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 University, many students choose to pursue one. A minor is a valuable tool with which students can learn about something outside and perhaps unrelated to their major.

Most of the majors offered in CLA also have corresponding minors. Click here to see the majors in CLA that also offer minors. Additionally, CLA has freestanding minors (minors that do not have corresponding majors), which often allow you to take courses in a variety of academic subjects.  To see a list of all the minors offered at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities use the Major and Minor Search Tool (http://onestop2.umn.edu/programCatalog/).  Just choose “Free-Standing Minor” or “Minor Related to a Major” in the “Select a program type” dropdown menu, and click “Search.”  If you see a minor that interests you, check out the website below to learn more about it, including the course requirements.

Of course, students in the Psychological Sciences Student Community are often attracted to similar minors.  Here’s a list of popular minors in PsySci, along with websites at which you can find more information:

• Art (http://artdept.umn.edu/ugrad/about.php#M)
• Child Psychology (http://psysci.class.umn.edu/documents/Minors_Related_to_the_Psychological_Sciences.html#CPsy)
• Communication Studies (http://www.comm.umn.edu/ugrad/major.html#minor)
• Family Social Science (http://fsos.che.umn.edu/undergraduate/programinfo/minor.html)
• Family Violence Prevention (http://ssw.che.umn.edu/Programs/FVP.html)
• French Studies (http://www.frit.umn.edu/ugrad/french.htm)
• Leadership (http://www1.umn.edu/lead/minor/3_requirements/1_sequence.html)
• Learning Abroad (http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/academic/learningAbroadMinor/index.html)
• Management (http://www.csom.umn.edu/Page4748.aspx)
• Mass Communication (http://www.sjmc.umn.edu/undergrads/minorreqs.html)
• Psychology (http://psysci.class.umn.edu/documents/Minors_Related_to_the_Psychological_Sciences.html#Psy)
• Social Justice (http://ssw.che.umn.edu/Programs/socialjustice/SJ_courseinfo.html)
• Sociology (http://www.soc.umn.edu/ugrad/declaremin.html)
• Spanish Studies (http://spanport.cla.umn.edu/ugrad/minors.php)
• Speech-Language-Hearing Science (http://psysci.class.umn.edu/documents/Minors_Related_to_the_Psychological_Sciences.html#SLHS)
• Youth Studies (http://ssw.che.umn.edu/Programs/yost/minor.html)
  

Make certain to check for our next Countdown installment next week: Get involved in the University Community.