Academic Minors

The Africana studies minor serves as an introduction to the historical, political, cultural and social traditions of the African continent and the African Diaspora within disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts. Elective courses which satisfy the intellectual requirements of the minor trace the customs, mores and histories of African nations or countries with significant African Diaspora populations, perform comparative analyses between African or African Diaspora populations or focus on individual spheres (cultural, economic, political, social, etc.) within specific African/African Diaspora populations.

Learn More about the Minor in Africana Studies

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science offers minors in mathematics, statistics and applied mathematics.

Xavier University now offers a minor in Asian studies that allows students to pursue their interest in Asian cultures, languages and history while also satisfying university core requirements. The Asian studies minor is designed to build a deep knowledge of and appreciation for the peoples and cultures of Asia. Students will gain intermediate competency in an Asian language and learn about Asia from a variety of perspectives (e.g. historical, cultural, religious) and broaden their global perspective with insight into the diverse world of Asia.

Only chemistry and chemical science majors are eligible for this minor.

The business minor, available to all non-business majors, provides students with an introduction to business. Students gain exposure to a variety of business disciplines and topics. The business minor is available to all majors. In order to declare a business minor, complete a Change of Major/Minor form, available from the undergraduate office of the Williams College of Business (room 120A, Smith Hall).

In the late second and early third centuries Christian theologians debated the relationship of religious belief and contemporary culture. Many Christians believed that Christians could use contemporary culture both to understand and defend their belief. Since then Christianity in its Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox branches has had a symbiotic relationship with the cultures in which they exist. Changes in culture have resulted in changes in church organization and development of Christian dogma. Developments in dogma and church organization have affected the development of culture. The result of these interactions is that the various manifestations of Catholicism as they appear in different places, times and cultures are shaped by those very intersections.

The subject of the minor is, therefore, Catholicism and its various cultural embodiments across time and across the entire world. Students in this minor will examine the intersection of theological ideas and human culture.

The minor consists of 18 hours of courses including an introductory course that is also interdisciplinary, along with four elective courses and a 3 hour capstone course.

A minor in corrections (criminal justice) is earned by completing 15 credit hours of required criminal justice courses. Students should consult the department chair concerning specific requirements for the minor.

The environmental studies minor is a 16-hour interdisciplinary program compatible with any major. It offers students an integrated overview of environmental and natural resource fields. This minor should be appealing to students who are interested in environmental issues and those interested in working in an environmentally related field.

The gender and diversity studies minor acquaints students with scholarship on gender and diversity in their broadest, most inclusive sense. Courses in the program facilitate the development of students' critical thinking skills, knowledge base, and intellectual frameworks for analyzing and exploring the nature of diversity including socioeconomic, political, psychological, and cultural experiences and positions between and among individuals and groups defined by gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, age, religious beliefs and physical/mental abilities. Students examine the individual and collective experiences of traditionally disenfranchised as well as privileged social groups, investigating the conceptual roots of identity as well as similarities and differences among them.

To earn a Greek minor, students must complete 15 hours of Greek courses beyond the Elementary II level. In addition, the student must maintain a 2.500 cumulative average in all Greek courses. For more specific guidelines for the Greek minor, consult the department chair.

To meet the demands of the 21st century, students must be able to use information technologies effectively. The information technology (IT) minor introduces students to the study of computer principles and techniques as they apply to a wide variety of businesses and organizations. The minor provides students with a working knowledge of computer technologies to support the management and use of management information systems, with a focus on the use of technology to support the decision making process. Because of its broad appeal, the minor in information technology is an excellent complement to any degree program, regardless of major.

The Italian studies minor will offer students an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Italian language and culture. Students will achieve intermediate proficiency in the Italian language while pursuing electives on Italian cultural topics in fine art, philosophy, Classics, history, theology, and/or other disciplines. A study abroad experience in Italy is highly encouraged in order to perfect students' language skills. Courses taken while abroad will count towards the minor.

The Jewish studies minor is an interdisciplinary program with courses drawn from the departments of Theology, Philosophy, History, Classics and English. What makes this minor unique to Xavier is that many of the courses are taught by faculty of Hebrew Union College. The goal of the minor is to develop an understanding of how a non-geographically-defined culture has preserved its ethnic and religious identity. Students learn the historical, literary and ideological developments that resulted in the formation of Judaism.

To earn a Latin minor, students must complete 15 hours of Latin courses beyond the Elementary II level. In addition, the student must maintain a 2.500 cumulative average in all Latin courses. For more specific guidelines for the Latin minor, consult the department chair.

To earn the minor in Latin American studies (L.A.S.), students must complete 18 hours of courses relating to Latin America, as follows: Take L.A.S.core course taught in English (SPAN 353); one course in Spanish language development, one course in Latin American literature; one course in theology; one course in either Latin American history or political science; and one approved elective course.

Courses will be approved each semester by the program director in consultation with the chair of the appropriate department. In addition, a 2.500 cumulative average must be attained in these courses.

The minor in music performance affords students who have chosen a major field of study other than music the opportunity to continue their studies in music in a structured setting. The availability of a music minor will be of special interest to students who have actively participated in music organizations during their high school years and who have invested considerable time and resources pursuing their avocation. This course of study will provide students with a knowledge of theory, a historical/stylistic understanding of music and vocal/instrumental performance experience.

The music studies minor affords students who have chosen a major field of study other than music the opportunity to continue their studies in music in a structured setting. The availability of a music minor will be of special interest to students who have actively participated in music organizations during their high school years and who have invested considerable time and resources pursuing their avocation. This course of study will provide students with a knowledge of theory, a historical/stylistic understanding of music and vocal/instrumental performance experience.

The musical theatre minor is an interdisciplinary minor that brings together courses involving singing, dancing and stage performance to provide a unique opportunity for students interested in music and theatre to concentrate on both areas, while earning one minor. These are students who, due to constraints of time and credit hours, must currently choose between either a music or a theatre minor.

Xavier's peace studies minor is a fifteen hour interdisciplinary program compatible with any undergraduate major. Requirements for the minor consist of the Challenge of Peace seminar (THEO 345/POLI 344) and four electives chosen from more than 90 course options. Peace studies draws on a wide range of academic subjects including history, theology, political science, international affairs, literature, social work, psychology, economics, gender and diversity studies, the natural sciences and others.

The minor in political communication at Xavier University is an interdisciplinary one that brings together the resources and expertise of faculty from the departments of Communication Arts and Political Science. The political communication minor enables students to explore the process through which citizens learn information about political actors, decisions and institutions and the role played by the media, political parties, campaigns, interest groups and governmental (and non-governmental) agencies in the political process. The minor also provides students with an opportunity to develop oral and writing skills that are central to the students' academic and social development, while enhancing their ability to understand the political process and contribute effectively to civic life.

The minor in political thought is an opportunity for students to pursue an interest in researching major issues and texts in political theory. The minor builds on students' exposure to the question of justice and the best regime in Plato's Republic, a text studied by all undergraduates in Philosophy 100 as part of the core. In the spirit of that course (which is not included in the minor), the Political Thought minor emphasizes landmark texts that raise fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of politics. Such questions may include: What is a political community? What is the best form of government? What is the philosophical basis of the American political system? What legitimates a regime or a body of law? What is the essence of justice? What are the rights and responsibilities of a citizen? What is a revolution and when is it justified? What are the proper relations between politics and ethics, and politics and religion?

A minor in pre-physical therapy is earned by completing a minimum of 4 credit hours of required science and other courses and is based on an examination of pre-requisties for graduate physical therapy programs, as described by the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), which is a service of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Please note that pre-requisites for DPT programs vary by school so students will need to carefully research the pre-requisites at those schools to which they intend to apply. The Pre-Professional Health Advisor at Xavier will be able to advise students with regard to this minor. Students should consult the Biology department chair concerning specific requirements for the minor.

The professional education minor affords students who have chosen a major field of study in a licensure area the opportunity to pursue a path that can lead to a license to teach. The course of study will provide students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary for a successful teaching career.

A concentration in public history within the History major or a minor in public history for students who are not history majors will enhance the skills that make history majors and minors successful in their careers and/or advanced degrees.

The religious education minor is designed to prepare theology majors to meet the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's professional requirements for Catholic High School Religion Teacher Certification. The minor alone does not suffice to meet those professional requirements. Rather, the theology major must be completed in addition to this minor in order to satisfy the necessary educational requirements for archdiocesan certification. The certification standards of other Catholic dioceses are similar to Cincinnati's, but students are strongly encouraged to check with the diocese where they plan to teach religion.

The statistics minor requires 20 credit hours of courses.

The writing minor requires 18 credit hours of courses.