Online Minors

Anthropology is the study of human origins and evolution, the present conditions of human life and the prospects for the future. It considers human beings as biological and social entities and seeks to explain both diversities and commonalities of peoples and cultures. Pursuing a minor in anthropology can help facilitate entry to a variety of careers in archaeology, museology, education, community service, public administration, public health, international affairs and business. 

While the roots of the study of communication trace back to the ancient arts of philosophy, rhetoric and aesthetics, its contemporary practices speak to the opportunities and dilemmas of participating in a globalized, mediated and multicultural society. Communication skills are essential for success in so many different fields, including advertising, business, international relations, education, public service, government and politics, health care and public relations.

A minor in criminal justice provides foundational knowledge of criminology and criminal justice. If you’re majoring in sociology, psychology, political science, or another related field, you are likely to interact with the criminal justice system in your career and would benefit from the addition of this minor to your degree. As a graduate, this minor can help you pursue an opportunity in legislation, policy analysis, advocacy, law enforcement, security and more.

The English Writing, Rhetoric, and Technology minor allows you to complement your degree with a focused and systematic experience in writing. Those who select a minor in this area will learn to acquire and synthesize information and to present their ideas and opinions skillfully. This minor can help you find employment in fields in which the sophisticated use of language is necessary for achievement and advancement. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study, not only in writing, film studies and literature, but to schools of medicine, law, education, journalism and business.

The minor in Ethnic Studies offers you the opportunity to enhance and broaden the body of knowledge acquired in your chosen major and to apply it in a variety of careers involving intercultural relations. The Ethnic Studies minor is designed to help anyone majoring in the liberal arts and sciences develop a sophisticated and broad understanding of ethnicity and its role in contemporary American society.

Geography is a science that focuses on the spatial analysis of human/physical patterns and processes. Geographers attempt to identify the factors affecting the distribution of people and their activities on the surface of the earth and to provide meaningful solutions to problems faced by societies. This is an ideal minor for the liberal arts student, providing exposure to the concepts and techniques utilized in investigating the physical sciences, environmental and sustainability issues, socioeconomic problems and planning policies.

History courses integrate many branches of knowledge, cutting across the lines of the social sciences and the humanities, and even the natural sciences. Identifying forces of stability and processes of change, history students develop their research, writing and analytical skills, which serve them well beyond their university years. Graduates with a history minor can use their knowledge to bolster their success in any professional field including business, political science, criminal justice, health care, and more.

The Human Development and Family Relations (HDFR) minor prepares students to effectively serve and understand culturally and linguistically diverse family systems. For students who are interested in becoming family therapist, work in community-based organizations or work as a university or college advisor/administrator this minor will provide excellent foundational courses in these areas. It also provides students with a family systems and ecological systems theories foundation of families and how they interact with community and educational contexts.

The minor in International Studies (INTS) prepares you with knowledge of other cultures, languages, and governments. Graduates have a tremendous advantage over other candidates in an increasingly competitive job market. During this minor, you'll develop cross-cultural competence, improve historical knowledge, increase your research ability, work as part of a team and cultivate the ability to analyze, model, and solve real-world problems. You'll gain the interdisciplinary knowledge and skills to succeed in a globalized economy.​

The undergraduate minor in Law Enforcement provides a detailed, comprehensive, and advanced education in the field of law enforcement. This program is designed for students who are employed or will work in the field of law enforcement. During the minor you will build the knowledge and skills to evaluate and respond to a variety of situations in law enforcement professions that require technical, analytic, substantive, and ethical decision-making. You will develop an understanding of the different environments and contexts in which law enforcement carry out their responsibilities.

A minor in Nonprofit Management is expected to be popular with students from fields in which nonprofit organizations play a significant role such as psychology, public health, environmental studies, and ethnic studies. Through this minor, a student can focus on the fundamentals of nonprofit management, and also has the option to participate in extracurricular activities leading to the Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) designation through the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance.

Political science is the study of people, power and the public good. Looking at a variety of societies, institutions and interpersonal situations, the discipline asks who has power, where this power comes from, how it is used, how it promotes or impairs the public good and how the public good is defined. Political science draws from other fields, such as psychology, philosophy, economics, sociology and world literature. Finally, it explores the relationship between idealism and realism, between theory and practice, between political thought and personal action. Opportunities in political science include careers in business, teaching, journalism, community organizing and government service. A political science background also serves as good preparation for professional training in law and public administration.

Psychology is the scientific study of behavior, consisting largely of the following major areas of study: experimental psychology, biopsychology, animal behavior, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, personality, industrial/organizational psychology and abnormal psychology. Graduates with a psychology minor can use their knowledge to bolster their success in any professional field including business, political science, criminal justice, health care, and more.

A minor in Public Service provides needed competencies to a generation looking for meaningful work consistent with their social values. Public Service courses provide students with the skills and content knowledge to work in public, private, and nonprofit sectors and the emerging fourth sector that blends social and environmental concerns with business approaches. This minor is particularly useful for students majoring in substantive areas (such as environmental studies, education and human development, and criminal justice) who plan on applying their expertise in public service organizations such as governmental agencies or nonprofit organizations.

Sociology is the scientific study of groups, social processes, social institutions and behavior. The major in sociology is designed to familiarize students with these areas through an understanding of theory, methods and data analytic procedures employed within them. Graduates with a Sociology minor can be employed in a variety of professional areas, including the criminal justice system, education, health and social services, and with state and local government agencies.

The undergraduate minor in Victims and Victim Services provides a detailed, comprehensive, and advanced education in fields related to victims and victim services. This program is designed for students who are employed or plan to work in a field related to victim services. Students completing this minor will have the knowledge and skills to evaluate, manage, and respond to a variety of situations and issues that professionals in fields related to victims and victim services face. Specifically, they will possess technical, analytic, substantive, and ethical proficiencies that will facilitate their professional interactions and development. They will understand the different environments and contexts in which victim advocates and other professionals in this field and related ones carry out their responsibilities.