What is a minor?
A minor is a secondary area of study. Requirements vary, but it is typically about eighteen hours, at least twelve of which must be at the junior/senior level (300+ numbered courses). A minor can be in nearly any discipline and can be in a college or professional school that is different from your own (with a few exceptions). For example, you can major in Psychology and minor in Business, or major in Journalism and minor in German, or major in Biology and minor in Dance. The possibilities are endless!
Why would I want a minor?
Minors can be a great way to pursue your passion or interests. For example, you may have studied piano for years, but you're not going to make it to Carnegie Hall. With a minor, you can continue to develop and nurture your talent with professional instructors while dedicating the majority of your education to some other career-minded pursuit.
A minor can also supplement your educational or career goals—for example, you may want to minor in a language if you are going to be a teacher, a businessperson, work abroad, or in government. An education across the disciplines has never been more important, and a minor can help bring together different ideas, concepts, and expertise to engage you with new ways of thinking and exciting technologies. Thinking creatively is of the most desirable qualities that employers are seeking in new hires. When you minor in something that is both different from and complementary to your major, you develop new ways of thinking and bring a fresh perspective that can help you to stand out on the job market.
Do I need a minor?
Unless you are earning a BGS degree, and you are not earning two certificates or another major, you do not need to have a minor. For Bachelor of Art (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees they are optional!
(from the Undergraduate Advising Center; http://advising.ku.edu/minors)
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
African and African-American Studies |
Minor in African and African-American Studies |
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Minor in African and African Diasporic Languages |
American Studies |
Minor in Latino/a Studies |
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Minor in American Studies |
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Minor in Social Justice in the U.S. |
Anthropology |
Minor in Anthropology |
Applied Behavioral Science |
Minor in Applied Behavioral Science |
Chemistry |
Minor in Chemistry |
Classics |
Minor in Classics |
Communication Studies |
Minor in Communication Studies |
East Asian Languages and Cultures |
Minor in East Asian Languages and Cultures |
Economics |
Minor in Economics |
English |
Minor in English |
Environmental Studies |
Minor in Environmental Studies |
French, Francophone, and Italian Studies |
Minor in French and Francophone Studies |
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Minor in Italian Studies |
Geography and Atmospheric Science |
Minor in Geography |
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Minor in Atmospheric Science |
Geology |
Minor in Geology |
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Minor in Petroleum Geology |
German Studies |
Minor in German Studies |
Global and International Studies |
Minor in European Studies |
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Global and International Studies Minor |
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Minor in Middle East Studies |
History |
Minor in History |
History of Art |
Minor in History of Art |
Humanities |
Minor in Humanities |
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Minor in Peace and Conflict Studies |
Indigenous Studies |
Indigenous Studies Minor |
Institute for Leadership Studies |
Minor in Leadership Studies |
Jewish Studies |
Minor in Jewish Studies |
Latin American Caribbean Studies |
Minor in Latin American Area Studies |
Linguistics |
Minor in Linguistics |
Mathematics |
Minor in Mathematics |
Philosophy |
Minor in Philosophy |
Physics and Astronomy |
Minor in Astrobiology |
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Minor in Astronomy |
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Minor in Physics |
Political Science |
Minor in Intelligence and National Security Studies |
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Minor in Political Science |
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Minor in Public Policy in the United States |
Psychology |
Minor in Psychology |
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Minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences Methodology |
Religious Studies |
Minor in Religious Studies |
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies |
Minor in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies |
Slavic Languages and Literatures |
Minor in Slavic Languages and Literatures |
Sociology |
Minor in Sociology |
Spanish and Portuguese |
Minor in Brazilian Studies |
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Minor in Spanish |
Speech-Language-Hearing: Sciences and Disorders |
Minor in Speech-Language-Hearing |
Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies |
Minor in Human Sexuality |
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Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies |