Start with the degree, not a broad subject label
ASU reports more than 450 undergraduate programs and majors and over 400 master’s programmes, so the same broad subject may appear in several degree formats or academic units. Search by the exact degree name in ASU Degree Search and record the college, campus, delivery mode and award. A bachelor’s major, graduate programme, online version, certificate and combined-degree option are distinct offerings even when their names overlap. Degree Search is useful for locating options, but the Academic Catalog is the formal place to verify course descriptions, programme requirements and academic policies. Use both sources together: a marketing page explains the pathway, while the catalog helps you understand required courses and the structure of the award. Check the catalogue year that applies to your cohort and save the program URL, since requirements can change between catalogs.
Source: Undergraduate Majors
Campus and academic unit affect course planning
ASU operates four metro-area campuses: Downtown Phoenix, Polytechnic, Tempe and West Valley, along with other sites. The campus page identifies Tempe as the largest and lists colleges with a presence there, including The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Global Futures, Fulton Schools of Engineering, W. P. Carey School of Business and others. Some schools span more than one campus. A university-wide degree result may therefore need a campus filter or a programme page to clarify where classes meet. If a curriculum includes classes at more than one location, check whether shuttle or public transit travel fits the schedule. Online and in-person programmes may share a subject name while differing in course access, campus resources and international-student eligibility. Confirm the selected delivery mode and any in-person requirements before choosing housing or assuming that online study qualifies for an F-1 student visa.
Source: Tempe campus
How to read a curriculum
For each degree, collect the catalog year, total credit requirement, general education components, major core, electives, prerequisites, capstone or thesis and any experiential requirement. Then compare the sequence rather than only the course titles. A course marked as a prerequisite may need to be completed before enrollment in a later class; a laboratory, studio or clinical course can carry extra fees or scheduling constraints. For transfer students, matching a course title does not establish equivalency: credit level, syllabus, learning outcomes and departmental evaluation matter. For graduate programmes, distinguish coursework-only, research, thesis and professional pathways. The catalog’s degree requirement page and course descriptions should be read as a connected set, because a course might be offered in a particular term or location only. The exact sequence can be revised, so ask an academic adviser how current requirements apply to your intended entry cohort.
Source: Academic Catalog
Compare subject choices with a decision table
A short table can make ASU’s large catalogue manageable. For each candidate, record: official degree title; credential level; college or department; campus; full-time or part-time availability; on-campus or online format; application route; prerequisites; internship or research features; and the catalog year. Add a note for any special admission standard, such as a portfolio, audition, additional English score or departmental selection. The purpose is to compare real options, not to assume all majors share one set of classes or admissions conditions. If you are choosing between related disciplines, inspect the required methods and practical work. Engineering and computing curricula may emphasize mathematics, lab or design sequences; social science programmes may require research methods or field work; arts programmes can require studio access or a portfolio. These are prompts to inspect the actual catalogue, not claims about every ASU programme.
Source: Undergraduate Majors
Use academic advising and catalog versioning
Before committing, identify the adviser or academic unit responsible for the programme and ask how your prior credits, placement, prerequisites and course sequencing will be evaluated. New students may have general advising, while majors can have department-specific advising. If you receive transfer credit, confirm which degree requirements it satisfies and whether it counts only as elective credit. Keep a copy of the catalog year and degree map used for your application; a later catalog may change options or prerequisites, and transition rules can differ by cohort. For international students, course load also intersects with immigration rules and scholarship eligibility, so ask the international student office about full-time registration and the department about academic progress. ASU’s public catalog and Degree Search should remain the final source for exact course titles, credit values, terms and campus availability.
Source: Academic Catalog
Research and practical learning opportunities
ASU highlights a large research ecosystem and reports over $1 billion in research expenditures for FY24. The university also has a career platform for internships and job search. These resources can create ways to apply classroom learning, but the presence of a research institute, employer event or internship listing does not mean every student is automatically placed. Check whether your selected department offers undergraduate research, project courses, practicums, studios, clinical experiences or co-ops, and whether students must apply or meet prerequisite requirements. Ask whether an opportunity is credit-bearing, paid, competitive or restricted to particular terms. For graduate programmes, discuss assistantship availability directly with the department because funding and teaching roles are not guaranteed by general university research totals. Build experience into your course plan early so that prerequisites, visa rules, required credit load and internship timing can be coordinated.
Source: Career Services