the interests of our students. Building on the renowned expertise of our faculty, our evolving curriculum is designed to prepare Tulane graduates for dynamic and rewarding opportunities no matter where their interests take them."

Among the new offerings for the current academic year is a chemical engineering minor through the School of Science and Engineering. The minor introduces students to the principles used to develop safe, efficient and sustainable ways to produce energy, food, medicines and other essential products. It provides a foundation for students interested in fields ranging from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to renewable energy and environmental protection.

In addition, Tulane is introducing a 15-credit-hour AI Literacy minor designed for students across majors who want a fuller understanding and working knowledge of the potential, promise and possible pitfalls of an AI-powered world. The interdisciplinary program covers how AI works and its ethical, social, environmental, cultural and global implications, as well as the practical problem-solving capacity of current AI technologies and models. This program of study differs from Tulane's more technical Artificial Intelligence minor, which focuses more deeply on the algorithmic and computer science foundations of AI.

The A. B. Freeman School of Business has also expanded its undergraduate options. Accounting has returned as a major after previously being offered at the school, while a new Freeman Business minor gives non-business students an opportunity to incorporate business education into their undergraduate studies.

Two new majors at the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine reflect growing interest in the factors that shape individual and population health. The Health Policy and Management major focuses on the policies, systems and organizations that influence health and healthcare, while the Nutrition Science major explores the role of nutrition in health and disease.

The School of Liberal Arts is adding a Comparative Literature major and minor, providing students with an opportunity to study literature across cultures, languages and disciplines. The school is also introducing a Creative Writing minor for students interested in developing their work in fiction, poetry and other forms of creative expression.

Changes at the School of Professional Advancement include the return of the Paralegal Studies program and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies. In addition, SoPA is now offering standalone elementary and secondary education majors. Previously, elementary and secondary education were coordinate majors and could not be completed without an accompanying primary major.

Together, the new offerings reflect the university's ongoing efforts to respond to emerging fields, student interests and changing professional opportunities while giving undergraduates greater flexibility in designing their Tulane education.

Tulane is also expanding its graduate offerings across several schools, with new programs spanning health and biomedical sciences, data analytics, environmental studies, social sciences and the built environment.

New master's programs include Data Modeling and Analytics for Health and Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences through the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine; Biomedical Sciences and Philosophy and Bioethics through the School of Medicine; Psychological Science and Earth and Environmental Sciences through the School of Science and Engineering; Sociology through the School of Liberal Arts; and Sport Administration through the School of Professional Advancement. Several programs, including Psychological Science, Philosophy and Bioethics, and Earth and Environmental Sciences, offer accelerated 4+1 pathways that allow eligible undergraduates to begin graduate-level study while completing their bachelor's degrees.

Other additions include new doctoral opportunities in sociology and biomedical sciences, including a Biomedical Informatics concentration, as well as graduate certificates in Sustainable Urbanism and Publicly Engaged Scholarship. The A. B. Freeman School of Business has also updated existing graduate offerings, including renaming its Master of Business Analytics program to Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence to reflect the growing role of AI in the field.