Minors

The Minor in Art gives students the opportunity to integrate creativity, artistic practice and critical thinking skills applicable to their major area of study.

Requirements for a Minor in Art

• ARTS 1301
• ARTS 1311
• ARTS 2301
• ARTS 2311
• ARTS 2320

and 3 upper-division hours in ARTS.

Department of Art

The Minor in Art History is a natural complement to many majors such as history, religious studies, communications and cultural studies. The research methods and the skill of learning how to "see" can prove to be invaluable to students in their major area of study.

Requirements for a Minor in Art History

• ARTH 2361
• ARTH 2362
• ARTH 3360 or ARTH 4360

and 6 additional upper division hours in ARTH.

Department of Art

The Minor in Art Therapy is significant to Art and Psychology majors interested in pursuing graduate training in art therapy.

Requirements for a Minor in Art Therapy (18 hours)

• PSYC 1301 Introduction to Psychology (3 hours)
• PSYC 2356 Lifespan Development (3 hours)
• ARTS 2371 Introduction to Art Therapy (3 hours)
• PSYC 3331 Abnormal Psychology (3 hours)
• ARTS 3371 Art Therapy: Methods and Practice (3 hours)
• PSYC 3353 Personality (3 hours)

Department of Art

The Minor in Photography prepares both Art and Non-Art majors to develop an aptitude in photographic image-making. The skills and practices developed are applicable to a range of purposes and functions required for a photographer.

Requirements for a Minor in Photography (18 semester hours)

• ARTS 1305 Design for Photographers or ARTS 1311 Design I
• ARTS 1357 Introduction to Photography
• ARTS 2360 Documentary Photography I or ARTS 3365 Directorial Photography
• ARTS 3357 History of Photography
• 3 additional semester hours to be selected from the courses listed below.
  (If ARTS 2360 was taken instead of ARTS 3365, the last three hours must be upper level.)
  • ARTS 2360 Documentary Photography I (if not previously taken)
  • ARTS 2305 Introduction to Photographic Lighting
  • ARTS 2315 Introduction to Photographic Portraiture
  • ARTS 3360 Documentary Photography II
  • ARTS 3365 Directorial Photography (if not previously taken)
  • ARTS 3367 Landscape Photography 
  • ARTS 3385 Documentary Photography III: Local Fieldwork
  • ARTS 4325 Advanced Photographic Lighting: Studio Lighting
  • ARTS 4315 Advanced Photographic Portraiture: Studio Portraiture
  • ARTS 4357 Advanced Projects in Photography
  • ARTS 4360 Art Photography: Manipulated Images
  • ARTS 4385 Topics in Photography
  • ARTS 4388 Internship in Photography
  • ARTS 43XX Commercial Photography
  • ARTS 43XX 4x5 Photography
  • ARTS 43XX Documentary Photography IV: International Fieldwork
  • COMM 1301 Introduction to Mass Communications
  • COMM 2360 Video Production I
  • COMM 3355 Publications Practicum

Department of Art

A Minor in Criminal Justice can support and enhance study in many programs, including sociology, psychology, political science or education programs.

Requirements for a Minor in Criminal Justice:

12 semester hours (6 upper-division) in CRJU.

Department of Criminal Justice

The Minor in English is a 21-hour program that provides students majoring in other disciplines with the opportunity to strengthen their reading and writing skills by taking courses in Literature, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric and Professional Writing.

The English minor is particularly helpful to students who are preparing for law school or other graduate programs. It is an excellent complement to any degree in the Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, Communication Arts, Media and Design, and Business and Healthcare fields. Students can work closely with faculty in the different branches, thereby gaining publication and professional writing experience.

Department of English

The Minor in Creative Writing allows students to pursue their creative passions in a supportive community of fellow writers in workshops, craft seminars, and publishing courses. Students acquire essential skills in storytelling, effective communication, writing, and creative thought—along with a deeper understanding of audience and entertainment—that will serve them in any field, from Biology to Criminal Justice, from Theatre Arts to Philosophy. The Creative Writing Minor is also open to English Majors.

Creative Writing Minor

The Spanish Proficiency Minor at UIW requires 21 credit hours in Spanish, with 18 credit hours of required courses and three credit hours of an advanced Spanish elective.

Department of Modern Languages

The Spanish Studies Minor requires 12 credit hours of courses above the 1000-level, including at least 6 credit hours at the upper-division level. Courses at the 3000-level and above will be taught entirely in Spanish.

Department of Modern Languages

The Minor in Music provides an opportunity for students who are not majoring in music to continue to grow as musicians. Through the minor curriculum, students can improve their capabilities as performers through private lessons and ensembles, hone their musical skills through music theory, and enrich their understanding of music through music history.

The Minor in Music gives students who participated in music activities in high school the opportunity to continue to grow as musicians in a positive and supportive Music department. The minor provides students who are currently pursuing a major other than music but are considering pursuing a degree in music in the future with opportunities to keep their musical skills intact. The minor provides essential basic training in music skills for students pursuing employment opportunities in music.

Requirements for a Minor in Music

• MUSI 1100 Introduction to Aural Skills
• MUSI 1191 Aural Skills I
• MUSI 1192 Aural Skills II
• MUSI 1321 Music Theory I
• MUSI 1322 Music Theory II
• MUSI 1111 Keyboard Skills I
• MUSI 1121 Keyboard Skills II

Music History Coursework: Select 3 credit hours from this list of courses.

• MUSI 3347 Survey and Appreciation of Opera
• MUSI 3348 Studies in World Music
• MUSI 3349 Women in Music
• MUSI 3350 American Popular Music
• MUSI 3351 Music in Asian Theater

Select 2 credit hours of principal instrument, either voice or focused instrument.

• MUAP 1154 Private Instruction: Instrumental
• MUAP 1176 Private Instruction: Voice

Mui an additional 4 credit hours of major ensembles, and 2 credit hours of upper-level MUSI courses, approved by the student's advisor.

Department of Music

The Minor in Music History is intended for music majors and is appropriate preparation for graduate work in musicology and music theory. The degree requires 18 hours in total, 9 of which are already required for all music degrees, and 3 of which are already required for some music degrees. The number of additional credit hours, therefore, is 6-9 hours, depending on the student's major. Only students with a grade of B- or higher in MUSI 3341, 3342 and 3348 (or 3351) are eligible for the Minor in Music History. Students must therefore have completed MUSI 3341, MUSI 3342 and MUSI 3348 (or MUSI 3351) with grades of B- or higher before declaring their intent to pursue the Minor in Music History.

The minor culminates in an independent study, which results in a research project, a portion of which must be presented in a public forum (UIW Research Week, a local or national conference, etc.).

The Minor in Music History allows students to conduct original research in an area that compels them. The degree prepares the student for graduate study in musicology, ethnomusicology, and music theory. Graduates of the program have conducted research on topics such as English folk song and opera, Amy Beach's approach to writing for the piano, non-binary constructions of gender and contemporary percussion music, and contemporary Chicana art song. Graduates of the program have had their research accepted for presentation at regional conferences of the American Musicological Society and the Society for Ethnomusicology.

Requirements for a Minor in Music History

• MUSI 3341 Music History I
• MUSI 3342 Music History II
• MUSI 3348 Studies in World Music or MUSI 3351 Music in Asian Theater
• MUSI 4341 Research and Writing in Music

Students must complete one upper-level 3-credit course in music history or chosen in consultation with the program coordinator to support the student's research. Students must also complete one upper-level 3-credit independent study (MUSI 4398) course developed in consultation with the program coordinator.

Department of Music

The Minor in Pastoral Ministry allows students to combine studies in ministry with their selected major. Students will be able to explore essential subject areas of the ministry field. Students will take their minor coursework at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC), a UIW partner school, in philosophy, theology, ministry, cultural studies and other related areas. Courses may be taken in Spanish or English. Students receive a 25% tuition discount on Pastoral Ministry courses.

Requirements for a Minor in Pastoral Ministry (18 semester hours)

• PMIN 1320 Introduction to Theology/Biblical Studies
• PMIN 2332 Catholic Biblical Interpretation: New Testament
• Plus 12 hours upper division PMIN courses

The Pastoral Institute

The Minor in Philosophy provides an excellent accompaniment to any major since philosophy maintains close contact with the history of ideas in the broadest sense and it closely examines (and challenges) the very foundations of knowledge and understanding. Students will face the main challenges of ethics, logic, epistemology and metaphysics offered by the minor.

The Minor in Philosophy is especially popular among students pursuing pre-professional degrees such as pre-law and pre-medicine. The Philosophy minor gives students a thorough understanding of the liberal arts, along with an appreciation of their value and relevance. Students completing the Minor in Philosophy will advance in critical and creative thinking, which are the very essence of the practice of philosophy.

Department of Philosophy

The Minor in Political Science is designed to deepen understanding of political structures and issues, stimulate scholarship and provide knowledge in government, government service and civics. Students will also develop a framework of knowledge in government, politics and issues of public concern. Students may also explore themes of war and peace and the effects of globalization, the role of international law and organizations, and America's leadership in the world. Read the Political Science Minor's Unofficial Degree Plan (pdf) for more information.

Requirements for a Minor in Political Science (21 semester hours)

• POLS 1315 American Politics
• POLS 1316 State and Local Politics
• POLS 2305 Introduction to Political Studies
• POLS 2310 Comparative Politics OR POLS 2320 International Relations
• Plus 9 additional POLS credit hours, 6 of which must be upper-division courses

Department of Political Science

The Minor in Psychology complements many diverse major fields of study because it provides an important foundation for understanding human behavior as it interacts with the environment. Influencing human behavior is an important part of health sciences, political science, education, communication and business. The Minor in Psychology requires completion of 15 credit hours in Psychology.

Department of Psychology

The minor in Religious Studies is recommended both for students interested in religious education and/or church ministry, and for those wishing to augment their academic background to support the liberal arts dimension of their chosen professional career.

Requirements for a Minor in Religious Studies (18 semester hours)

• RELS 1330/RELS 1330H The Word in the World
• RELS 3327 Jesus: Incarnate Word
• One Biblical Studies course:
  • RELS 3301 Bible, Genesis to Kings
  • RELS 3310 Pauline Literature
  • RELS 3315 Gospels and Acts
  • RELS 3399 Contemporary Issues (with a Biblical Theme)
• Any 9 hours of RELS courses in addition to those meeting these requirements.

Department of Religious Studies

A Minor in Sociology includes courses that explore culture, society, religion, justice and more. Such versatile knowledge can enhance any program of study but is especially relevant for students majoring in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Political Science, Religious Studies, and can support those pursuing majors in Marketing, Education and Teaching fields, Public Health and more.

Requirements for a Minor in Sociology

12 credit hours (6 credit hours upper division) in Sociology

Department of Sociology

The Minor in Theatre Arts provides an opportunity for students who are not majoring in theatre to continue to learn and grow as theatre artists. Through the minor curriculum, students acquire practical skills and build essential knowledge that will be useful for career ventures that require creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.

The Minor in Theatre Arts gives students who participated in theatre activities before coming to UIW the opportunity to continue to advance as theatre artists in a positive and supportive theatre program. The Minor provides a secondary academic focus for students who need to (or must) major in a discipline other than theatre, but who still would like college-level instruction and experience in theatre. The Minor in Theatre Arts provides a secondary academic focus for students who plan to become teachers and would like a theatre minor to become better informed, skilled and marketable, particularly when combined with an English, Communication Arts or Music major.

Requirements for the Minor in Theatre Arts (18 credit hours, including 6 upper division hours)

• 12 hours from the following required Theatre Arts courses:
• THAR 1321 Beginning Acting OR
• THAR 1320 Acting in Everyday Life
• THAR 2360 Introduction to Technical Production
• THAR 2380 Play Analysis OR
• THAR 3381 Development of Drama and Theatre I OR
• THAR 3382 Development of Drama and Theatre
• 9 hours from elective Theatre Arts courses.
• 6 credit hours must be upper division Theatre Arts electives

Department of Theatre Arts