Majors, Minors & Programs
The African-American Studies minor exposes students to an interdisciplinary curriculum focused on studying the history, culture, government, politics, contemporary issues, and experiences affecting people of African descent in the United States and the Atlantic World. The minor offers students a broader perspective on issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in 21st-century America. It enhances career readiness for students interested in a wide range of professional fields.
The American Politics minor teaches students the fundamental ideas and structures of government that create the arena in which political events materialize and are debated in the United States. The minor equips students with the knowledge and skills to counsel and guide any social institution—whether it’s a government agency, decision-making body, school, interest group, non-profit organization, think tank, corporation, or voluntary association—by navigating their interconnectedness with politics.
In the Art History Minor program, students will encounter diverse cultural histories and heritage, learn how ideas and values are visually communicated, and hone their visual literacy and communication skills.
The minor program in Arts Administration focuses on non-profit management for arts organizations such as theatres, museums, and orchestras. Students with a love of the arts who plan to pursue a career in Arts Administration and management will be able to design a program of study that fits their specific interests while also applying their academic learning through a competitive internship or independent study. Please note that a course chosen to fulfill the minor may require other pre-requisite courses that are not part of the minor.
Effective communication skills are vital for success in any academic discipline and career path. Employers hire college graduates who excel at communication. This minor provides an opportunity to develop these important communication skills for work and life. Students can easily include this minor in most majors at YCP.
Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in the music industry by learning hands-on in our state-of-the-art recording studio and through real-world experiences like internships, experiential assignments and projects. Creative Industries and Entrepreneurship graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in audio production, artist management, concert promotions, publishing, licensing, and marketing.
York College creative writing courses offer students a chance to develop their writing and imaginative skills under the direction of actively publishing faculty and a series of visiting writers. The creative writing workshop classroom provides students with a learning-by-doing setting, in which students are put in control of their education and the direction of their creative development.
Critical thinking is the process of carefully examining an issue in order to come to a reasoned judgment based on a critical evaluation of relevant reasons. Mastering critical thinking is a core outcome of higher education and employers highly value the capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems. Students who elect this minor will be challenged to master the basics of critical thinking and writing and then are given the option of pursuing one of two tracks focusing on either rhetoric, logic and critical thinking (the art of argument) or on the social and cultural dimensions of knowledge construction and constitution.
Students don’t have to put away their dancing shoes when they enroll in college. There are many ways to stay active in dance on campus, including YCP’s Dance Minor. The dance minor is a combination of theory and practical dance, providing students with the knowledge and skills to create their own moves.
The Digital Art and Artificial Intelligence (DAAI) program is designed to equip students with the skills they need for careers in gaming, animation, and visual storytelling. Utilizing generative artificial intelligence and other digital programs as primary tools, students will express narratives visually through diverse mediums in gaming, animation, and narrative illustration.
York College's challenging, diverse English curriculum covers cultural studies, film, literature, rhetoric, creating writing, and philosophy. You’ll also be able to specialize in one of four tracks of focus — comparative literary studies, film and media studies, critical and cultural theory, or women and gender studies.
York College of Pennsylvania’s innovative Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Environmental and Sustainability Studies degree program bridges the gap between a high-impact scientific background and an examination of the change-making, human-based policies and processes that bring the science of sustainability to life.
The student who takes this minor will have the opportunity to examine issues as varied as cheating in classes, genetic engineering, marketing to specific demographics, as well as the rich history of ethical theories in the West.
Film and Media Arts majors learn how to communicate stories effectively, whether they’re interested in filmmaking, video marketing, scriptwriting, or any other aspect of media production. York College offers a unique program, combining the scholarly study of film with the hands-on training in the practical skills you’ll need to land a job in the field of your choice.
The minor in Film Studies provides students with a coherent education in this major art form, one that, along with television, is perhaps the predominant means by which contemporary Western culture represents itself. Moving pictures or “movies” have been one of the most distinctive innovations and experiences of the past century. In today’s media-dependent world, developing a critical understanding and historical knowledge of cinema is vital.
The Fine Art major is designed to prepare you for entry into a wide array of professional positions: illustrator, teacher, art director, art critic, studio/commercial photographer or independent artist, to name a few. At York College, you’ll master technical processes, understand the role of cultural history as an influence upon artistic expression, develop verbal and visual communication skills, and know the importance of creative and original thinking.
The Minor in Fine Art provides students the opportunity to pursue creativity through visual mediums, practice hands-on creative crafts, and build skill sets necessary for visual expression. Students pursuing a Minor in Fine Art may select from a number of art mediums and electives that suit their preferences in order to find effective connections between artistic practice and other academic, research, and professional pursuits.
The French Studies minor emphasizes the acquisition of skills in all aspects of the language—listening comprehension, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural understanding. Knowledge of French gives students a competitive edge when entering careers that seek applicants who are able to communicate in one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Students in this program learn about cultural diversity and become more aware of their own worldview and that of other people around the world.
The Geography Minor provides students with enhanced preparation for their work in a variety of careers that include the intelligence community, environmental agencies, government service, public health, city planning, the business sector, and international development.
The German Studies minor emphasizes the acquisition of skills in all aspects of the language—listening comprehension, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural understanding. Knowledge of German gives students a competitive edge when entering careers that seek applicants who are able to communicate in German, the language spoken in the country with the world's fourth-largest economy.
In York College’s Graphic Design program, you’ll learn how to communicate ideas visually as you gain hands-on experience with the tools and techniques of the industry, both traditional and digital. Accomplished faculty will serve as mentors, guiding you through studio projects and helping you develop a professional portfolio that can kick-start your career upon graduation.
With a B.F.A. in Graphic Design, you’ll hold the industry-standard professional degree in the field — and York College’s unique program provides even more benefits for your future career. From your first year, you’ll have opportunities to display your work and enter juried exhibitions. You’ll also work with specialized equipment, ranging from digital tools to a fully functional historic letterpress, in our on-campus studios.
Who are we? Where are we heading? A knowledge of the past provides us with clues on those crucial questions of life. Want to be a politician, corporate president, lawyer, judge, journalist, or professor? The logical starting point is being a history major, full of useful skill-building.
These skills include writing and presenting information; analyzing ideas, data and information; examining evidence including documents, texts and interviews; and seeing connections and making decisions and reflective judgments. What employer would gloss over those invaluable abilities? Beyond that, you’ll grow as a person, one who better understands the world we live in and how we got here.
The History minor provides students with the basis for historical thinking and methodology. It offers students in many majors the opportunity to study relevant historical topics connected to contemporary issues, develop additional evidence-based critical thinking and research skills, and develop valued communication skills. The History minor can additionally prepare students seeking careers in law, government, and politics, including national security, non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, business, and journalism and publishing.
When it’s time to make important decisions, policymakers turn to their information analysts for assistance. Analysts play a key role in collecting complex data, evaluating sources, and making timely, non-biased assessments. Their job is essential to the process of developing policies — and the impact of their work is felt on an international level.
The Intelligence Analysis degree program at York College prepares you to begin a career in this high-demand field. With a campus located near intelligence communities in Washington, D.C., and eastern Maryland, students are well placed to build their professional network.
The Intelligence Analysis minor focuses on studying and evaluating information gathered from a broad range of sources, from satellite surveillance to human contacts, to produce timely and objective assessments, free of political bias. The minor will complement the student’s primary major in developing skills necessary to perform intelligence analysis in the public sector (intelligence organizations at the federal and state levels), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as well as the private sector (intelligence companies and think tanks).
At its roots, international relations is about understanding global issues and world cultures, and tracing the political, social, ideological and economic history of the world. At York College, you’ll have the opportunity to see that first hand with our study abroad program that has sent students to continents around the world.
The International Relations minor explores large and vital questions about power, international affairs, and political systems around the world. The minor helps prepare students for careers in a wide variety of areas including government, international organizations, journalism, as well as graduate school.
The Legal Studies minor is designed for students interested in understanding law's role in society, including those considering law school or graduate studies. The minor enhances students’ preparation for careers in the practice of law and related professions.
The Literary Studies minor is designed to accompany any major program of study. It provides students with the necessary skill sets to research, evaluate, and analyze scholarly, literary, and cultural texts. Courses in the Literary Studies minor explore a wide range of literary traditions with a focus on how literature relates to the history and culture of society. Within this writing intensive minor, students will cultivate oral, written, and research-based communication skills that will be invaluable in the job market and future post-undergraduate study.
Imagine if you could apply for a job after graduation and be able to tell a radio or television station, “Yes, I’ve used that before.” That’s the York College approach — we give you exposure to audio, radio, and digital video production, news gathering and reporting, copywriting, announcing, and field and control room equipment. It provides a strong foundation for broadcast communications jobs, a corporate career, or a future in digital filmmaking and video production.