LSA Minors and Specialties: Beyond the Box

Studying business or its related disciplines can be an excellent complement to the Psychology or BCN major. This is a particularly valuable area if you are interested in gaining a solid understanding of business practices, starting or working in a business/startup, or attending graduate school in business or management.

Business

Economics

Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship Supplemental Studies

Studying computer science and developing a background in coding and programming is an invaluable skill to have, and demonstrates your ability to solve complex computing problems in and outside the classroom. Studying similar computer majors can demonstrate and increase your understanding of social media and digital spaces.

Computer Science

Digital Studies

Global Media Studies

Science, Technology, and Society (STS) (Residential College)

Studying the environment and related topics regarding sustainability and resources provides a solid understanding of the outside world, and people's places within it.

Earth and Environmental Sciences (Earth Science, Environmental Geology, Geology, Oceanography, Paleontology)

Energy Science and Policy

Environment

Food

Sustainability

Sustainability Supplemental Studies (open to sophomores only)

Water and the Environment

Studying a foreign language allows you to develop the ability to communicate with and appreciate other cultures and groups of people, and the diversity among Asian languages and cultures is a very rich one. If you decide to pursue an Asian language as a minor or major, consider the valuable opportunities you would have in learning a new language, communicating/translating with others, and/or studying/working abroad.

Chinese

Japanese

Korean

South Asian Programs (Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Urdu)

Southeast Asian Programs (Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese)

Studying a classical language is not studying a dead language. Gaining a written and spoken understanding of a classical language is useful in understanding the etiology and phonetics of modern day language, and this can be particularly helpful when studying the sciences, law, or philosophy.

Ancient Greek

Ancient Hebrew

Latin

Studying a foreign language allows you to develop the ability to communicate with and appreciate other people and cultures, and the variance among European languages and cultures is a very rich one. If you decide to pursue a European language as a minor or major, consider the valuable opportunities you would have in learning a new language, communicating/translating with others, and/or studying/working abroad.

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian

Czech

German

Greek (Modern)

Polish

Russian

Scandinavian Studies (proficiency in SCAND 234-Swedish) required

Ukrainian

Yiddish

Studying a foreign language allows you to develop the ability to communicate with and appreciate other cultures and groups of people, and the variance across the Middle and Near Eastern cultures is strong. If you decide to pursue a Middle or Near Eastern language as a minor or major, consider the valuable opportunities you would have in learning a new language, communicating/translating with others, and/or studying/working abroad.

Arabic

Armenian

Hebrew

Persian

Turkish

Studying a foreign language allows you to develop the ability to communicate with and appreciate other cultures and groups of people, and the variety among Romance languages and cultures is a rich one. If you decide to pursue a Romance language as a minor or major, consider the valuable opportunities you would have in learning a new language (and similarity across Romance languages,) communicating/translating with others, and/or studying/working abroad.

French

Italian

Portuguese

Spanish

Studying specific regions and cultures of the globe enhances a student's perspective of how other places live and thrive. Studying another geographical area (and often, gaining language proficiency as part of the process) lets Psychology and BCN students gain further understanding, history and culture of an area. This in turn can position them for study, work, or living abroad.

Asian Studies

Central Eurasian Studies

Eastern European Studies

International Studies*

Latin American and Caribbean Studies*

Middle Eastern and North African Studies*

Modern European Studies*

Russian Studies

Asterick (*) means the minor has a language requirement.

Learning about past people, places and facts helps to solidify and realize the values and implications of current and future events. Depending on your area of interest, studying a specific or general time period of history can help complement your Psychology or BCN major.

History (General)

Global History

History of Law and Policy

History of Medicine and Health

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

Art History

Museum Studies

Taking additional mathematics or statistics courses generally or as a minor is an excellent way to increase your competitive edge and understanding of quantitative practice. Interpreting graphs, functions and numbers is critical in understanding and generating data in Psychology or BCN. Greater literacy in quantitative methods can give you the skills to pursue research, actuarial studies, or work in a number of different areas.

Applied Statistics

Mathematics

Statistics

Gaining an in-depth understanding of racial/ethnic groups has the potential for a student to learn more about the socio-cultural ways of people similar or different than themselves. Taking coursework or minoring in racial/ethnic studies is an excellent way to complement the Psychology or BCN major and gain a solid understanding of groups of people.

African American and African Studies

Latina/o Studies

Native American Studies

Asian American/Pacific Islander Studies

Arab and Muslim American Studies

Pursuing a minor or specialty of study in the natural sciences gives students in Psychology and BCN the opportunity to enhance their understanding of how science plays roles in human and animal psychology. Additionally, it is an excellent way to expand experience in research, future teaching opportunities, or lab work.

Biology (General, Ecology/Evolutionary Biology, Plant Biology)

Biophysics

Chemistry (General, Biochemistry, Chemical Measurement Science, Chemical Physics, Polymer Chemistry)

Interdisciplinary Astronomy

Physics

The social practice minors and specialties include a variety of areas ranging from law to social work to women's studies. Any of these would be a strong complement to Psychology or BCN and for a more specific area of study, particularly if a path of study you are interested in is not offered within your major. Note that several of the majors below fall within other programs on campus such as the Residential College and Engineering, so plan your application and coursework accordingly.

Community Action and Social Change

Complex Systems

Crime and Justice

Gender, Race and Nation

Gender and Health

Intergroup Relations Education

Law, Justice, and Social Change

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Sexuality Studies

Multidisciplinary Design Program

Urban Studies

Taking classes or pursuing a minor in an additional social science is an excellent complement to Psychology or BCN as you consider areas which may lead to a specific specialization. Many of the social science minors have some connection to Psychology or BCN (several theories are relevant and practiced in these areas,) and some courses cross-list with Psychology.

Anthropology (General, Biological Anthropology, and Medical Anthropology)

Philosophy (General, History of Philosophy, Moral and Political Philosophy, Mind and Meaning, Epistemology and Philosophy of Science)

Linguistics

Political Science

Translation Studies

Being able to communicate well and express oneself on paper is a critical skill. In Psychology and BCN, it is particularly helpful when writing papers, delineating information, and creating lab reports. Additionally, writing can be thought of as a skill which can get one to the next step in their future. For example, when preparing and submitting application materials for graduate school and jobs, such as resumes, cover letters, and personal statements, expressing oneself is a critical component of the application.

Creative Writing

Writing

Gaining an understanding of religion and religious studies helps to enhance a student's perspective and understanding of another's beliefs and spirituality, and can help complement the Psychology or BCN major by deepening this understanding of why such spirituality matters individually and collectively among people.

Religion

Early Christian Studies

Islam Studies

Judaic Studies