Minors
...and minors:
Anthropology
The mission of the Anthropology Minor program is to explore human variation and cultural diversity and to transmit the anthropological perspective as a way of thinking, a method of problem solving and a model for future learning. For many students, anthropology becomes a framework for integrating knowledge and a system of organization for their formal education. The anthropological perspective is holistic - that is, each piece or aspect of a culture is viewed within the context of the whole culture.
Unique among the social sciences and humanities, anthropology studies people and behavior in a cross-cultural perspective. This aspect of the discipline has wide ramifications for expanding the students’ world-view and approaches to other studies by increasing their awareness of ethnocentric perspectives.
Computer Science
The Computer Science minor is available to students majoring in other disciplines – such as Mathematics and Economics – who wish to study some aspects of a traditional computer science curriculum but are not able to take the full Computer Science major.
The Computer Science minor curriculum is designed to enable students to meet the following skill or competency-based outcomes and show mastery of some computer science knowledge and skills, through ability to:
- demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply current theories, models, techniques and technologies that provide a basis for problem solving;
- work as an effective individual and as part of a team to develop and deliver quality software;
- have the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing;
- be aware of key ethical issues affecting computer science and their responsibilities as computer science professionals;
- learn new theories, models, techniques and technologies as they emerge and appreciate the necessity of such continuing professional development.
Typical employment areas for graduates are: programmer/analysts; systems analysts; software quality assurance analysts; network systems and data communications analysts; Internet developers or Web designers; database administrators; system administrators or network administrators.
Economics
The Economics Minor provides a program of study of micro and macroeconomics in both theoretical and applied courses so that students will have significant exposure to economic reasoning and analysis. Although less rigorous than the Economics Major, the Economics Minor will be useful to students preparing for professional careers in business or for graduate study in a variety of other fields in which economic analysis is complementary to the advanced practice of the discipline.
Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurship Minor is appropriate for students who wish to develop a business or work for a startup. The program provides an introduction to the basic concepts and principles of accounting, the appropriate marketing strategies for a new product or startup, the development of a business plan, the application process for EU funds, strategies for continuous innovation, and the skills necessary to manage change and conflict. The Entrepreneurship Minor complements other majors at AUBG by teaching non-business students how to turn their passion into a business.
European Studies
The European Studies minor could be a complement to several majors by making students aware of the structure and the current political issues and policies of the European Union.
Film and Theatre Studies
The Film and Theatre Studies Minor is an interdisciplinary program appropriate for students who wish to study both the practical and theoretical aspects of film and theatre production. The program provides a good foundation for understanding the main issues of film criticism and theory as well as basic training in theatre and film production. Combining introductory courses in film analysis and theatre with electives from the Departments of Literature and Theatre, Journalism and Mass Communication and History and Civilization, the minor complements the majors in each of these respective Departments.
The objectives of the Minor in Film and Theatre Studies are to enable students to:
- understand the vocabulary of film and film criticism;
- understand the basic components of theatre production and acting; understand the principles of film and video production;
- analyze films in terms of their aesthetic, historical and political dimensions;
- understand the relationship between film and historical representation;
- produce a short film.
Fine Arts
The Fine Arts Minor provides an interdisciplinary approach to creative human expression for students interested in artistic performance, process and inquiry. Students have flexibility in designing their course of study within the minor and may choose to acquire either an in-depth understanding of a particular performance or process art (such as music or theater) or a broader, critical awareness of the visual and performing arts.
Students pursuing the Fine Arts minor are also encouraged to develop a portfolio documenting their creative activities at AUBG. This personal archive will generally consist of written programs, lists of repertoire studied and performed, samples of creative work, and other evidence of creative achievements, including participation in public performances and/or exhibitions, as part of study toward the minor.
History
The History Minor is a program of study appropriate for students who want to go beyond the Historical Analysis component of the General Education curriculum but who do not wish to complete the History and Civilizations Major. It complements other programs of study at AUBG both by enhancing tools of analysis and by providing greater historical context.
Information Systems
The minor is designed to provide knowledge and skills in the area of information systems. The objective of the minor is to provide courses oriented to better understanding of global word problems, methods of analysis and techniques for problem solving.
The curriculum of Information Systems minor is designed to enable students to skill or competency–based outcomes:
- Provide knowledge about existing computer languages, development environments and technologies;
- Develop skills to specify, implement and monitor development of an information system;
- Create understanding of the role of information as a strategic resource as well as the specific problems in its management;
- Develop skills to better utilize the positive effects of implementing computer-based information technologies while avoiding negative results and possible conflicts between people and technology;
- Provide knowledge about models, measurements and optimization techniques;
- Develop effective communication skills in creating and implementing information systems solutions.
Typical employment areas for our graduates are: data and network analysts; system analysts, Information Systems developers, designers, or quality assurance experts, web designers, database designers, system and database administrators.
Integrated Marketing Communications
The Minor in Integrated Marketing Communication will enable interested students to build advanced skills that are in demand across a variety of professional arenas. The minor will be geared towards students interested in demonstrating a specific skill/knowledge set in marketing and communications to enhance their majors. The minor will be structured to help students gain advanced knowledge in marketing and communications, as well as specific skills that are directly applicable to professional contexts across different fields. A strong focus will be placed on developing specific capacities, which are in demand in the contemporary professional arena, such as social media communications.
By the completion of the Integrated Marketing Communication minor, students will:
- Possess a general knowledge of marketing and the role of media in society.
- Possess a working knowledge of how to conceive, report, interview about and write accurate, informative and original news stories from multiple sources.
- Possess knowledge of public relations and advertising tools, such as press releases, e-mails and social media to communicate an organization’s mission internally and externally.
- Possess knowledge of and practical skills in the communication tools necessary for a successful integrated marketing communications plan.
- Possess advanced professional skills that can be applied across different professional contexts (public and private sector, profit or non-for-profit, multinational companies, startups, etc.).
Journalism and Mass Communication
The Journalism and Mass Communication Minor introduces students to the theoretical framework of the fundamentals of journalism and mass communication and gives students the opportunity to develop professional skills in information gathering, critical thinking and analysis, writing, editing and reporting. The electives allow students to choose an area of interest for further development. The skills taught in the courses of a JMC Minor are applicable to most professions as they involve learning to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively through text and images.
Literature
The purpose of the Literature Minor is to offer students interested in literature the opportunity to study in-depth canonical texts and contemporary works or even delve into producing their own literary texts. This minor is designed to initiate students into the diverse literatures of the world in order to sharpen their awareness of the imagination’s power to represent and shape human life and thought within and across cultural boundaries.
The objectives of the Literature Minor are:
- to help students develop their ability to read closely and analyze literary texts;
- to help students understand the place of literature in the larger cultural context of representative texts;
- to help students hone their skills in researching and writing about literature;
- to help students produce pieces of poetry or prose of their own and offer critiques of their peers’ writing in a real context.
Mathematics
The Mathematics Minor is based on a diversity of courses in pure and applied mathematics. Students who complete the minor will acquire an essential background in some important branches of classical mathematics and statistics and their applications. The minor will also provide an opportunity for students to develop significant mathematical skills through a selection of advanced courses that will introduce them to some modern lines of contemporary mathematics and its applications to other sciences.
Modern Languages and Cultures
The minor in Modern Languages and Cultures is an interdisciplinary program for students who wish to acquire linguistic, cultural, and literary proficiency in German, French, Spanish, or Bulgarian. The minor can be easily combined with many disciplines offered at AUBG, such as Business Administration, Economics, Journalism and Mass Communication, European Studies, or Political Science and International Relations.
The curriculum of the minor in Modern Languages and Cultures is designed to enable students to
- communicate effectively with native or other competent speakers of the target language while maintaining a high degree of grammatical accuracy and using and presenting material in the target language (in written and oral forms) in a clear and appropriate manner;
- demonstrate substantial knowledge of specific aspects of the culture and society of the countries in which the target language is spoken;
- describe, analyze, and evaluate the similarities and differences between “target language” cultures and their own.
Psychology
The Psychology minor introduces students to the science of human behavior and mental processes. The minor provides a good foundation for understanding specific topics of interest in Psychology that may be applicable to other academic and professional contexts. A Psychology degree is one that is increasingly valued by employers who value the analytical and reasoning skills it gives you.
Physics
The Physics minor gives students the opportunity to learn some of the fundamental laws of nature – from the microscopic world of subatomic particles to the scale of the whole Universe. Students completing the minor will develop an understanding of the method of scientific investigation and will acquire substantial quantitative and analytical skills.
Philosophy and Religion
The Philosophy and Religion Minor is an interdisciplinary program appropriate for students who wish to study the philosophical and religious components of human experience, which are considered fundamental elements of civilizations. It provides a good foundation for understanding the historical background and social significance of current philosophical, ethical and religious issues. Moreover, the minor offers courses on different traditions and perspectives than Western culture.
The objectives of the Minor in Philosophy and Religion are:
- to help students consider philosophical, ethical, and religious issues from an interdisciplinary viewpoint and in light of various perspectives;
- to help students understand the historical background of current philosophical, ethical and religious issues;
- to help students appreciate the significance of philosophical, ethical, and religious issues for human existence (i.e. for both individual life and human communities);
- to help students develop their ability to reflect on specific philosophical, ethical and religious problems and questions related to the contemporary world and everyday life.
Political Science and International Relations
The Political Science and International Relations minor introduces the student to the role of major actors, structures, and processes in politics. It also helps promote understanding of some of the forces affecting our lives within our rapidly globalizing, interdependent world. The minor provides a good foundation for understanding current affairs and can complement other majors.
Public Policy
Public policy is an interdisciplinary field that draws on economics, European studies and political science. Students in this minor develop skills in analyzing policymaking processes, evaluating policy decisions and outcomes and understanding specific policy-making contexts.
Southeast European Studies
The Southeast European Studies Minor promotes an understanding of regional parallels and individual differences among the peoples of Southeast Europe. Addressing the causes of conflict and resources for conflict resolution, the SES Minor focuses on the dynamic, prevailing images of self and other among the peoples of Southeastern Europe.
The program is built on the foundations of anthropology, archaeology, social history, political science, art history, and comparative literature. The interdisciplinary perspective of the SES Minor aims to provide a contextual background for the more effective application of academic disciplines (e.g., Journalism and Mass Communication, European Studies, and Business Administration). The program thereby aspires to contribute to the debate surrounding contemporary policy challenges and social issues throughout the Southeastern European community in a globalizing world.

I strongly believe that AUBG has prepared me for a competency- and skill-based business environment after graduation. Being able to take a variety of courses has helped me discover what I am really passionate about and also built a strong set of related skills and knowledge, which will be useful in any career.