Academics

Browse Programs by Majors and Minors

Accounting - (COB) focuses on developing analytical, communication and information systems skills.

Actuarial Science - (LAS) use of mathematics, statistics and financial theory to estimate risk, primarily in the insurance and financial security industries.

Actuarial Science/Management - (LAS) five-year combined BS and MBA.

Advertising (CCOM)

All-Grade Education (K-12)  (COE)

  • Music Education
  • Physical Education/Health

Anthropology - (LAS) understanding of similarities and differences in human cultures, past and present, on a global scale.

Art - (JCA) unique, cutting-edge program focusing on the integration of Art and Design, combining studio practice and digital design within a broad liberal arts education. The principles of the program present a radical vision of integration, ingenuity, sustainability and community.

Arts Administration - (JCA) focuses on a combination of skills and education in a specific arts discipline (general arts, dance, music or theatre) and a strong concentration of study in business, public relations and advertising. The program also includes instruction in the specifics of arts management, including fundraising, audience development, organizational structure and personnel management. Four different Arts Administration degrees are available depending on students' area of interest.

Astronomy (LAS) (minor only)

Biology - (LAS) the study of living things; both plant and animal.

Biomedical Engineering (LAS) (see Engineering Dual Degree Program)

Business (COB) (search by College of Business or see Exploratory Studies)

Chemistry - (LAS) study of the composition, properties and changes of substances.

Chinese (LAS) (minor only)

Classical Studies - (LAS)

Communication - Communication Sciences & Disorders (CCOM) - scientific study of speech and hearing science, speech and language development and communicative disorders.

Communication - Communication Studies (CCOM)- study of the process and effects of oral communication with particular focus on Organizational Communication & Leadership. Students explore the functions and nature of communication within organizations. 

Communication - Journalism (CCOM) - includes online, print and broadcast journalism. Use of Indianapolis as a reporting laboratory, including issues of importance to the city.

Communication - Integrated Communications: Public Relations and Advertising  (CCOM) - addresses the rapidly expanding international market for coordinated strategic business communications.

Communication - Public Relations  (CCOM) - theory and ethics of public relations, researching, planning, monitoring and evaluating public relations projects and campaigns and applying campaign methods to solve specific client problems. 

Communication - Digital Media Production (CCOM) - explores the production of CD, DVD, Web sites and interactive media from concept to completion.

Communication - Recording Industry Studies (CCOM) - students with a passion for music and audio transform their talents and dreams into marketable skills. 

Composition (JCA) (see Music)

Computer Engineering (LAS) (see Engineering Dual Degree Program)

Computer Science - (LAS) study of computer-based systems.

Criminal Justice (LAS) (see Sociology)

Dance (JCA) - a national dance program, with central focus on classical ballet that offers the serious dance student professional-level training with a broad approach to liberal arts education. The program offers versatility in other techniques such as Modern and Jazz Techniques. Butler Ballet and Butler Chamber Dance are the performance components of the programs, offering students extensive pre-professional opportunities. Butler Ballet performs full-length classical story ballets and diverse programs with original contemporary works. Butler Chamber Dance is an ensemble offering students performance opportunities in creative works, directed by dance faculty. Majors are available in

  • Pedagogy - Bachelor of Arts (BA)
  • Performance - Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
  • Arts Administration - Dance

Early Childhood Education (COE) (see Elementary Education)

Economics - (COB) study of how societies allocate their limited resources among competing uses. Provides a foundation for the study of specialized business disciplines, such as accounting and marketing, and aids in choosing good government policies.

Education (COE)

  • All Grade
  • Elementary Education
  • Exploratory Studies: Education
  • Middle/Secondary Education

Electrical Engineering (LAS) (see Engineering Dual Degree Program)

Electronic Journalism (CCOM)

Electronic Media (CCOM)

Elementary Education - (COE) prepares students for teaching and instructional leadership in elementary schools. By completing the program requirements, early and middle childhood education majors also meet state licensing course requirements for licensure in early childhood (beginning with kindergarten) and middle childhood settings. Includes concentrations in

  • Special Education
  • Reading Teacher

Engineering Dual Degree Program - (LAS) students earn degrees from both Butler University and Purdue University. Students earn a Bachelor of Science degree from Butler with a major in: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics or Science, Technology & Society. Additionally, students receive degrees from the Purdue School of Engineering (Indianapolis campus) in one of the following:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

English - (LAS) study of the fundamental importance of language and literature in the development of identity, community and culture. A degree in English offers two tracks:

  • Literature
  • Writing

Exploratory Studies - major for undecided students affiliated with select colleges, interested in actively investigating all their options

  • General - program for undecided students interested in investigating majors from all the colleges before choosing a specialty. More information.
  • Natural Sciences - program for undecided students interested in investigating majors within the sciences. More information.
  • Business - program for undecided students interested in investigating all areas of business before choosing a specialty. More information.
  • Education - program for undecided students interested in investigating all areas of education before choosing a specialty. More information.
  • Communication - program for undecided students interested in investigating all areas of communication before choosing a specialty. More information.

Finance - (COB) the art and the science of managing money.

Foreign Languages (LAS)

French - (LAS) study of French language and cultures.

Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies - (LAS) offers students a unique opportunity to question and challenge the power structures that perpetuate privilege and inequality.

Generalist (see Exploratory Studies)

German - (LAS) study of German language and cultures.

Health (COE) (see Education - All-Grade K-12 / Physical Education/Health)

History - (LAS) explores the development of American, European and non-Western societies.

Instrumental Performance (JCA) (see Music)

Integrated Communication - Public Relations and Advertising (see Journalism)

International Business - (COB) prepares students to function in the increasing global marketplace by understanding other cultures and responding to the issues that impact the domestic and world economy.

International Studies - (LAS) study of the diversity, complexity and interdependence of the world community to understand and analyze world problems and issues.

Jazz Studies (JCA) (see Music)

Journalism - (CCOM) includes online, print and broadcast journalism through experiential learning in a variety of award-winning student media outlets. Use of Indianapolis as a reporting laboratory, including issues of importance to the city.

Literature (LAS) (see English)

Lyric Theatre (JCA) (see Music)

Management Information Systems - (COB) focuses on how managers use information and technology to help organizations achieve goals.

Marketing - (COB) the business of promoting sales of a product or service through means such as promotion, pricing, packaging, channels of distribution and public relations.

Mathematics - (LAS) study of quantities and relations through the use of numbers and symbols.

Mechanical Engineering (see Engineering Dual Degree Program)

Middle and Secondary Education - (COE)- enables students to combine the strength of in-depth preparation in an academic content area with the professional teacher education skills necessary for success in the classroom. Extensive clinical experiences are provided prior to student teaching in a variety of school settings. Content areas include:
  • English
  • Foreign Languages: French, German, Spanish
  • Mathematics
  • Science: Life Sciences/Biology, Chemistry, Physics
  • Social Studies

Multimedia Studies (CCOM)

Music (see also Arts Administration - Music) (JCA)

  • Composition
  • Jazz Studies
  • Lyric Theatre
  • Music Education
  • Instrumental Performance
  • Voice Performance

Music Composition (JCA)

Music Education (JCA) (see Education - All-Grade K-12 and Music): prepares students to teach music to all grade levels K-12.

Music Performance  (JCA)

Natural Sciences - Exploratory Studies (see Exploratory Studies)

News Editorial (CCOM)

Peace and Conflict Studies - (LAS) seeks to promote a critical understanding of the nature and dynamics of violent conflict and the conditions and practice of peace.

Pedagogy (JCA) (see Dance and Music)

Performance (JCA) (see Dance and Music)

Pharmacy (COPHS)

Philosophy - (LAS) rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge or conduct.

Physical Education/Health (see All-Grade K-12 Education) - (COE) prepares students interested in working as health and physical education teachers, fitness instructors, personal trainers, recreational leaders and coaches. Candidates will be eligible for the K-12 Indiana teacher license and will also be eligible to sit for ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) exams, as well as fitness, strength and conditioning exams through other organizations.

Physician Assistant (COPHS)

Physics - (LAS) seeks to understand the rules of nature that govern the universe.

Piano Pedagogy (JCA) (see Music)

Political Science - (LAS) theory and practice of politics, and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior.

Pre-Dentistry (pre-professional program)

Pre-Law (pre-professional program)

Pre-Medicine (pre-professional program)

Pre-Optometry (pre-professional program)

Pre-Pharmacy - (COPHS) Two-year pre-professional phase with automatic entry into the four-year professional PharmD program. (Must apply by November 15 for consideration.)

Pre-Physical Therapy (pre-professional program)

Pre-Physician Assistant - (COPHS) Two-year pre-professional phase in order to apply for the three-year dual bachelors/masters degree program.

Pre-Seminary (pre-professional program)

Pre-Veterinary Medicine (pre-professional program)

Psychology - (LAS) science that studies human and animal behavior.

Public Relations (CCOM)

Reading Teacher (COE) (see Elementary Education)

Recording Industry Studies (CCOM)

Religion - (LAS) study of various religious traditions and literature and examinations of the nature of religion.

Risk Management and Insurance - (COB) study of the effect of risks on individuals and organizations and how to properly evaluate and devise a plan for addressing risks with insurance and the various tools available to the modern risk manager.

Science, Technology and Society - (LAS) studies the ways in which science and technology influence and are influenced by the society of which they are a part.

Sciences  (LAS) (Life Sciences/Biology, Chemistry, Physics - see Middle/Secondary Education)

Secondary Education (COE) (see Middle/Secondary Education

Social Studies (COE) (see Middle/Secondary Education)

Social Work and Social Policy (LAS) (see Sociology)

Sociology - (LAS) study of social life, social life change and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. In addition to the broad Sociology Major, the program also houses the following majors:

  • Criminology - the study of crime and criminals.
  • Criminology and Psychology - combined degree including elements of both studies.
  • Sociology and Criminology - combined degree offering elements of both studies.
  • Social Work - concentration within sociology that offers the student practical oriented courses in social work in addition to other more theoretically oriented classes.
  • Sociology and Criminal Justice (see Sociology)

Software Engineering - (LAS) disciplined methodology for developing high quality software systems.

Spanish - (LAS) study of Spanish language and cultures.

Special Education (COE) (see Elementary Education)

Speech and Language Pathology (CCOM) (see Communication Sciences & Disorders)

Social Work and Psychology - (LAS) combined degree offering elements of both studies.

Theatre (JCA) - offers a unique and rigorous theatre training and education within a broad liberal arts curriculum. The faculty of international professionals and guest artists foster learning through original productions, intensive workshops, innovative coursework and close mentoring. Theatre students often study abroad, become involved in the local artistic community, and devise original performance work.

Undecided (see Exploratory Studies)

Writing (LAS) (see English)