Visual Arts, Digital Media and Film Studies Minors

According to Forbes.com, individuals are exposed to around 4,000 and 10,000 advertising messages each day.¹ The advertising and graphic design minor teaches non-majors a foundational understanding of how to craft and produce effective advertising messages that connect businesses and consumers. You will be taught how to build an understanding of brands, campaigns, the company-customer relationships and the basics of the Adobe Creative Suite.

The minor in animation design imparts non-major students with the foundational theories used to design and produce 2D motion graphics. Concepts will focus on technology and processes for developing ideas, storyboarding, creating assets and building the structure for motion graphics.

Design principles can be used in a variety of disciplines. The minor in digital design instructs non-major students with the basic comprehension of design thinking, design principles and the basic technical tools and processes used in the creation of designed content. This lays a foundation for grasping design concepts that may be applied in many settings, from simple presentations to complex proposals.

Digital marketing and social media are fundamental skills important to nearly every business marketing strategy, regardless of industry.² This program can help provide foundations for understanding social media marketing channels, content creation and brand and campaign management. You will be responsible for completing social media coursework, which can make this a valuable minor for marketing majors as they plan for their career.

The web design minor instills non-major students with core foundational concepts of user experience design for web-based products. You will be taught the technology and processes for launching and supporting basic websites.

A dance minor is designed to develop your physical and cognitive skills and knowledge in the art of dance. Dance studies enhance any other area of study by providing opportunities to develop character, leadership skills, cooperation and respect for others. Reflecting cultural influences throughout the world and transcending religious barriers, dance can communicate universal truths, leading to a shared understanding and expression of the human experience.

The minor in musical theatre at Grand Canyon University introduces you to the foundations of musical theater styles and history and advances principles applied to the form through courses in acting, movement and voice production. This minor provides students from all majors the opportunity to focus on effective communication using the body and the voice, and to develop critical thinking skills by analyzing music, text and movement from a wide variety of styles and cultures. This minor specifically complements theatre, music or dance majors in their major program of study with an artistic form that can broaden marketability within the industry and can promote self-development, artistic exploration and creative innovation.

A minor in theatre and drama at Grand Canyon University can enhance any area of study, from accounting to worship, and everything in between. In a theatre minor you have the opportunity to develop individual strengths and interpersonal skills such as speaking techniques, practical methods of creating trust and attaining goals, creative problem-solving, higher-level thinking, teamwork and a greater understanding of an individual’s place within the Christian worldview.

The Digital Film minor introduces students from various programs to the foundation of strong filmmaking. You will have the opportunity to study and analyze film history before engaging in production and screenwriting courses. As a digital film studies minor, you are also encouraged to participate in digital film events such as the 48 Hour Film Challenge, the GCU Film Festival, Pitchfest and many more.

A minor in photography at Grand Canyon University can provide you with the ability to create images that can expand and improve your ability to communicate. You will be taught basic and studio photography, basic video creation and photo and video for social media. A photography minor can be a great way to improve your ability to make images in a still, moving or social media context.

The instrumental music performance minor offers you a rich and immersive experience in the world of instrumental music. This minor may be right for you if you have a passion for playing musical instruments and want to deepen your knowledge, skills and appreciation for instrumental performance.

The piano minor at GCU is focused on teaching a comprehensive exploration of the world of piano performance and music theory. Designed for individuals with a passion for the piano, this minor can give you the opportunity to deepen your understanding, technical skills and artistic expression in playing this versatile instrument. Through a combination of practical lessons, ensemble participation and theoretical coursework, you can work toward developing your proficiency and musicianship in piano playing.

This vocal music performance minor at GCU offers you an enriching and immersive experience in the realm of vocal performance and music. This minor may be right for you if you have a passion for singing and a desire to enhance your vocal skills, musicality and stage presence. Through a combination of vocal training, repertoire exploration and performance opportunities, you have the opportunity to develop your vocal technique and cultivate your expressive and interpretive abilities.