Undergraduate Minors and Certificates

Academic Minor

An academic minor is an approved group of courses required for focused study in an academic discipline that complements a student's current major. The academic minor is not a university-wide requirement. Academic components may establish or abolish a minor requirement for their students.

The number of credits required to earn an academic minor can vary depending on the academic component and the specific minor program. On average, academic minors require around 15 to 18 credit hours of coursework. However, this can range from as few as 12 credits to as many as 24 credits or more, depending on the area of study.  A minor includes a minimum of 6 semester credit hours at the upper level.

No more than three semester credit hours may be applied to both the program requirements and minor requirements in single-content minor (those comprised of courses from a single prefix), and no more than eight semester credit hours may be applied to both the program requirements and minor requirements in interdisciplinary minor (those comprised of courses from two or more prefixes). Half of the upper-level courses planned for a minor must be taken at TWU (residency requirement). See academic components for degree plans.

To apply for a certificate program, students must complete a Minor Declaration form with their advisor and submit it to the Registrar's Office.

Available Minors

Students from any discipline may pursue a minor in the areas of study below unless otherwise noted.

Certificates

To apply for a certificate program, students must complete an Undergraduate Certification Declaration form with their advisor and submit it to the Registrar's Office.

Adapted Physical Education

The undergraduate APE certificate, available to undergraduate students pursuing teacher certification in EC-12 Physical Education, aims to increase the number of entry-level APE teachers in Texas and across the United States. Completion of this certificate will prepare you to deliver effective physical education instruction to students with disabilities and will increase the graduates' marketability; as school districts are able to hire them to fulfill more than one need for the district (i.e., certified to teach general and adapted PE). Students who complete this certificate program will be eligible to take the exam to earn a National Certification in Adapted Physical Education through the National Consortium for Physical Education for Individuals with Disabilities (NCPEID).

Biological Research

This certificate program is designed to encourage and recognize students who engage in a substantial and coordinated program of undergraduate research in the Division of Biology.

Business Leadership

For students pursuing a major in any discipline at TWU, a Certificate in Business Leadership is offered. This certificate program is designed for individuals who are interested in improving the knowledge and skills they will need as leaders in a variety of careers in a dynamic 21st century.

Musical Theatre

The Music Theatre Certificate program is offered to Theatre or Music majors only. It is a certificate program designed to offer additional training in the realm of music theatre. It is not meant to serve as conservatory-style training in musical theatre performance but rather allows the Music or Theatre student to further specialize in a field of theatre that continues to grow in popularity.

This certificate program may appeal to students interested in directing for the musical theatre, acting in the musical theatre, music directing in the musical theatre, or even designing for the musical theatre. The Music Theatre Certificate Program accepts Music and Theatre students on an audition-only basis. Auditions will be announced by the Music Theatre Certificate Program administrator. Once accepted into the certificate program, students are expected to participate in the biennial music theatre production as well as the Music Theatre Cabaret.

Professional and Public Writing

Now, more than ever, employers are seeking students with strong communication and critical thinking skills (see, e.g., AAC&U 2018 and 2021 surveys). Unfortunately, far too many students leave their degree programs with the specialized skills they require but not the so-called “soft” skills that stand to set them apart from their competitors on the job market. This Public & Professional Writing Certificate will meet a growing need in the Texas job market for professional writers, technical writers, and editing professionals. This certificate, which is complementary to any degree a student can earn at TWU, will equip students with the skills employers seek and help students translate knowledge from their degrees to a wide range of audiences. 

Science, Society, and Sustainability

Sustainability can be defined as using resources to meet the needs of today without jeopardizing future generations from being able to do the same. However, different disciplines have different perceptions with regard to sustainable practices. The goal of the Certificate in Science, Society, and Sustainability is to integrate the principles and values of sustainable practices into all aspects of education and learning in order to enable our students to address the social, economic, cultural, and environmental problems facing the new millennium.

Thought Leadership

Thought leaders are those people in communities and organizations that others turn to for their expertise. They inspire and influence others with their grounded knowledge and innovative thinking. This undergraduate certificate program prepares students to take the knowledge and skills developed while earning their degrees and translate them to the public, teaching them ways to enhance and communicate their credibility as leaders. Through a combination of MWGS coursework focused on social justice and advocacy; English  coursework in rhetoric and writing; and a faculty-mentored, student-led community advocacy project, students who complete this certificate will be poised to put their degrees to work as leaders in their communities.