From crafting comedic characters to the physical and psychological world of dance to educational inequalities or environmental media narratives, undergraduates of any major can explore new passions without changing their academic path.
DePaul offers over 100 minors across all colleges, giving undergraduates the freedom to explore new interests, deepen their knowledge and build a well-rounded education. The following are just a few examples from across campus, not a ranking or curated list, but a snapshot of the varied options available. Students can explore the full academic catalog for all available minors or visit DePaul's minor exploration resource to learn more.
Comedy Filmmaking
The comedy filmmaking minor in DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts isn’t just for students interested in making comedy a profession. Any student who wants to explore this interest with guidance from a professor can enroll.
“The biggest advantage of the comedy filmmaking minor is that students get to take their classes at the world-renowned Second City Theater,” says Jeff Griggs, adjunct faculty member.
There, students learn directly from Second City directors, actors and producers who are actively working in the industry.
The program allows students to sharpen their artistic voice and original material with methodology from The Second City. Griggs shared that this minor helps students build not only their portfolios but also skills for their professional journeys.
Education and Social Justice
The education and social justice minor in the College of Education is designed for students looking to enhance their career focus and skills in educational inequities but are not pursuing teacher licensure.
Professor Horace Hall, who teaches the human development and growth course for the education and social justice minor, says, “The minor prepares students for diverse, global and socially responsible careers. It can enhance career focus and skills by fostering critical consciousness, empathy and the ability to analyze systemic injustices.”
This minor, like many others, is interdisciplinary. Students practice skills in fields with both historical and contemporary educational issues in social, cultural and political forces both within school and non-school settings. The program encourages actionable, equity-minded approaches through curriculum, classroom pedagogy or community service.
Hall says this minor gives students a chance to gain a deeper perspective on how to connect distinct fields and innovations, while building skills that help heighten creativity, cultural awareness and emotional intelligence.
Environmental Communication
The environmental communication minor focuses on real-world environmental issues and understanding how narratives influence tangible action. Students learn how environmental narratives are shaped, methods of communicating scientific information clearly and effectively, and how media coverage shifts perceptions of climate issues.
“As organizations increasingly prioritize sustainability, graduates with this minor can stand out in roles related to environmental awareness, stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and responsible business practices,” says Associate Professor of Communication Barbara Willard, who teaches multiple courses required for the minor.
This minor prepares students for careers in environmental advocacy with activist organizations, sustainability roles within government agencies and private industry, and community organizing. It also prepares students to translate complex issues into accessible and compelling stories.
Dance
Many students take a dance course as an elective and then choose to declare the minor. It provides a counterbalance to academic rigor, offering a highly creative, noncompetitive environment that develops physical, intellectual and emotional well-being for students from any major.
“Diving into a minor that is purely for interest can provide a needed mental break from the rigors of demanding majors,” says Dance Minor Director Lin Kahn. “Many dance minors in our program with majors such as Psychology, Philosophy and Political Science are able to dance professionally in life beyond college. The cohort finds tremendous joy in dancing with each other.”
Dance minors have opportunities to perform works created by professionals in and outside the department. Beyond the studio, the transferable skill of discipline enhances a student's professional edge. With a dance minor, students sharpen critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills and collaborative intelligence that is essential for any career.
Bioethics and Society
The bioethics and society minor combines courses from the College of Science and Health and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Students examine the moral, social, conceptual and policy issues that arise at the intersection of the life sciences, health and society, looking beyond what is technically possible to consider whether it should be done, in what circumstances and under what conditions.
“Every student I’ve had who has applied to medical school has come back and said that their interview questions were issues that came straight out of this program. Every humanities student has said that their ability to apply their learning to real-world problems has helped them in their career,” says Vincent de Paul Professor of Bioethics and Health Humanities Craig Klugman.
For more information on minors offered at DePaul, visit the academic catalog.