Minors
Minors
Woods College students have the opportunity to add minors to their programs of study, pursue learning in areas of interest, and expand their ability to make connections across disciplines.
Business
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADEC1101 Principles of Economics
- ADAC1081 Financial Accounting
- ADMB4001 Strategic Leadership
- ADBM1510 Management and Org Behavior
Elective Course:
One elective course from the following:
- ADBM/ADCO1143 Corporate Communication
- ADLA2400 Business Law
- ADBM/ADET2650 Entrepreneurship
- ADCO/ADMK2201 Digital Marketing Strategy
- ADIT3300 Project Management
- ADFN1010 Principles of Finance
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Apply analytical skills in a systematic manner to define business challenges or opportunities, develop potential solutions, and evaluate their success.
- Translate strategic objectives into measurable plans that deploy the necessary resources in the most effective manner to solve business problems within defined constraints.
- Employ data analysis skills to enhance understanding of a business problem and identify solutions that are supported by the data.
- Communicate effectively across business contexts, both in writing and verbally, and give multimedia presentations to large and small groups using a variety of technology applications.
- Apply a working knowledge of risk management strategies to identify and mitigate risks in organizations.
- Examine all situations through an ethical lens and apply principles of ethical decision-making in a business context.
- Develop long-term solutions that optimize the strengths of individuals who make up diverse teams and advance an inclusive and equitable organizational approach and environment.
Criminal and Social Justice
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADCJ1100 Introduction to Social Justice
- ADCJ1101 Principles of Criminal Justice
- ADCJ2011 Criminology or Crime and Punishment
- ADCJ3010 Criminal Law and Procedure
Elective Course: One elective from the Systemic and Social Challenges or interdisciplinary CSJ elective courses.
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Appraise the power dynamics of policy, social norms and biases in determining how criminal laws are made and enforced.
- Apply established and emerging psychological and sociological theories to explain criminal behavior.
- Identify and propose interdisciplinary approaches to resolve critical criminal and social justice issues, recognizing that these issues are both evolving and contested, as demonstrated in real-life case studies.
- Employ oral and written communication to effectively interact within a variety of audiences and contexts.
- Articulate the competing ethical issues surrounding criminality and punishment and advocate for a course of action informed by ethical principles that serve the common good.
- Explain the roles of the key components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, the courts, and corrections.
- Integrate historic social, cultural, legal, economic, and political events into a coherent explanation of the current state of American institutions.
- Distinguish the constitutional protections of people who are suspected to have committed a crime, those who are accused of having committed a crime, and those who are convicted.
- Explain how legislation and judicial decisions affect criminal justice policies and practices.
- Apply criminal and constitutional law to specific facts employing legal reasoning skills.
Cybersecurity
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADIT1200 Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- ADIT2000 Computer Security
- ADIT2100 Computer Networks
- ADIT2300 Systems Analysis and Design
- ADIT3500 Laws and Frameworks
- ADIT4100 Ethical Hacking
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Articulately and efficiently discuss cybersecurity concepts and the value of modern cybersecurity measures with a diverse range of stakeholders, including both technical and non-technical groups. This includes tailoring communication to meet the needs and understanding of different audiences.
- Detect, analyze, identify, prioritize, and resolve security vulnerabilities, threats, risks, and breaches using appropriate tools and methodologies. This outcome ensures that students are prepared to handle real-world cybersecurity challenges proactively.
- Apply security principles and practices to maintain safe operations in the presence of risks and threats. This includes developing strategies to ensure continuous operation and integrity of systems under potential cyber attacks.
- Demonstrate a foundational knowledge of risk management strategies, including the ability to calculate risk, evaluate risk tolerance, implement compensating controls, and develop comprehensive risk management plans.
- Evaluate and communicate the critical role humans play in security systems, emphasizing social engineering vulnerabilities, and the importance of targeted training to mitigate human errors.
- Describe the professional, ethical, legal, and social issues and responsibilities related to computing and cybersecurity, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of the field’s broader context.
- Prepare for industry-recognized certifications, such as Cisco – CCNA, CompTIA – Network+, CompTIA – Security+, ITIL Foundations, and (ISC)² – SSCP, equipping students with the qualifications needed to advance in their careers.
Digital Communications
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADCO1005 Introduction to Communications
- ADCO3002 Digital Storytelling
- ADCO/ADMK2201 Digital Marketing Strategy
- ADCO/ADMK2300 Social Media Marketing
Elective Course: One Communication or Marketing elective course
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Communicate effectively across different channels and mediums, both verbal and written, for personal and professional purposes
- Identify communication opportunities where a new, strategic plan would benefit a business or organization
- Create a strategic communications and/or marketing plan for a business or organization, leveraging the newest tool, resources, and trends to achieve business goals
- Present data and information in a way that tells a compelling story and drives influence within a team or organization
- Evaluate existing marketing and communications campaigns in order to optimize tactics for long-term success
- Possess a fundamental understanding of the ethical and legal ramifications of various communication scenarios
- Work collaboratively, as a part of a team, to implement a strategic communications plan for a local entity and report back on the successes and opportunities observed
Economics
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADEC1101 Principles of Economics
- ADEC3201 Microeconomic Theory
- ADEC3202 Macroeconomic Theory
- ADEC3515 Econometric Methods
Elective Course: One Economics elective course
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Bring theories of economic growth, unemployment, and inflation to bear on the analysis of particular case studies.
- Characterize and distinguish between different market structures.
- Relate models of consumer and firm behavior to particular case studies.
- Bring different macroeconomic models to bear on the analysis of the national economy.
- Communicate effectively, orally and in writing.
- Gain insight into the moral dimension of economic policies and decision-making.
English
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- Completion of the Core English requirements: ADEN1054 College Writing and ADEN1060 Literary Works (or other core literature course).
Elective Courses:
- One Non-Western Literature elective.
- Three English elective courses.
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Compose original, clear and well-organized papers by analyzing high-quality evidence and applying appropriate conventions
- Read closely, interpret and analyze literary texts
- Gather and utilize evidence from secondary sources to support an interpretation of a literary text and articulate a critical position or interpretation in a thesis statement
- Recognize and analyze the influence of cultural, historical, and social contexts on works of literature
Entrepreneurship
Course Requirements
Required Course: ADMB/ADET2650 Entrepreneurship
Elective Courses:
Four electives from the list below:
- ADBM2103 Digital Commerce
- ADCO/ADMK2201 Digital Marketing Strategy
- ADET2104 Social Entrepreneurship for Business and Nonprofits
- ADET3101 Business Planning for New Ventures
- ADET3102 Design and Prototyping for Entrepreneurs
- ADET3103 Funding for New Ventures
- ADET4105 Design Your Entrepreneurship Deep Dive
- ADMK3210 Marketing Data Analytics
- ADSY4001 Strategic Leadership
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Apply entrepreneurial thinking, innovative problem-solving, and business planning skills in a variety of industry sectors, organizations, and career paths
- Plan and validate the feasibility of an entrepreneurial project as a startup venture or in a corporate or nonprofit setting
- Develop innovative product and service ideas into entrepreneurial opportunities
- Research target markets and competitors, create simple prototypes, collect and analyze customer feedback, and build realistic financial projections
- Effectively communicate mission statements, value propositions, business pitches and marketing messages in formats appropriate for various audiences
- Create a go-to-market plan for a startup idea, including customer acquisition, product pricing, and distribution strategies, resource needs, and a 3-year financial plan for operations and sustainable growth
- Apply communications and critical thinking skills to presenting startup pitches, integrating peer feedback, and providing constructive feedback for the entrepreneurial ideas of colleagues
- Develop collaborative leadership, communications, analytical thinking, and team building skills to achieve entrepreneurial goals
Forensic Science
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- FORS5318 Forensic Science (Fall - CSON)
- FORS5315 Victimology (Fall - CSON)
- FORS5317 Forensic Mental Health (Spring - CSON)
Elective Courses:
Three electives from the list below:
- ADCJ3010-01 Criminal Law and Procedure (Woods)
- SOCY1030-01 Deviance and Social Control (Morrissey)
- SOCY3000-01 Crime and Punishment (Morrissey)
- SOCY3309-01 Restoration and Resistance: International Innovations in Criminal Justice (Morrissey)
- SOCY3310-01 Studies in Crime and Social Justice (Morrissey)
- ADCY6630-01 Cyber Crime (Woods)
- ADCY6000-01 Cyber Ecosystem and Cybersecurity (Woods)
- FORS2201 Wounded Warriors in Transition (CSON)
- ADPS2220-01 Forensic Psychology (Woods)
- BSLW1170-01 Securities Regulation (Carroll)
- BSLW102101 Law I--Introduction to Law and Legal Process (Carroll)
- ADCJ2101-01 Corrections: Policies and Practices (Woods)
- ADCJ2801-01 The Evolution of a Hate Crime from Thought to Execution and Punishment (Woods)
- APSY224101 Mental Illness: Social and Clinical Perspectives (Lynch)
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Students construct a "pathway" plan tailored to their major and career interests
- Emphasizes critical thinking about the role of science and algorithms in society
- Prepares students for careers in forensic science, law enforcement, legal professions, and related fields
- Interdisciplinary approach drawing from various schools and departments at Boston College
History
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- Completion of the Core History requirements.
Elective Courses:
- One Non-Western History elective.
- Three History elective courses.
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Analyze the impact of major historical events, movements, and figures, especially in the context of geopolitics and global economics
- Evaluate primary sources, secondary sources, or both to gain knowledge of main ideas and general trends in historiography
- Contextualize historical events in light of ethical considerations and contemporary issues including social justice and the distribution of power.
- Produce an independent research assignment that results in an interpretation of an historical event, actor, or movement
Information Technology
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADIT2000 Computer Security
- ADIT2050 Operating Systems
- ADIT2200 Database Management
- ADIT4000 Systems Architecture
Elective Course: One Information Technology elective course
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of core information technologies and the ability to apply this knowledge in various real-world contexts. This includes proficiency in programming languages, database management, networking, and cybersecurity.
- Develop strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills. They will be able to analyze complex problems, identify and evaluate possible solutions, and implement the most effective solutions using information technology tools.
- Understand the ethical, legal, and societal implications of information technology. This involves recognizing the potential impacts of technology on individuals, organizations, and society as a whole and making responsible decisions in the design and implementation of IT systems.
- Communicate technical information to various audiences both orally and in writing.
- Collaborative in teams, reflecting the importance of collaboration in the field of IT.
- Understand how information technology aligns with business strategy and contributes to achieving organizational goals. This includes the ability to analyze business needs, design IT solutions that meet those needs, and manage IT projects to successful completion.
Philosophy
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- Completion of the Core Philosophy requirements.
Elective Courses:
- One Non-Western Philosophy elective.
- Three Philosophy elective courses.
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Identify the core ideas of important philosophical movements and figures and compare/contrast their approaches to enduring philosophical questions and engage in these centuries long conversations
- Analyze issues through the lens of a variety of philosophical schools of thought to articulate their own approaches to philosophical questions
- Reflect on the relationship between ethical and moral thought and their application to our life
- Thoughtfully and critically respond to moral and ethical issues raised in philosophy
- Interpret contemporary issues in light of questions of philosophical theory
- Articulate an original argument on a philosophical issue by applying research and logical reasoning
- Express and defend a philosophical ideas stance in discussions with peers
Political Science
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADPO1041 Fundamental Concepts of Politics
- ADPO4005 Comparative Politics
Elective Courses:
- Three Political Science elective courses.
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Discuss and analyze political institutions and processes in consideration of major theories of politics.
- Formulate an argument about a political process or event supported by evidence.
- Research and evaluate scholarship in order to place political events in historical, national, and theoretical contexts.
Psychology
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADPS1100 Introductory Psychology
- ADPS1261 Developmental Psychology
- ADPS2272 Cognitive Psychology
Elective Courses:
- Two Psychology elective courses
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Interpret and evaluate psychological phenomena by engaging in scientific reasoning and dynamic problem solving in broad, multi-disciplinary contexts.
- Identify and evaluate trustworthy scholarly resources, articulate ways in which context shapes research questions and findings; and interpret basic statistical analyses found within those resources.
- Evaluate and apply the ethical standards of the psychology field in their professional and personal lives.
- Propose solutions to civic, social, and global problems through the creative application of psychological theories and constructs while recognizing society’s inherent diversity and the ways in which that diversity impacts those psychological theories and constructs.
- Create effective communication materials in written, oral, and digital formats, including the correct implementation of the APA style.
Sociology
Course Requirements
Required Courses:
- ADSO1001 Introductory Sociology
- ADSO2501 Sociological Theories
Elective Courses:
- Three Sociology elective courses.
Upon successful completion of this minor, students will/will be able to:
- Analyze the relationship between individuals, societal structures and institutions as well as systemic inequalities
- Discuss sociological theories and evaluate
- Research, analyze and communicate sociological scholarship
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