Why Study Arts, Letters, and Enterprise?

Through the Arts, Letters, and Enterprise (ALE) minor, you connect your interests to organizations, communities, and careers. You build business and nonprofit knowledge while gaining practical experience for life after graduation.

Business and Nonprofit Literacy

Build a foundation in business basics while exploring grant writing, fundraising, and the work of nonprofit organizations.

Internships During the Year and in the Summer

ALE connects students to academic-year internships and to fully paid, 10-week summer internships in San Antonio, with optional on-campus housing.

A Minor That Works Across Disciplines

Most ALE students major in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, making the program a strong complement to a wide range of Trinity majors.

It’s a good fit for you if you:

  • Want to explore what you can do with your major.
  • Are interested in nonprofit, arts, government, business, or community-based work.
  • Want internship experience during the academic year or summer.
  • Would benefit from learning the language of business, fundraising, and organizational life.

The minor works well with majors in:

Art and art history, biology, English, music, philosophy, political science, psychology, sociology, theatre, and other humanities, science, and social science disciplines. 

What You'll Study

ALE introduces students to the practical side of organizations and mission-driven work. Depending on your path through the minor, you may study business fundamentals, grant writing and fundraising, and internship-based learning that connects classroom ideas to a professional setting.

 

In Demand-Skills:

  • Apply business and nonprofit principles to real-world contexts
  • Communicate effectively across organizational and community settings
  • Connect academic knowledge to professional and civic environments

Comprehensive Curriculum

Students complete 21 credit hours that integrate business fundamentals, nonprofit practices such as grant writing and fundraising, and internship-based learning during the academic year or summer.

View minor requirements in the course catalog

Detailed course requirements, sequencing, and policies are outlined in the official Courses of Study Bulletin.

Meet Your Faculty Mentors

Learn from faculty and staff across the arts, humanities, sciences, business, and experiential learning who help students connect classroom knowledge with real-world impact.

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Co-Director

Carl Leafstedt, Ph.D.

Professor

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Co-Director

Jacob K. Tingle, Ed.D.

Associate Professor

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Jack Leifer, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

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Jennifer L. Rames, M.S.

Assistant Director for Internships and Course Projects

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Adam Schreiber, M.F.A.

Associate Professor

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James (Jim) Shinkle, Ph.D.

Professor

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Lauren Turek, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Get Your Questions Answered

Students interested in the ALE minor should:

Meet with an academic adviser to explore how the minor fits your degree plan, discover courses in business, nonprofit organizations, grant writing, and fundraising, and review the course catalog for detailed requirements.

Arts, Letters, and Enterprise

Carlos Alvarez School of Arts and Humanities