The University of Colorado Boulder is poised to significantly expand its academic offerings, launching a diverse range of new bachelor’s and master’s degrees starting in the Fall of 2026. This strategic initiative, approved by the University of Colorado Board of Regents, includes two innovative master’s degrees focused on sustainability – Sustainable Business and Sustainable Engineering – alongside twelve new Bachelor of Science degrees within the natural sciences. These developments represent a key response to evolving student needs and the growing demand for expertise in environmentally conscious fields. The addition of these programs directly addresses a critical gap in the market, acknowledging the accelerating pace of sustainability-related job growth, which is outstripping overall employment expansion. Demand is particularly strong for specialized roles such as environmental remediation engineering, where professionals develop technical solutions for pollution cleanup, and sustainable finance analysts, who apply financial principles to support environmentally responsible investments. The university’s commitment to these disciplines reflects a broader recognition of the increasing importance of ‘green skills’ across various industries.

Beyond these new master’s programs, CU Boulder is also introducing twelve new Bachelor of Science degrees within established natural science departments. These include Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geography, Integrative Physiology, Mathematics, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Statistics and Data Science, Neuroscience and Physics. This expansion is driven by a crucial shift in higher education perception – the recognition that a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in science often lacks the credibility and depth required by employers and graduate programs. Provost Russell Moore highlighted this issue, stating that many students avoid CU Boulder’s science BA programs, opting instead for the College of Engineering & Applied Science, due to the absence of a Bachelor of Science (BS) option. This resulted in a loss of prospective students and student disappointment regarding their completed degree. The new Bachelor of Science degrees are designed to address this directly, offering students a more robust and respected scientific education. The university’s approach is largely a ‘rebranding exercise,’ meaning no new resources, including faculty, classes, or space, are required.

For six departments – Biochemistry, Chemistry, Earth Science, Physics, Neuroscience and Statistics and Data Science – the new Bachelor of Science degrees will entirely replace the existing Bachelor of Arts degrees. These departments have traditionally been highly technical, mathematical, and laboratory-based, already meeting or nearly meeting the requirements for a BS degree. For the remaining six departments – Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Geography, Integrative Physiology, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, and Mathematics – the new Bachelor of Science degrees will coexist alongside the existing Bachelor of Arts degrees. This strategic coexistence acknowledges that the BA degree remains the preferred choice for students pursuing less technically focused careers, such as law, public policy, public health, teaching, psychology, and other health science and wellness professions.

Ultimately, CU Boulder’s expansion aims to provide students with the most relevant and respected educational pathways, fostering a new generation of scientists and innovators equipped to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing world. For more detailed information, please visit cu.diligent.community/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=580.