Explore IU Indianapolis degrees and career opportunities
As a University College student, you're preparing for entry into a degree-granting program.
Whether you're a pre-major or Exploratory student, you'll benefit from advising and career guidance from our specialized support teams. The broad range of IU Indy's academic offerings paired with this support ensure that, when you start in University College, you'll succeed everywhere.
Search and filter the majors tool below to discover the available opportunities and to understand your program's admission requirements.
Mix it up
Explore minors and certificates, additional credentials you can add to your degree. Ready to declare, add to, or change your major?
O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Sustainability Practices and Policy
If you have a passion for conserving the environment, this may be the major for you. Learn to lead and manage sustainability efforts in government, nonprofits, and businesses.
Business and Leadership
(BL)
Investigative
Enterprising
Artistic
As a sustainability practices and policy student, you’ll come to understand public affairs, finance, the development and implementation of policies, civic engagement, environmental justice, and green technologies. You'll also learn to identify problems, address sustainability issues, and bring real change to communities and companies. Throughout your academic journey, this major will grow your strategic planning, critical thinking, leadership, and research skills.
Employment of environmental scientists and specialists is projected to grow 4% from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 8,500 openings for environmental scientists and specialists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025).
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in sustainability studies reported the following graduation outcomes to the National Association of Colleges and Employers:
63.0% employed
12.8% enrolled in continuing education (e.g. graduate school)
20.8% seeking employment
According to the IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2024, the average salary for O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs graduates was $49,440, and the median salary was $43,000.
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in sustainability studies reported a mean starting salary of $51,669 (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
The national median annual salary for environmental scientists and specialists was $80,060 in 2024 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Sustainability management majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
Environmental science
Law
Public administration (M.P.A.)
Public health
Quick facts
Sample coursework
Environmental justice
Leadership and ethics
Natural resources and environmental policy
Renewable energy technologies
Sustainable lifecycles
Sustainable management
Possible careers
Community outreach marketer
Environmental attorney*
Green entrepreneur
Nonprofit manager
Sustainability coordinator
Urban planner
*This career requires additional training or education.
Where could I work?
August Mack
Government agencies
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
Keter Environmental
Profit and nonprofit businesses
Admission requirements
Admission by certification
Declare an O'Neill major
Be in good academic standing, which requires the following:
Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above
Prior term GPA of 2.0 or above
Note: If a student has completed 12 hours toward the O'Neill major, they also need a C+ average in those courses.
O’Neill’s career services office is designed to help you build your job-search skills and find full-time employment or an internship. They can also help you connect with alumni!
Explore the benefits of working on campus! Learn valuable skills and be paid to do it.
Your specialized support team
Business and Leadership
The BL cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in business, leadership, event management, hospitality, philanthropy, public and environmental policy, sports management, and tourism.
Imagine a major that opens doors to a dynamic career at the crossroads of travel, sustainability, arts, culture, and destination marketing. With world-class museums, cultural hotspots, and sports facilities right outside your door—plus one of the continent's top-ranking airports—your journey into tourism is just beginning.
Business and Leadership
(BL)
Enterprising
Social
Conventional
At IU Indianapolis, you can turn your passion for exploration into a fulfilling career that shapes the industry with innovative and sustainable practices. Experience an education that seamlessly blends in-class theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, teaching you about the economic and social impacts of tourism and how to craft compelling strategies to draw visitors to vibrant destinations and attractions. When you pursue this major, you'll also complete a general business certificate as part of the degree. By studying tourism at IU Indianapolis, you’ll learn through experiences with industry leaders, whose work contributes to $1.26 billion in tax receipts annually, with $725 million benefiting the Indy community. You'll earn credit for some of those experiences and/or for prior industry work. Tourism is a global economic powerhouse, and whether you’re in Indiana or halfway around the world, Indy is the place to be!
Employment of meeting, convention, and event planners is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. About 15,500 openings for meeting, convention, and event planners are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire ( Occupational Outlook Handbook , 2025).
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in hospitality administration/management (all types) reported the following graduation outcomes to the National Association of Colleges and Employers:
78.1% employed
9.1% enrolled in continuing education (e.g. graduate school)
9.9% seeking employment
According to the IUPUI (now called IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2024, the average starting salary for IU School of Health and Human Sciences graduates was $46,351, and the median salary was $44,500.
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in hospitality administration/management (all types) reported a mean starting salary of $49,749 (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
The median annual salary for meeting, convention, and event planners was $59,440 in 2024 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Graduates in tourism, conventions, and event management often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
To join the mailing list for TCEM’s weekly newsletter, featuring “just-in-time” opportunities for involvement and work experiences, contact Amy Vaughan.
Explore the benefits of working on campus! Learn valuable skills and be paid to do it.
Your specialized support team
Business and Leadership
The BL cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in business, leadership, event management, hospitality, philanthropy, public and environmental policy, sports management, and tourism.
Combine communication and technology with art and business through this degree program. Learn how to effectively identify and solve meaningful problems using creativity and critical thinking. This program will prepare you to become a design leader who uses innovative thinking to improve the quality of business, government, and everyday life.
Arts, Sciences, and Technology
(AST)
Artistic
Enterprising
Social
In this program, you'll discuss relevant theories and undertake real-world practical projects; invent beautiful and intelligent design concepts that engage, provoke, and inspire; and gain valuable experience working collaboratively with artists, designers, writers, research experts, business strategists, and clients in our local and national communities.
Employment of graphic designers is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 20,000 openings for graphic designers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025).
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in graphic communications programs reported the following graduation outcomes to the National Association of Colleges and Employers:
53.8% employed
7.3% enrolled in continuing education (e.g. graduate school)
30.8% seeking employment
According to the IU Indianapolis First Destination Survey in 2024, the average starting salary for graduates from the Herron School of Art and Design was $40,937, and the median was $40,000.
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in graphic communications programs reported a mean starting salary of $47,004 (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
The national median annual salary for graphic designers was $61,300 in 2024 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
Visual communication design majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
Art history
Art therapy
Arts administration
Fine arts
Graphic arts
Museum studies
Quick facts
Sample coursework
Design methods for innovation
Drawing
Elements and principles
History of visual communication
Studio art and technology
Studio elective
Typography
Possible careers
Advertising executive*
Creative/art director
Digital artist
Exhibit designer
Graphic/website designer
Production designer
*This career requires additional training or education.
Herron's study abroad programs are a powerful way to discover the historical impact of art and design in the world and over time while making memorable friendships.
Explore the benefits of working on campus! Learn valuable skills and be paid to do it.
Your specialized support team
Arts, Sciences, and Technology
The AST cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in education, music, art and design, computing, social work, informatics, liberal arts, math, public safety, science, and technology.
Globalization has led to rapid changes in our economy, culture, laws, technology, and education. Help students adjust to these changes and become culturally competent by becoming a world language teacher.
Arts, Sciences, and Technology
(AST)
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
The IU Indianapolis Bachelor of Science in Education and World Languages degree combines an extensive foreign language study with a foundation in education theory and instructional methodologies. The early urban school field experiences help teacher candidates recognize how multilingualism and language development are influenced by social, cultural, and geopolitical contexts. This degree is for students interested in completing a major in a foreign language and a teaching license in Spanish or American Sign Language. It aims to meet the requirements recommended for Indiana's secondary education teaching license.
Employment of interpreters and translators is projected to grow 2% from 2024 to 2034, slower than the average for all occupations. Despite limited employment growth, about 6,900 openings for interpreters and translators are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire ( Occupational Outlook Handbook , 2025).
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in education (all types) reported the following graduation outcomes to the National Association of Colleges and Employers:
56.9% employed
32.9% enrolled in continuing education (e.g. graduate school)
4.4% seeking employment
According to the IUPUI (now IU Indianapolis) First Destination Survey in 2024, the average salary for IU School of Education graduates was $49,750, and the median salary was $50,000.
Class of 2024 nationwide bachelor's degree graduates in education (all types) reported a mean starting salary of $45,008 (National Association of Colleges and Employers).
The national median annual salary for interpreters and translators was $59,440 in 2024 ( Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).
(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)
World languages and cultures majors often pursue advanced degrees in the following areas:
Business management
Communications
Education
English as a second language
International affairs
Journalism
Linguistics
Political science
World language literature
Quick facts
Sample coursework
Immersion abroad experience
Islam, gender, and conflicts
Translation studies
World cultures through language
World language
World literature
Possible careers
Communications specialist
International student services
Legal analyst
Nonprofit program coordinator
Paralegal*
Translator/interpreter
*This career requires additional training or education.
Where could I work?
Business development
Community and social services
Nonprofit organizations
Religious ministries
Social work
State of Indiana
Admission requirements
Admission by certification
Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
Complete 12 credit hours successfully
Note: If you are ready to apply for the TEP/Blocks, complete the application by the designated date each semester (see School of Education website for more information).
Students interested in education tend to be a passionate bunch. We're home to a number of student organizations dedicated to different facets of teaching and education.
You can add to your built-in student teaching experience through community engagement. From service projects to conferences, you get a head start on lifelong learning.
Undergraduate research experiences help you develop important problem-solving skills and experience for your future career. Gaining research experience can be particularly helpful if you’re interested in clinical laboratory science or cytotechnology.
Your specialized support team
Arts, Sciences, and Technology
The AST cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in education, music, art and design, computing, social work, informatics, liberal arts, math, public safety, science, and technology.
