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20 Degrees That Don’t Require Much Math

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: May 30, 2024, Reading time: 12 minutes

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Hate math? So do a lot of other people!

Research indicates that 40% of Americans hate math. So, if you hate math, then there’s a good chance it isn’t because you’re not smart; it’s just that math isn’t a very likable subject.

There are many different reasons why people, especially students, hate math. Understandably, many avoid pursuing anything that involves math for this very reason.

Best Degrees That Don’t Require Much Math - fact
College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Is Math Really Inevitable?

It turns out that it is. But don’t let that dishearten you– most degrees will require you to use a little bit of math here and there. Still, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem because, fortunately, the whole “math is inevitable” proverb only applies to basic math you’ve most likely already learned in high school.

You can flourish in many other fields unrelated to math. All you have to do is choose from various careers and majors that don’t require stressful and complex mathematics.

Incredible math skills can take you places, but so can your other skills and talents. For a better insight into which things you might have a knack for, you can also take a multiple intelligence test.

CC - Math Jobs Openings 2022-2023

Degrees That Don’t Require Much Math

When choosing a degree with little to no math, find something that aligns with your interests. Here are the best college majors that don’t require you to deal with mathematics.

Psychology

Psychology - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

If you are fascinated with different philosophies, analyzing minds, and understanding why people, or even animals, behave the way they do, Psychology—a versatile major with an excellent job outlook—might be the perfect major for you. Federal data also indicates that counseling jobs will increase by 6% within the next ten years.

Psychology majors study essential (but manageable) and minimal math courses, particularly Statistics, but this requirement is considered generally light.

School/s offering excellent Psychology programs:

Religious Studies

Religious Studies - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Religious Studies is different from Theology despite the clear overlap. Theology is more dedicated to training spiritual leaders, while Religious Studies focuses more on the beginning and evolution of religions and religious traditions, including their associated philosophies.

Courses in this major depend on which school you attend, but the math courses are minimal to zero. Potential careers include being an educator, lawyer, and social worker, as well as work involving counseling and research.

School offering excellent Religious Studies programs:

Anthropology

Anthropology - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

An Anthropology degree studies human evolution, diversity, history, and culture. Specializations include Social Anthropology, Biological Anthropology, and Archeology.

The math requirement is relatively light in this field and often only applies to the research part of the academic program. Relevant courses in an Anthropology major include foreign language, social sciences, history, and world religions.

Anthropology graduates become educators, researchers, and archaeologists. They also qualify for work in Public Relations and Human Resources. 

School/s offering excellent Anthropology programs:

Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Criminal Justice examines the justice system, law, criminal behaviors, and their relations to society. Course topics often incorporate sociology, crime studies, and a bit of basic math in statistics classes, all of which make the criminal justice curriculum an excellent foundation for a pre-law degree.

Career opportunities for criminal justice graduates can be found in law firms, law enforcement, and corporate security. They also find work in law enforcement following rigorous training.

School/s offering excellent Criminal Justice programs:

Political Science

Political Science - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Political Science curricula typically incorporate only a bit of basic math in statistical data, much like in Psychology and Anthropology. Certain BA programs may have zero math credits but develop the negotiation, leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills of Political Science majors.

School/s offering excellent Political Science programs:

Sociology

Sociology - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

As a Sociology graduate, you will better understand the multicultural world and the issues affecting societies and their people. High-paying jobs in this degree that will barely require math, including marketing, education, law, human resources, and journalism, await Sociology graduates.

Apart from the good job outlook, the employment of sociologists is also projected to grow by 5% from 2022 to 2032.

School/s offering excellent Sociology programs:

Marketing

Marketing - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Pursuing a degree in marketing might sound counterintuitive when trying to avoid math. Fortunately, the majority of Marketing degree programs out there require only basic math courses and a hint of business math!

A Marketing degree leads to lucrative careers, particularly as marketing managers and advertising specialists. 

School/s offering excellent Marketing programs:

Graphic Design

Graphic Design - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Since graphic design typically involves computers, it’s easy to think that you might need to deal with a lot of math in this field. However, graphic design programs are more focused on internships and portfolio-building, and there’s not much math in that!

Graphic design degree holders may also pursue careers in related fields, including industrial design, multimedia, advertising, and public relations. 

School/s offering excellent Graphic Design programs:

Culinary Arts

Culinary Arts - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

A Culinary Arts degree, which only uses math for calculating ingredient costs and measurements, is one of the easiest (and deliciously fun) degrees beyond food preparation and presentation. It also incorporates the principles of Nutrition and Hospitality disciplines.

Culinary Arts majors become chefs in hotels and restaurants, pursue a career as a private chef, or set up a culinary business.

School/s offering excellent Culinary Arts programs:

Fine Arts

Fine Arts - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

The Fine Arts coursework typically includes art history and techniques to strengthen students’ creative skills. This program, which does not involve a lot of math, provides a solid foundation for careers in interior design, architecture, photography, creative writing, and animation.

School/s offering excellent Fine Arts programs:

Foreign Language

Foreign Language - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Foreign Language, which focuses on communication and fluency, doesn’t have Mathematics as a core course. Aside from learning mainstream languages, students build their vocabulary, improve their communication skills, and immerse themselves in different cultures.

Foreign Language majors can become linguists and translators or pursue lucrative foreign language careers in public relations, publishing, and the travel and tourism sector, where knowledge of foreign languages is required.

School/s offering excellent Foreign Language programs:

English

English - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

The typical English major coursework includes linguistics, history, and virtually nothing math-related! English degree holders can pursue teaching, advertising, public relations, and law careers.

Graduates who wish to become English professors at elementary education or post-doctorate levels or anywhere in between must complete additional courses and obtain a teaching license.

School/s offering excellent English programs:

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Liberal Arts, the study of humanistic inquiries, includes History, Literature, Sociology, Philosophy, and Creative Arts in its coursework. This program only requires basic math classes without a strict academic path like Medicine or Law but leads to more career options than professional and technical degrees.

School/s offering excellent Liberal Arts programs:

Communications

Communications - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

A degree in Communications, which focuses less on advanced math courses, hones students’ public speaking, writing, and general communication skills. Students and graduates are also exposed to technical communications, advertising, and mass media.

A Communications program prepares students for career paths in different industries, such as education, marketing, public relations, and politics.

School/s offering excellent Communications programs:

Linguistics

Linguistics -Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Linguistics, defined as the scientific study of language, analyzes language context, form, and structure. Linguistics may use some mathematics to study and model language phenomena, but your choice of concentration determines the type of math you will be dealing with.

Potential careers for Linguistics graduates include copy editing, communication roles, education, and speech and language therapy.

School/s offering excellent Linguistics programs:

Health Science

Health Science - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

If you wish to become a health professional, a Health Science degree is the less complicated alternative to Medicine. Health Science majors develop essential clinical and non-clinical healthcare skills for jobs in healthcare facilities. The coursework includes Biology, Pharmacology, Human Anatomy, and Physiology—without mathematics as a core requirement.

Graduates can work as medical assistants, surgical technicians, and other health-related jobs. They can also pursue Medical Journalism.

School/s offering excellent Health Science programs:

Nursing

Nursing - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Nursing, which makes an excellent pre-med course, is your gateway to a huge selection of jobs. You can earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), which mainly requires a high school diploma, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) to earn the RN title and become qualified for nursing jobs. However, many employers prefer candidates with at least a BSN.

Nursing students may be required to ace the math placement test because basic math still makes up a small part of nursing education. They will then move on to nursing-specific courses such as Social Science, Pharmacology, History, and Anatomy.

CC - American Graduate Students Studying Math

School/s offering excellent Nursing programs:

Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Health and Safety - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Occupational Health and Safety is yet another degree that doesn’t involve many math courses but still has quite a high earning potential. Students develop an in-depth understanding of workplace safety standards while gaining risk management skills for identifying and addressing safety concerns.

Occupational Health and Safety graduates work in offices, schools, factories, hospitals, and construction sites where hazards are more likely to occur.

School/s offering excellent Occupational Health and Safety programs:

Sonography

Sonography - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

A Diagnostic Medical Sonography degree is one of the non-STEM degrees for future medical sonographers and diagnostic imaging specialists. These experts prepare patients for scans and operate diagnostic imaging equipment to produce images of internal organs and tissues, which will then be used for diagnoses.

School/s offering excellent Sonography programs:

Nutritional Science

Nutritional Science - Best Degrees That Don't Require Much Math

Like Nursing, Nutritional Science is a pre-med course that isn’t math-heavy. Graduates pursue careers as nutritionists, dietitians, and related jobs in the food, business, research, and science industries. Others also pursue the related Animal Nutrition program.

School/s offering excellent Nutritional Science programs:

CC - NAEP 8th Grade Math Scores

Summary Points

While knowing advanced math concepts and extra math courses may come in handy and be required for some professions, a math-less career path that aligns perfectly with your interests and skill set is something you can always find.

As shown on our list, many options exist for people who dislike math. Tap into your passions, skills, and talents by pursuing a degree truly fit for you, and find yourself fulfilled with an excellent earning potential!

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