Majors, Minors & Programs
ACTUARIAL SCIENCE MINOR
By taking the five courses in the Actuarial Science minor, students prepare for three Society of Actuaries (SOA) exams - Probability, Financial Mathematics, and Investment and Financial Markets. Students who take beginning accounting and management courses and who pass two or three SOA exams including Probability, are professionally qualified for entry-level positions as actuaries. The actuarial field combines the disciplines of business, probability, and risk assessment to provide preparation for leadership positions at insurance and financial management companies.
Through a student-centered approach to learning, Biochemistry majors at York College prepare to enter the field as trained chemists or pursue further education backed by internships and research experience. You’ll be ready to tackle your career prospects in one of the top regions for employers in the biochemical and biomedical industries.
The department's overall mission is to provide students with a solid and rigorous foundation in biology. Attempting to find order in life through comparisons and classifications, the biologist examines the underlying principles involved in energy transformation, evolutionary mechanisms, and regulatory forces.
A degree in Biology opens up career possibilities in a wide range of industries: laboratory research, healthcare, environmental conservation, and more. At York College, our bachelor of science in Biology serves as an opportunity for you to explore your options with guidance from faculty experts—whether you come in knowing exactly which branch of biology interests you, or need some time to figure it out.
YCP Biology classes go beyond the textbook. Every class in the major includes hands-on research, with access to state-of-the-art lab facilities right here on campus. Our students tackle real-world issues and make real contributions to science. Many have presented their findings at regional and national conferences.
The Biology minor provides students with the opportunity to explore the multidisciplinary study of biological systems from molecular to ecological principles. This minor opens up career possibilities in a wide range of industries: laboratory research, healthcare, environmental conservation, and more.
York College of Pennsylvania’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Cannabis Chemistry degree program provides specialized education in the extraction and purification of plant products as specialized training for careers in the cannabis industry, plant chemistry, and various environmental applications.
Our students master the basic chemistry principles while learning to think and discover new concepts. Access to advanced laboratories and instruments, along with the guidance of our experienced faculty, means our graduates have the tools they need to become the next generation of chemistry leaders.
The Associate of Science in Chemistry major will introduce students to foundational chemistry techniques, through close student/faculty engagement and hands-on experimentation. The program is ideal for students looking for broad exposure to basic chemistry concepts without in-depth knowledge or experience.
The minor in Chemistry provides a foundation in general chemical principles, organic chemistry, and analytical chemistry. It complements many majors and enhances career opportunities in education, business, and industry.
The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Civil Engineering degree program at York College of Pennsylvania is the first step in a career with a meaningful daily impact on the everyday lives of people across the globe. Position yourself at the forefront of creating and maintaining the physical frameworks of our communities, such as roads, bridges, airports, tunnels, dams, and essential water and sanitation systems.
Our bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering offers a broad-based education and a built-in one year co-op work experience to prepare you for work in any aspect of civil or environmental engineering. Coursework emphasizes sustainable engineering and design practices, ensuring that graduates are ready to contribute to in-demand roles now and in the future.
Computer engineers draw upon mathematics, science and computer science to design computer or microprocessor-controlled devices, systems, and processes. At York College, we focus on embedded systems, which are customized, standalone systems under computer/microprocessor control. You’ll get to work right away with a first-year design project — learning by doing is how we approach education.
At York College, you’ll get intensive training in common programming languages including C/C++, Java, Python, Scheme and several others. Our program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, built on nationally-recognized standards, will give you all the experience, knowledge, and problem-solving skills to confidently apply for careers in the technical or scientific fields of computer science.
A minor in Criminalistics allows students to explore a variety of areas of forensic science. Proper investigation, evidence collection, and scientific analysis are stressed. Laboratory courses provide students with a hands-on learning experience.
The five courses of the Data Sciences minor augment a technical degree in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Engineering. They cultivate skill development in advanced analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, mathematics, and statistics. The formal application of these technical skills allows one to uncover insights hidden in an organization’s data and more soundly guide decision-making and strategic planning.
Electrical engineers use mathematics and science to design devices, systems, and processes. They work in every industrial and technological sector — including power generation, manufacturing, robotics, smart grids, and renewable energy.
The Appell Environmental Horticulture Program (Bachelor of Science) at York College of Pennsylvania immerses students in the science and the business of growing and using plants while responsibly caring for the world’s soil, air, and water resources.
Environmental science focuses on the ways humans interact with their environment, and how that interaction affects the world around us. The role of the environmental scientist is to use scientific knowledge to address issues in agriculture, forestry, environmental policy, sustainability, and public health initiatives — just to name a few.
As you earn your degree in Environmental Science from York College, you’ll develop a fundamental understanding of all the basic sciences: biology, ecology, chemistry, and physics. With a stream running through campus; local access to lakes, wetlands, fields, and forests; and state-of-the-art equipment in the Naylor Ecological Sciences Center, you’ll get hands-on experience with projects in both the lab and the real world.
The criminal justice field involves more than police officers and lawyers. Forensic chemists also play an important role in investigations. They specialize in analyzing evidence, and they use scientific processes to draw conclusions about a crime.
York College’s Mathematics graduates are entering a diverse and growing career field. Whether you want to guide younger generations in understanding math through teaching or you hope to discover new tools in technology and science, the Mathematics program at York College can prepare you.
By completing the mathematics minor, you will enhance your mathematics aptitude and expand your mathematics experience, and thereby position yourself to undertake a wider array of front-line creative endeavors in your field.
Students in York College of Pennsylvania’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Mechanical Engineering degree program learn by doing, starting their first year. Mechanical Engineering majors gain fantastic real-world experience and even income through a three-semester co-op program with top employers locally and nationally.
Our Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degree guides students seeking entry-level mechanical engineering careers and provides a path to advance to higher positions or further education in a range of engineering disciplines.
If you aspire to pursue a career in medicine, this premed major program offers a comprehensive education in the essential sciences and the foundation necessary for the rigors of medical school, dental school, PA school, pharmacy school, and more.