Storytelling Minor
Storytelling builds connection, can foster dialogue across diverse populations, and enhance the work of individuals across a wide range of occupations.
The Storytelling minor focuses on developing the narrative skills that employers increasingly value across industries. Research shows that organizations seek graduates who can craft engaging stories, communicate ideas clearly, and connect with diverse audiences. These are abilities that storytelling uniquely cultivates for careers in education, marketing, media, leadership, and beyond.
A Minor in Storytelling fosters skills essential to the new economy of networking, creativity, and self-presentation through a blending of:
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content knowledge and delivery skills
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theory and practice
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thought and feeling
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art and professional applications
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Completion of a Storytelling Minor means completing 18 credits, distributed across the following categories:
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Required Courses: 12 Credits
STOR 2500 - Introduction to Storytelling (3 credits)
STOR 3510 - Storytelling II: Storytelling in Oral Traditions (3 credits)
STOR 4510 - Storytelling III: Telling Personal Stories (3 credits)
STOR 4647 - Applied Storytelling: Storytelling for a Purpose (3 credits) -
Advisor Approved Electives: 6 Credits
6 credits to be approved by the student’s minor advisor, and drawn from related courses in Education, Communication, Theater, English, Folklore, Anthropology/Sociology, Business and Marketing, History, Literature and Languages, etc.
Approved electives from related departments may focus on storytelling as an element of culture, as a mode of transmitting content, or on aspects of the performance process.
Examples include:
ANTH 3070 - Medical Anthropology (3 credits)
ANTH 3250 - Environmental Anthropology (3 credits)
APST 2060 - Introduction to Appalachian Studies (3 credits)
APST 3530 - Religion in Appalachia (3 credits)
ECED 3150 - Creative Development of Young Children (3 credits)
ENGL 3280 - Mythology (3 credits)
ENGL 4217 - Irish/Scottish Literature (3 credits)
HIST 3041 - History of Southern Appalachians (3 credits)
HIST 3911 - Ancient Religions (3 credits)
JOUR 2050 - Issues in News and Social Media (3 credits)
MGMT 3000 - Organizational Behavior and Management (3 credits)
MKTG 3200 - Principles of Marketing (3 credits)
COMM 3340 - Rhetorical Criticism (3 credits)
COMM 3350 - Relational Communication (3 credits)
COMM 3390 - Persuasion (3 credits)
COMM 4200 - Gender and Communication (3 credits)
THEA 2510 - Acting I (3 credits)
THEA 2520 - Voice and Diction (3 credits)
For more information, please visit our page in the ETSU catalog here.
For more information about Communication Studies as a minor, please contact the Head of the Storytelling Program for the Department of Communication Studies and Storytelling, Nancy Donoval, at (423) 439-7579 or donoval@etsu.edu.
Expand Your Impact with a Major
If you’re drawn to the Storytelling minor, consider expanding your impact by pursuing the Storytelling major. The minor introduces the art and practice of narrative, but the major offers a more comprehensive exploration of storytelling techniques, performance, and theory. Majoring provides greater opportunities for hands-on experience, creative projects, and career preparation in fields where the power of story can inspire, persuade, and connect audiences.