9 Weeks To Go: Meaningful minors…  (July 6, 2009)

You don't need one, but it may of great benefit!

Contrary to popular thinking, it isn't too early to start thinking about a minor. All right, we know, you probably haven't even decided on a major, but that's okay. Your search for the perfect major can be done in combination with a search for a minor that interests you.

Although a minor is not required at the U of M, many students choose certain courses in a field outside (or even unrelated to) their major area.  The choice to focus on a minor can strategically support and prepare you for study abroad, community involvement, careers, graduate school… or meaningfully develop personal interests. 

Find minor requirements online, through the University Catalog 2008-2010, as well as on individual department websites.   Often (but not always), a department will offer both a major and minor.  Additionally, CLA and other UMTC college have freestanding minors (minors that do not have a corresponding major, or if offered by a different college, may be available to CLA students).  Once at the on-line Catalog you can have two options for minors – minors related to majors or freestanding minors.

Here is a list of some of the minors that have been chosen by students in Social Sciences Student Community:

Art History http://arthist.cla.umn.edu/ugrad/ba_req.htm#minor

Asian Languages and Literatures http://www.all.umn.edu/ugrad/minor.html

Child Psychology http://cehd.umn.edu/icd/undergrad/earndegree.html

Communication Studies http://www.comm.umn.edu/ugrad/major.html#minor

English http://english.cla.umn.edu/ugrad/degree.html#minor

Family Violence Prevention

http://cehd.umn.edu/SSW/current_students/undergrad/family_violence_prevention/

Italian http://frit.umn.edu/ugrad/italian.htm

Leadership http://www1.umn.edu/lead/minor/index.html

Learning Abroad

http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/academic/learningAbroadMinor/index.html

Management http://www.csom.umn.edu/Page4748.aspx

Psychology http://www.psych.umn.edu/undergrad/minor.htm

Social Justice http://cehd.umn.edu/SSW/current_students/undergrad/social_justice/

Spanish Studies http://www.spanport.umn.edu/ugrad/minors.php

Studies in Cinema and Media Culture http://cscl.umn.edu/ugrad/scmc.html

Sustainability Studies http://www.sustainability.umn.edu/minor/

CONNECT – LEARN – ACT

Act upon exploring minors now.  Consider taking a class to learn something new.  You may find a connection, for your future, that you were not expecting!

Next week, get some tips on GETTING INVOLVED…