If you’re concerned about math requirements keeping you from pursuing your bachelors degree, then you may be interested in one of the many degrees that don’t require math or only require everyday math proficiency.
Requirements vary by school, but students pursuing a liberal arts major can often fulfill general education requirements without needing to take an algebra or calculus course. For example, it may be enough to pass a math placement test or a Math CLEP exam.
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In other cases, schools may offer a math pathway for liberal arts students requiring passage of only one math course, such as Business Math or Math for the Liberal Arts.
Online Degrees That Don’t Require Math
When you’re thinking about college degrees without math, psychology and history may come to mind, but there are actually many degrees you can choose from. The list below certainly isn’t exhaustive, but it’s a reminder that you can find many majors out there that, unlike an online math degree, don’t require much math.
Select the program that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:
- Anthropology
- Communications
- Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Education
- English
- Foreign Language
- Graphic Design
- Health Science
- History
- Homeland Security
- Human Services
- Liberal Arts
- Management
- Music
- Occupational Therapy
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
You can explore these programs to see which ones best match your interests and goals.
Bachelor’s in Anthropology
While science drives discovery and innovation, some things, like human nature, don’t change that much. In an anthropology major, you can learn a lot about universal aspects of human culture and human social organization.
Anthropologists study what makes humans tick, and you might be able to leverage these insights in the job world. Anthropology usually includes 2 main branches.
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The first is the study of human history as traced through skeletal remains and cultural artifacts. The second is cultural and comparative anthropology, which is the study of human social structures and cultural mores.
As an anthropologist, you may find work in education, in museum curation, in religion, in organizational psychology and leadership, or in international development. You may also collaborate with other specialists working in economics, public policy, advertising, philosophy, drama, or scriptwriting.
Bachelor’s in Communications
Communications just may be one of the most popular majors that doesn’t require a lot of math. The study of communications will help you develop communication skills in a range of mediums—such as verbal, digital, written, and visual—for applications in any number of influential channels.
These channels may include public speaking, journalism, book writing, public relations, marketing, and social media. In addition to extensive training in effective writing and speaking, you may learn about the social, cultural, and psychological dimensions of human communication and about practical communication strategies.
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Communications majors often go on to find work in journalism, publishing, education, or public relations and advertising.
Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice
Criminal justice majors learn about a number of intriguing areas of criminal law practice. This includes constitutional law, criminology and crime investigation methods, and public policy with regard to courts and prisons.
A bachelors in criminal justice may help you launch a career in federal, state, and local governmental agencies that handle law enforcement and criminal justice. Depending on the position, additional qualifications may be required.
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Because the criminal justice system includes law enforcement, criminal investigations, court systems, and correctional facilities, it’s a field with a range of job opportunities.
Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts
A culinary arts degree is a practical program that can teach you what you need to know about becoming a professional chef.
Along with essential cooking techniques, you can learn how to prepare a menu from scratch and incorporate different kinds of ingredients and cuisines, all while following sanitary standards. You can get to know about the more entrepreneurial side of the industry, too, through courses on kitchen management and the food supply chain.
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People who study the culinary arts may also go on to become restaurant managers, food critics, food stylists, or entrepreneurs.
Bachelor’s in Education
A bachelor’s in education may prepare you to work as a K-12 or preschool educator. Additional state-level certification or licensing steps are often required to fully qualify for these positions.
In your degree program, you may learn how to manage classrooms and how to design curriculum and assessments. You’ll also learn the fundamentals of child development and learn strategies for supporting students with special challenges.
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Your program should introduce you to education law, theories of education, and curriculum development. In early childhood and elementary education, teachers usually teach multiple subjects. Most high school teachers, on the other hand, have single-subject certification.
The subjects often taught in high school include language arts, history, psychology, government, economics, art, music, physical education, and foreign languages, among others.
Bachelor’s in English
A bachelor’s in English may help you gain strong communication skills along with a broad humanistic education.
If you love literature and writing and have a penchant for persuasive writing and philosophical thinking, this degree may be of interest to you. Your acquired humanistic knowledge and your developed strong verbal analysis and argumentation skills may help you succeed in a range of fields down the road.
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The kinds of jobs English majors go on to pursue vary immensely, but they often include the fields of education, communications and advertising, law, public policy, journalism, and ministry.
Bachelor’s in Foreign Language
An international perspective is crucial for many careers, and taking a bachelor’s degree in foreign language can give you in-depth exposure to other cultures.
You’ll usually specialize in a specific language. Aside from taking several language learning courses, you’ll also delve into the culture and literature behind that language. Some programs even offer internships or study abroad programs for better immersion. By the end of this degree, you could be fluent in your chosen language.
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A foreign language major is applicable for interpreters, translators, language teachers, diplomats, writers, or anyone interested in international business.
Bachelor’s in Graphic Design
A bachelor’s degree in graphic design may be a great way to get some job-specific training for careers where you can apply artistic interests and aptitudes. Some graphic designers still work with more traditional design tools, but the majority are now adopting digital tools.
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Combining your degree in graphic design with relevant industry software training, education, or certification could be a great way to launch a career in advertising, business communications, multimedia publishing, desktop publishing, or web design.
Bachelor’s in Health Science
A health science degree can teach you about the science behind how the human body works while exposing you to the social aspects of healthcare.
You’ll likely take classes in biology, organic chemistry, anatomy, and research, with a mix of lectures and laboratory activities. Aside from these, you can examine the current healthcare system and explore how to promote health in communities and society.
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A health science degree is often a strategic major for getting into graduate schools in medicine, dentistry, and other healthcare fields. It’s also possible, though, to directly pursue entry-level careers in public health upon graduation.
Bachelor’s in History
If you study history, you’ll be in an academic field that offers almost limitless opportunities for research, writing, and teaching.
Most history majors study the societies, governments, and events of specific time periods and people groups. That said, you can also opt to combine history learning with more specialized knowledge, studying the history of education, medicine, law, art, or science, for example.
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You may choose to major in history purely out of a love for humanistic knowledge and learning. In time you can take other steps to qualify for a career field you’re interested in. Career areas that often interest history majors may include government, politics, journalism, public policy work, museum curation, and ministry.
Bachelor’s in Homeland Security
With a bachelor’s in homeland security, you’ll be positioning yourself for a career in the civil service sector or in public policy and advocacy work. You would most likely work with government or nonprofit agencies.
The field of homeland security involves various areas of concentration, such as immigration policy and law, border enforcement, and detention and deportation operations.
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With a bachelors degree plus other qualifying steps, you might work in federal civil services, in immigration law enforcement and policing, in correctional services, or in public policy and advocacy work.
Bachelor’s in Human Services
Coursework in human services and policies helps qualify you for jobs with a range of administrative social service programs. These service sectors are usually related to employment and workforce development, housing, and community health and economic development.
Majoring in human services may be a great way to get some very industry-specific insights and training. This degree may help you find entry-level administrative jobs in the nonprofit and governmental services sector.
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With a bachelors degree and additional on-the-job training, you may find a pathway to many satisfying jobs that allow you to help individuals and communities in need.
Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts
A bachelor’s in liberal arts is sometimes explained as a range of study that includes history, English, foreign languages, literature, art, government, and religion.
Like English and history majors, as a liberal arts major, you may develop academic skills, verbal skills, and writing proficiency. You may also benefit from broad studies across humanistic fields.
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With a bachelor in liberal arts, you may go on to a graduate degree related to a more specific career goal or work your way into exciting careers over time. Career paths include many various fields, such as education, law, public policy, publishing, or journalism.
Bachelor’s in Management
A bachelors in management may prepare you for job positions that support businesses with marketing, general administration, or sales. Some of these jobs may require some business math or bookkeeping skills, but they do not require advanced math.
This type of program covers office management skills, project management methods, and team leadership skills. It also teaches the fundamentals of marketing, account management, client tracking, and sales.
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With a bachelor’s degree, you may qualify for a number of jobs in these kinds of business roles. You’ll also learn skills you can leverage down the road if you decide to pursue a graduate degree in marketing, accounting, financial analysis, or business management.
Bachelor’s in Music
If you enjoy studying music, playing an instrument, or singing, you may choose to major in music so you can continue to develop your musical skills. In your bachelors program, you’ll learn more about music history, music theory, and musical composition. You’ll also work toward improving your performance skills.
Careers as a musician, music critic, or composer can be fairly competitive. Sometimes these positions may only offer part-time or “gig” work. Some musicians, though, may find coveted full-time positions as symphony or studio musicians.
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If you aim to work as a music teacher, you might enjoy part- or full-time work giving private lessons, or you may teach at a public or private school or college.
Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists work with people who have physical or cognitive conditions. The goal of occupational therapy is to help patients adapt so they can perform everyday activities more comfortably. For example, an occupational therapist might assess a patient’s condition, develop a treatment plan for them, and monitor their progress regularly.
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In an occupational therapy bachelors program, you’ll take several classes on biology and anatomy, and you’ll study how people develop physically and psychologically. A masters degree in occupational therapy is often required in order to become a licensed occupational therapist, and a bachelors is a foundational stepping stone. To graduate, you might be required to do a clinical internship.
Bachelor’s in Philosophy
A philosophy degree hones your critical thinking and logical analysis skills while exposing you to many different systems of thought.
Philosophy explores the deeper questions in life, so you’ll likely cover a wide range of topics. These could include ancient and medieval philosophy, morality, metaphysics, philosophy of science, politics, logic, and social justice. Most classes are reading and writing intensive, often consisting of discussions based on selected texts. Ultimately, you’ll likely be prepared to conduct your own philosophy research.
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A philosophy degree is highly versatile, and philosophy majors often pursue law, teaching, writing, theology, research, and other liberal arts careers.
Bachelor’s in Political Science
Another major that doesn’t require math is political science. In a political science degree program, you’ll learn about different forms of government and about constitutional law. A program may also cover what politicians do, how laws get written, and the roles and powers of different branches of government.
Your study may also include introductions to legal writing, political history, and forensics, also known as formal debating. If you find these topics interesting, you may also be intrigued by the jobs you’ll be preparing for.
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A bachelors in political science can help you start building a career in diverse occupations, including law, political consulting, public policy, lobbying, or journalism.
Bachelor’s in Psychology
Have you ever stopped to consider that there’s a field of study combining elements as disparate as medicine and mythology? Well, psychology is kind of like that.
Some psychologists develop diagnoses and treatment methods based on observational data. At the same time, many foundational psychological concepts are rooted in speculation and are expressed philosophically or symbolically.
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Simply studying influential psychological thinkers and concepts can be fascinating in itself. Further study and licensing may open doors to working in counseling, behavioral or occupational health, research, ministry, or psychiatry.
Bachelor’s in Sociology
Sociology majors learn about broad trends in human behavior, social interactions, and social habits.
You’ll also learn about gathering and analyzing data as well as modeling trends. You may gain an understanding of insights into predictable social behaviors as well as broadly transferable skills, such as an ability to forecast behavioral trends.
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With a sociology degree, you may work as a futurist or look for jobs in social work, criminal justice, public policy research, public relations, or political or marketing research.
Careers & Salaries
College majors without math still allow you to develop useful and versatile skills for success in many kinds of well-paying jobs.
In fact, businesses need people with strong communication and verbal analysis skills, which is not always a strength of students in business, math, science, and technology programs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following are just a few examples of high-paying jobs that may be obtained with majors that don’t require math skills:
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Advertising, Promotions or Marketing Manager | $141,490 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $98,890 |
| Technical Writer | $74,650 |
| Market Research Analyst | $65,810 |
| High School Teacher | $62,870 |
| Public Relations Specialist | $62,810 |
| Probation Officer or Correctional Treatment Specialist | $55,690 |
| Graphic Designer | $53,380 |
| Paralegal or Legal Assistant | $52,920 |
| Archivist, Curator or Museum Worker | $52,140 |
Although job titles such as historian, sociologist, archeologist, writer, and musician do exist, degrees in these broad fields may lead to an unpredictable career path.
That said, if you’ve developed the skills and intellectual discipline needed for those positions, then you may make valuable contributions and qualify for many jobs in various fields. It is possible to navigate through college without difficult math classes, and you can still pursue well-paying jobs, depending on your career interests and aptitudes.
Admissions Requirements
While admissions requirements vary from school to school, for a bachelors degree without math, you’ll typically need to meet the following criteria:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- A satisfactory GPA
- SAT or ACT scores, if required
Admissions requirements at some schools may also include prerequisite coursework. Some schools may also request a personal statement or written essay. One or more letters of recommendation from your teachers or authority figures may also be required, depending on the institution.
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Many schools have admissions officers who can help you identify important admissions criteria pertinent for specific degree programs.
Accreditation
If you choose a regionally accredited school and program, you can be more confident that your achievements will be honored by other schools and prospective employers.
Accreditation is typically granted by a recognized, independent entity, and it serves to ensure that schools and programs meet acceptable standards for curriculum, instruction, and basic academic resources.
When you’re checking out degree programs that interest you, you may want to include their accreditation status as a factor to consider. Organizations such as the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) have resources that can help you identify accredited schools.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Many kinds of financial aid, depending on your eligibility, may be able to help cover your education expenses so that lack of funds won’t keep you from starting your degree program.
Student loans, work study programs, and government grants are common needs-based forms of financial aid. You may also qualify for certain needs-based or merit-based scholarships.
Admissions officers at colleges or universities often have information on various kinds of aid and how to qualify. For most needs-based forms of aid, the first step is to fill out and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Do You Have to Take Math in College?
When pursuing a degree that doesn’t require advanced math, you can often take a proficiency test or a lower level math course to fulfill your general education requirements.
Many schools offer general education math courses that don’t require advanced math skills, like Business Math, or Math for Poets.If you’re still unsure about these kinds of functional math courses, you may also check with your school about available tutoring services.
Once you get this general education math requirement out of the way, your upper-division coursework isn’t likely to require additional math courses.
What Should I Major in if I Hate Math?
Management, business, research, or finance positions often don’t require algebra or calculus, but they may require some skill in statistics or other computational skills.
If you would like to avoid math altogether, you may consider human services jobs with a strong psychology, counseling, or social welfare component. Jobs in writing, publishing, public relations, advertising, and communications also require virtually no math at all.
If you love history, literature, civics, foreign languages, or art, you may find your sweet spot teaching a favorite subject in private or public schools. Some additional credentialing requirements may apply, but a bachelors may get you well on your way to a rewarding career.
Finding College Majors Without Math Requirements
Some colleges and universities require some pretty advanced math courses, regardless of your major. The good news is that there are also many schools with programs designed to minimize such obstacles, allowing you to choose majors that don’t require math.
There are many of these majors to choose from, including those in the liberal arts, that will allow you to cultivate your strengths and learn new skills to prepare for the field of your choosing.
Once you find an accredited degree program and school that works best for you, you can focus on the academic and career goals you’re most excited about.
