Oberlin to Offer Bachelor of Science Degree Beginning Fall 2026

The new degree gives students pursuing a wide range of eligible majors—from biochemistry and computer science to psychology and economics—the opportunity to graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or a Bachelor of Science (BS), depending on the balance of their coursework. Students who complete at least one BS-eligible major and 16 full courses carrying the Natural Science and Mathematics designation may choose to receive the BS degree.

“This is an important evolution for Oberlin,” says David Kamitsuka, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “The Bachelor of Science degree reflects the strength of our existing programs and the multidisciplinary nature of scientific work today. It gives our students new ways to signal the depth of their scientific training. For example, in all of the eligible majors, undergraduates routinely co-author with their faculty mentors in scholarly peer-reviewed scientific journals.”

Kamitsuka noted that several programs outside traditional STEM areas—such as economics, business, and psychology—also qualify for the BS. “That reflects how today’s problems are solved,” he says. “Understanding markets, managing complex organizations, and studying human behavior all require the same analytical and evidence-based thinking we teach in the natural sciences. The BS degree captures that spirit of interdisciplinary inquiry grounded in the liberal arts tradition that is at the heart of an Oberlin education.

The new degree will also broaden Oberlin’s appeal to prospective students. Across U.S. higher education, more than half of all international students pursue degrees in STEM or science-related fields—a trend that makes Oberlin’s new BS degree especially attractive to global applicants.

For people like Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Jason Belitsky, the degree represents a way to better acknowledge the work many students already do.

“Our students in chemistry, physics, biology, and related disciplines already engage in extensive lab work, data analysis, and scientific problem-solving that meet the expectations of a Bachelor of Science education,” Belitsky says. “This new degree formally recognizes that rigor and affirms the quality and breadth of scientific preparation our students bring to graduate study and professional work.”

Belitsky emphasizes that the BS option doesn’t change Oberlin’s approach to teaching—it enhances it. “What’s exciting is that students will be able to show both sides of their education: deep technical and analytical expertise, and the creativity and communication skills that come from a liberal arts environment.”

The degree was endorsed by the college’s Educational Plans and Policies Committee earlier this year and approved by the College Faculty. The Bachelor of Science will be available to students beginning in fall 2026.

How to Qualify for the BS Degree

To earn a Bachelor of Science at Oberlin, students must:

1. Declare at least one major from the list of BS-eligible programs.
2. Notify the Office of the Registrar of their intention to convert their Bachelor of Arts degree to a Bachelor of Science.
3. Complete at least 16 full courses designated as Natural Science and Mathematics.

Students who meet the criteria may choose to graduate with either a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science—but not both.