Minors and Certificates
Minors and certificates are available for undergraduate and graduate students interested in developing skills in a specialized discipline to enrich their knowledge and skill in their own discipline, prepare for an advanced degree, pursue an interdisciplinary course of study, or to satisfy intellectual curiosity.
Undergraduate minors are typically 24 credits. Most can be completed as part of the student’s four-year plan of study. Graduate minors are typically 12 credits. Speak with the minor contact listed under the individual minor.
Undergraduate Minors
Animation & Visual Effects
The Animation and Visual Effects Minor requires the completion of eight courses. The minor provides basic foundation in the technological, story-telling and design skills used by animators and visual effects artists in the highly competitive entertainment and design worlds, with the opportunity for individualized tailoring according to the student's interests.
Contact: Milady Bridges (msb369@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Architecture
A minor in architecture gives students majoring in other disciplines an opportunity to explore architecture through a coherent sequence of coursework. The minor in architecture can also be used for preparation towards professional graduate study in this field. Interested students should consult with the architecture advisor for course selection and scheduling.
The minor requires 27 credits divided among design studio courses, courses in architectural history, and architectural elective courses. No more than 9 credits from a student's major can be used to fulfill the minor requirements.
Contact: Andrew Phillips (app97@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Art History
The history of art focuses upon the study of works of fine and applied arts and forms of mass communication in their aesthetic, social, economic, religious and political contexts. It explores the meanings and purposes of the visual arts, their historical development, their role in society, and their relationships to other disciplines. The study of art history encourages the development of critical observation and visual analysis; it introduces scholarly research and provides a working knowledge of a variety of monuments. As the field of art history is inherently cross-cultural and interdisciplinary, its study illuminates the diverse and global world we inhabit and makes apparent the integral relationships between art and culture.
The minor in art history provides a broad humanistic background not only for students planning to attend graduate and professional schools in the fields of applied, media and design arts, social and information sciences, education, business and medicine, but also for those entering a more general job market.
The minor is designed to be flexible enough to appeal both to Westphal College of Media Arts ∓ Design majors and majors from the other colleges.
The minor requires students earn a total of 24 credits by completing eight of the courses listed in the course catalog.
Contact: Delia Solomons (dls385@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Dance
The 24 credit minor in dance offers students an opportunity to explore dance in the studio through technique classes, and in the classroom through academic classes in dance. Participation in the dance ensemble class(s) is required, although performance with the ensemble is not. There is no audition for the dance minor program.
Admission Requirements
Admission on consultation with Dance Program Director:
Jennifer Morley
jsm76@drexel.edu
215.571.3527
View in the Course Catalog
Entertainment & Arts Management
Drexel's Entertainment & Arts Management (EAM) minor provides students with an introduction to the exciting and challenging industries of entertainment and the arts, businesses with global revenues of two trillion dollars annually. The minor introduces students to finance, strategic planning, marketing and promotion, artist management, entertainment law, and intellectual property. The EAM minor offers a core of four required courses and students choose three additional courses according to their interests.
The flexibility of the Entertainment & Arts Management minor's curriculum allows students to pursue deeper study in fields such as film and television, fine and performing arts, and event and venue management. The minor consists of 24 credits and includes Writing Intensive Courses.
The Edinburgh Fringe program and EAM@sea Cruise: Tourism Entertainment are open to all Drexel students.
Contact: Brea Heidelberg (bmh29@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
eSports
eSports is establishing itself as an industry with significant global implications that draws from a variety of disciplines including digital media, game design, and sports management, as well as entertainment management. This minor provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the core foundational areas of this emerging field.
Contact: Michael Wagner (mgw38@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Film Studies
The Minor in Film Studies comprises courses that cover the major artistic and institutional developments in cinema from its late-nineteenth-century origins to the present. As these courses cover a variety of critical topics that are essential to any film studies curriculum - such as the study of major genres and auteurs, the technologies and techniques contributing to the development of the medium, as well as the historical circumstances that influenced the cinema's evolution since its inception - they will establish a sound critical foundation for students to choose and to flourish in the subsequent courses required for the minor.
Contact: John Avarese (jva23@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Film & Television Production
The minor in Film & Television Production will introduce students to the core production skills of cinematic storytelling. After a foundation in screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and sound, students will have room to gain intermediate experiences in the areas of their choice.
Contact: John Avarese (jva23@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Film & Television Studies
The minor in Film & Television Studies allows students to explore cinema and television history while engaging in critical analysis. After the foundation courses, students will have opportunity to explore areas of interest based on genre, historical periods, and artists.
Contact: John Avarese (jva23@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Fine Art
About the Minor
The Fine Arts minor enables students to develop skills and concepts in the studio arts. Students in studio courses learn to combine skills in using tools and materials, visual theoretical concepts, and new technologies, all of which are necessary for design professionals.
Academic Requirements
To be eligible for the fine art minor, a student must have completed a minimum of 30 undergraduate credits, have a declared major, and have a minimum GPA of 2.7. the academic requirement of 24 credits for the minor must be completed at or before the time of graduation.
Basic design pre-requisite courses are required for most Art & Art History courses, and some of these may have already been taken for a student's major. However, only nine credits of major-related coursework can be applied to the 24 credits required for the minor in fine arts. Students with design credits from other schools or departments may be allowed to apply them to their pre-requisite requirements only upon review by the fine art minor faculty advisor.
Learn More
Contact: Josh Weiss (jaw95@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Jazz and African-American Music
The minor in Jazz and African-American Music takes advantage of our faculty expertise in those areas. This minor can include course work in Jazz History, African-American Music, Jazz Theory, private study in jazz performance, and ensemble work in several ensembles devoted to jazz.
Contact: Luke Abruzzo (laa24@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Merchandising
The Merchandising minor, administered by the Fashion Industry & Merchandising program, provides core foundations for the fashion lifestyle industries including retail, e-commerce and wholesale operations, buying, and merchandise planning. Students develop key competencies in brand strategy from concept to consumer including marketplace research, competitive analysis, retail math, assortment planning, product sourcing, inventory allocation, and merchandising analytics. The curriculum allows the opportunity for individualized tailoring with course options in special topics including Sustainability & the Circular Economy, Beauty Merchandising, Retail Globalization, Immersive Media & Merchandising, and Design and Fashion Merchandising Leadership. The minor is open to all Drexel University students and requires the completion of eight or nine courses for a minimum of 25.0 credits. Students will need at least 2 years to complete the minor requiring enrollment by the start of the Junior year.
Contact: Chris Baeza (cdb93@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Music
The minor in Music requires 26 credits, including work in Music Theory, History, Applied Music (class or private lessons), and ensemble performance, and 9 credits of music elective.
Contact: Luke Abruzzo (laa24@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Music Performance
The minor in Music Performance requires two years of private lessons study with our artist faculty, culminating in a recital. The Music Program will provide support for the recital venue and accompanist.
Contact: Luke Abruzzo (laa24@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Music Theory and Composition
The minor in Music Theory and Composition is aimed at people who are writing their own music or who would like to begin doing so. You'll take courses in Music Theory, Arranging, Composition, and Digital Composition, and end with a portfolio of several completed pieces.
Contact: Luke Abruzzo (laa24@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Performing Arts
Designed for the student who wishes to explore the fields of dance, music and theater rather than specialize in one area, the minor in Performing Arts provides motivated students the opportunity to learn about all three areas while performing for two years in one or more of the department's performing groups.
Interested in learning more about the Performing Arts programs at Drexel? Download the 2024-25 Performing Arts Program Brochure [PDF] on the Performing Arts website.
Contact: Dr. Miriam Giguere (mgg22@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Photography
We are pleased to announce the addition of a Photography Minor into our program. The new minor in photography gives students a thorough understanding of photographic practices using a combination of aesthetics and technology. This flexible minor has been developed to accommodate both Westphal College of Media Arts and Design majors as well as majors from any other college. It is an excellent choice for students who are majoring in marketing, communications and journalism. Many employers in these fields are now routinely requesting that candidates have a good working knowledge of Photoshop and photographic practices.
If you are interested in adding the Photography Minor, please email photominors@drexel.edu to set up an appointment with the Photography Program Director, Professor, Paul Runyon. You will also need to complete the Application for Admission to a Minor Program Form which must be signed by both your current advisor and Professor Runyon.
View in the Course Catalog
Playwriting
The minor in playwriting is intended to guide students from the acquisition of foundational playwriting skills through the completion of a full-length stage play. Fifteen of the credits are directly craft-oriented, teaching students what they need to know to translate their ideas into a format suitable for production on the stage; the other nine credits are dedicated to background knowledge intended to inform creative thinking and develop a student's individual voice.
Students pursuing a theater minor should note that common courses in the playwriting minor make this course of study a relatively simple addition to their education.
The playwriting minor is open to all students in the university.
Contact: Matthew Kaufhold (kaufhold@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Product Design
The Product Design program prepares students to become designers through experiential studio learning, skill development, and design thinking. Drexel's BS in product design specializes in multidisciplinary design research focused on product development and commercialization. It will also encourage collaboration in green design, sustainability and innovation in product development, facilitating and combining the fields of art, business, engineering and technology Product designers work in a wide range of industries including consumer electronics, housewares and furniture, fashion accessories, medical devices, toys, automotive and transportation.
More than ever, the world needs people who can create meaningful ideas. With a curriculum that encourages discovery, experimenting, making and learning, the Product Design Program at Drexel University seeks to stimulate great ideas. A design education is the process of discovery. It activates experiential learning and empowers the mind to make new connections, synthesize new meanings and create novel solutions to difficult problems. With its Product Design curriculum, Drexel has developed a program that will let you discover and follow your passions while offering a full university experience with hands-on learning to help you find your affinity and inspire others.
Contact: Alexandra Schmidt-Ullrich (aas435@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Screenwriting
The Screenwriting minor is intended for the student who is interested in learning the basics of crafting a screenplay as a complement to another area of study. The student will receive a grounding in major works of American and European cinema, and be taken through a course of study ranging from an introduction to the basics of writing for the screen up to the completion of a full-length screenplay. The minor requires eight courses, for a total of 24 credits.
Contact: Matthew Kaufhold (kaufhold@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Somatics
An understanding of movement and body language has become increasingly important across many fields including Communication, Corporate Training, Movement Therapy, Education, Performance, Rehabilitation, Sport and Fitness. Physical health, clear communication and effective leadership all rely on an awareness of how we carry our bodies through our lives. The Somatics Minor provides an in-depth study of the body, building from an understanding of its functional/structural basis, to its patterns and habits. We focus on how to interpret, analyze, and articulate somatic concepts and develop strategies for application.
Admission Requirements
Admission on consultation with Somatics Coordinator:
Jennifer Morley
jsm76@drexel.edu
215.895.2018
View in the Course Catalog
Sustainability in the Built Environment
The Sustainability in the Built Environment minor gives students a perspective on the built environment and the challenges associated with the 21st century. The minor is open to all Drexel University students and benefits from cross disciplinary student involvement. Required courses include Sustainable Design: History and Theory; Sustainable Built Environment I & II; Collaborative Research in Sustainability; and campus wide elective opportunities. Students enrolled in the minor will have opportunities to work on interdisciplinary collaborations including community engagement design and electives such as native plants and ecology; and community design build and other projects related to urban sustainability.
The intent of the SBE Minor is to prepare students to engage and analyze future design challenges from a sustainability perspective. Students completing this Minor will be able to approach these challenges in a resourceful and insightful way with a solid foundation of sustainability principles. The emphasis on collaboration and trans-disciplinary teamwork will allow our students to serve as agile leaders in their future careers and be active participants in the critical discourse of our field. The Minor requires students earn a total of 24 credits.
Interested students are encouraged to contact sustainability minor program coordinator Assistant Professor D. S. Nicholas at dsn35@drexel.edu.
View in the Course Catalog
Theatre
The Theatre Program at Drexel consists of two distinct, yet closely integrated components: Academics and Performance. The intertwining of foundation studies and practical application empowers students to discover and develop their own voice and style in their art. With practical courses in Performance, Administration, and Technical Theatre, students explore areas of interest, develop their skills, and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the practical side of theatre. In addition, the program serves the entire Drexel Community with engaging productions creating life-long supporters of the arts.
Through the study of theatre, students learn more about culture and society and gain a greater understanding of the human condition. In short, they learn about themselves and how they communicate and interact as human beings. Working on Theatre Program productions they interact with students from many different disciplines, and cultural backgrounds as well as professional artists currently working in the field.
Skills learned in theatre courses include fundamental craft based approaches of analysis and imaginative preparation, creative risk taking, collaborative work across disciplines, active listening, techniques for giving and receiving constructive feedback, critical observation, and problem solving. All of these skills will be useful to students in every area of life and in every career where communication is important.
Contact: Nick Anselmo (nma28@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
User Experience & Interaction Design
The Interactive Digital Media Minor requires the completion of eight courses (minimum 24.0 credits). The minor provides basic foundations in user interface design (UI), user experience design (UX), and interaction design (IXD), including: design and development of websites and mobile applications with the opportunity for individualized tailoring according to the student's interests. It is open to all University students and is administered and advised by the Interactive Digital Media program.
Contact: Troy Finamore (twf23@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Virtual Reality & Immersive Media
Study Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) & Immersive Media
The Virtual Reality (VR) & Immersive Media Minor provides a foundation in the principles, techniques and tools used in the design and production of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and other forms of immersive media, with the opportunity for students to customize their curriculum according to their own interests.
What is Immersive Media?
As a relatively new but cutting-edge field, immersive media includes augmented reality, virtual reality and extended reality, fields that will revolutionize how we learn and what we experience, touching on virtually every aspect of human existence.
Why study VR and AR?
Immersive media technologies create the potential to put players inside the landscape of a video game and viewers inside the action of films and television. Through immersive media, students in their classrooms and people in their homes can experience visualizations of any historical site or museum in the world. Shoppers in stores or online can virtually try on and customize clothing and goods they wish to purchase. Immersive media is in use to create simulations that train surgeons, pilots, first responders, athletes, and countless other professions. Companies like Disney, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, YouTube, and the US Department of Defense already have VR & AR divisions and team members.
Students pursuing a minor in Virtual Reality & Immersive Media can expect to take courses in:
- Computer graphics
- Animation and visual effects
- Virtual reality
- Augmented reality
- Game design
The minor is comprised of 24 credits and is open to students with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Contact: Nick Jushchyshyn (nickj@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Graduate Minors
Arts Administration
The Graduate Minor in Arts Administration enables interested students pursuing other graduate degrees at Drexel the opportunity to learn about the business structures and policy systems of creative enterprises, and to understand the basic operations of arts and cultural organizations.
Contact: Pamela Yau (lsc64@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Digital Media
The graduate minor in Digital Media is open to all students outside the Department of Digital Media. It offers an introduction into digital design including 3D modeling, animation, interactivity, gaming and digital media history, theory and methods.
Contact: Emil Polyak (ep557@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Museum Leadership
Museums encompass many disciplines including art, history, science, anthropology and archaeology. The Museum Leadership graduate minor enables students pursuing an MS degree in another discipline to get a basic understanding of how museums function in contemporary society in preparation for entering a museum career.
Contact: Pamela Yau (nvakharia@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Retail and Merchandising
The Retail and Merchandising graduate minor, administered by the Retail and Merchandising graduate program, provides students with a competitive advantage when searching for a career in the retail industry. With the theoretical and applied knowledge gained from this online minor, students will be able to obtain national opportunities in growing professions, such as retail corporate management, retail sales management, retail operations corporate buying and merchandising, and postsecondary retail and merchandising education for community colleges.
Contact: Dr. Joseph Hancock, II (jhh33@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Certificates
Responsible Cultural Leadership
The Responsible Cultural Leadership certificate is designed to equip culture leaders with the necessary skills to manage and advocate for changes within the culture industry and society. The program consists of four elective courses from the AAML Program: AADM 757, MUSL 630, MUSL 690, AADM 690. The elective classes will empower AAML students to be culture leaders in areas of activism, social justice, sustainability, equity and inclusion. In conclusion, the proposed elective classes will uphold Drexel University’s commitment to DEIA work, social justice and planetary well-being.
Contact: Laura-Edythe Coleman (lsc64@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog
Fashion Design Technology Certificate
The Fashion Design Technology certificate program provides students with an introduction to current fashion design technologies in Virtual 3D Design and Weft Knit Product Programming, and the design thinking needed to produce successful work in these areas. In the final quarter, students have the option to focus on an advanced, self-directed project to complete their studies. This certificate is suited to industry professionals looking to expand their skill set, as well as current students.
Contact: Jackie Kilmartin (jk942@drexel.edu)
View in the Course Catalog