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Minors

Studying at The College of Idaho is about more than just your major. Enrich your education and expand your horizons by diving into our 28 minors. At the College, many of our students minor in disciplines vastly distinct from their major. This is the beauty of an interdisciplinary liberal arts education. It helps you excel and transform knowledge into wide-reaching impact and change.

Our Minors

Our Anthropology & Sociology minor takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of anthropology and sociology, two fields that share a methodological, theoretical, and historical heritage. Sociology examines social organization, stratification, and interactions, while anthropology focuses on cultural values/practices, beliefs, and shared meaning-making. Both enrich our capacity to critically analyze the social and cultural conditions of human life. Our minor prepares students for work with culturally and socially diverse peoples in likewise diverse careers.

Our Biology minor offers a research-focused curriculum taught by faculty who are committed to mentoring and engaging students in the process and interpretation of science. Consistent with the liberal arts tradition, our faculty's objectives are to give students a strong foundation in the natural and biological sciences, to prepare them for science-based careers—including careers in research and laboratory work, plant and wildlife management, conservation, and agriculture, as well as medical, dental, veterinary, or related professional pursuits—and to enhance their appreciation and understanding of life on earth.

Our Business minor offers a foundation in business principles, including management and accounting essentials. Designed to complement any major, this minor provides versatile skills in business. Students develop an understanding of business operations, preparing them for diverse roles in any industry. The courses foster critical thinking, financial literacy, and strategic decision-making, strengthening professional competitiveness.

The science of chemistry lies at the intersection of biology, physics, and mathematics. Thus, exploration of the material encompassed by this scientific discipline has the capacity to prepare students for wide variety of future professional endeavors. Our Chemistry minor has been intentionally crafted to allow the course of study to be tuned to compliment the specific academic or professional goals of the student.

A minor in Communication provides students with the opportunity to develop the fundamental portable skills they will need in any path they choose to follow after graduation. With a focus on how communication allows us to share “the commons,” students can expect to develop verbal, written, digital, and group communication skills with an emphasis on the influence of culture in our communicative choices.

A minor in Computer Science offers students a foundational understanding of key computational principles and skills, complementing a wide variety of majors. This minor equips students with the ability to solve complex problems, think critically, and apply technology in diverse fields. With a focus on practical applications and analytical thinking, a Computer Science minor empowers students to leverage computing tools and techniques, enhancing their career prospects in an increasingly digital world.

Our Criminology minor presents students with a distinctly liberal arts approach to this “rendezvous discipline.” Students will investigate criminology from a number of disciplinary and political perspectives. They will learn the basics of how criminal justice systems operate, explore a range of electives to suit your interests, and complete the legendary Prison Experience capstone course, where students will visit a variety of adult and juvenile facilities and gain insights into prison life. The internship option offers valuable experience that can forge connections for future employment.

Our Data Science minor provides students with the foundational skills necessary to extract and communicate meaningful insights from data. Students will gain experience in the three main pillars that constitute data science – statistics, computer science, and specific subject-matter expertise. The minor is designed for students in any major but is best suited for students interested in fields where data is both common and important.

Through the minor in Environmental Humanities, students develop skills in humanistic inquiry while also considering how writers, philosophers, and other theorists have represented the relationship between human and non-human nature. Acknowledging that addressing environmental issues requires understanding and skills that emerge from many disciplines, courses engage students in multidisciplinary study as they analyze environmental ideas. Students minoring in Environmental Humanities encounter a range of theoretical approaches to a variety of dominant and non-dominant cultural expressions, exploring them as manifestations, creations, and interrogations of the human/nonhuman-nature relationship.

The Geography minor exposes students to the interdisciplinary study of human-environment relations by engaging them in focused coursework in cartography, spatial analysis, and the interaction between human settlements and Earth’s physical processes. Students practice the use of mapping software and the visual display of multiple datasets. All upper-level courses require students to assess the influence of natural processes on human activity.

The Geosciences minor is designed to provide students with a background in earth sciences. Students seeking majors outside of the sciences will gain knowledge and skills for communicating the relevance of earth systems science to society and human dimensions. The Geology Minor provides good background for Environmental Studies or other physical science majors who are interested in pursuing Earth sciences beyond their undergraduate degree.

Through the Health Promotion minor, students will recognize the role of scientific inquiry and knowledge in developing exercise recommendations to prevent chronic diseases; apply scientific reasoning towards how physical activity contributes to improved health; demonstrate the ability to use the mathematical and computational approaches common in studies of health promotion; and describe key factors important in a wellness-oriented lifestyle as a basis for personal choice.

History minors graduate with a background in historical methodology and research, while studying the histories of at least two regions of the world.

Through the Human Performance minor, students will recognize the role of scientific inquiry and knowledge in the development of optimal human performance; apply scientific reasoning towards how performing specific exercise programs may improve human performance; demonstrate the ability to use the mathematical and computational approaches common in studies of human performance; and describe how human performance is altered by various structure and function relationships within the human body.

International Affairs investigates the political, economic, and social relations between countries and within countries. As an interdisciplinary program of study, course topics span political philosophy, political economy, comparative studies, economic development, international law, history, geography, and regional studies. It cultivates transferable skills in research, analysis, data interpretation, evidenced-based argumentation, policy evaluation, collective decision-making, cultural awareness, and global literacy. Developing future leaders aiming to contribute to the international community, an International Affairs Major or Minor helps prepare students for post-graduate professional activity in fields such as public service, law, public policy, diplomacy, political activism, journalism, economic development, international education, non-government organizations, and internationally-oriented careers in the private sector.

Call it “the first draft of history,” the engine of the communication revolution, or the literature of fact, journalism performs a most significant role in the twenty-first century. The history of journalistic media mirrors most major issues of our times. Online and interactive platforms have changed journalism, making it more immediate, personal and democratic than ever before, yet the essential tools and techniques of nonfiction and fact-based writing remain remarkably unchanged. The goal of the minor is to produce beginning journalists who possess the critical thinking skills to write effectively, edit clearly and understand the fundamentals of reporting, researching and writing cogent pieces. Present in all coursework is a focus on critical thinking, media literacy and exposure to the best examples of nonfiction writing for print, websites, radio and television. Internships at news organizations give journalism minors a sense of what happens in the workplace.

Our Judaic Studies minor will enable students to gain an understanding of Judaism and global Jewish history. The minor is designed for any student with an interest in Jewish history and religion, including those interested in work in the public sector, non-profit work, or graduate school.

Our Leadership minor is designed to provide students with competencies in communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and team development. These skills are essential for leaders in any organization whether for-profit or non-profit.

Our Literature and Creative Writing minor offers study in the areas of American, British, and postcolonial literature and creative writing (poetry, fiction, and nonfiction). The minor is designed for anyone interested in literature and writing and prepares one for a wide variety of careers and graduate programs, including but not limited to writing, editing, teaching, publishing, journalism, law, marketing, public relations, and the fine arts.

Our Mathematics minor supports the further development of students’ mathematical problem-solving skills. The minor is designed for any student looking to strengthen their quantitative skills, especially those looking at STEM Ph.D. or other professional programs.

Our Music minor is designed for students with a strong interest in music that want to supplement their major with a broad education in music. It is a flexible minor, suitable for students with a strong background in music, or for those who simply love to listen to music but want to learn more about music.

Our Philosophy & Religious Studies minor invites and provokes students to examine themselves and the world in more comprehensive ways, as well as to look at the most fundamental aspects of human reasoning, discourse, and experience. In addition to the methodological core of the program, minors have the flexibility to pursue their interests in the departmental strengths of ethics, religion, science, mind, and the environment, among other areas.

Our Physics minor offers students the opportunity to explore the natural world while developing quantitative reasoning and analytical skills and enhancing career opportunities.

Political economy involves analyzing and explaining the ways in which government affects the allocation of scarce resources in society through public policies and the ways the economic system affects the policies created by government. In this program, students are required to develop critical reasoning skills while recognizing the importance of economic, political, and philosophical principles in the process of developing a better understanding of how Western and non-Western societies interact with each other and provide for their material well-being.

Political economy is an excellent field for students interested in how society organizes itself through government, the market, and non-governmental actors. It is a fine complement for programs that are affected by political economic forces both domestically and globally.

A Spanish minor develops student proficiency in the language and an understanding of cultures in Spanish-speaking societies. Students develop intermediate language skills in speaking, understanding, writing, and reading, and learn about the history, literature, and cultures of Spanish-speaking countries. Understanding Spanish language and Spanish-speaking cultures offers students many professional opportunities in today’s global society. A Spanish minor prepares students for success in a variety of career fields and future endeavors: graduate studies, education, diplomacy, business, social work, public service, law, journalism, and health and mental health professions.

Our minor in Sustainability exposes students to the interdisciplinary study of sustainability issues by engaging them in focused coursework on geography, physical systems, and human-environment relations. Students learn about the development and history of human attitudes about the natural world as well as the extent of human impact on the biosphere and approaches to reducing that impact or making it more sustainable. All upper-level courses require students to assess the influence of natural processes on human activity.

Our Theatre minor offers exploration of theatrical theory and practice, developing appreciation and understanding of the art and craft of theatre. Students will hone skills in acting, stage craft, theatrical design, and play reading and analysis.

Our Water minor provides students background in the science of water in the environment and various ecosystems. Students who are Environmental Studies, Chemistry, and Biology majors are particularly encouraged to pursue this minor to focus their studies on water and the science around water. Students interested in policy and law can also pursue this minor to obtain a more nuanced background into how water interacts within the natural and human-influenced world.

FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS

Dr. Anna Himler (Biology) and Dr. Chris Walser (Biology) connect classroom work to real-world experiences in the field by taking College of Idaho students to Baja California, Mexico and introducing them to its natural history and supporting the students own independent research.

Dr. Thomas William Posen (Music) was recently honored with not one, but two prestigious awards from the Society for Music Theory for his outstanding contributions to music scholarship.

In the Journal of Curriculum Theorizing, Dr. Kevin Talbert (Education) penned this examination of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood and how the well-known inquiry “won’t you be my neighbor” still connects today.

Dr. Rochelle L. Johnson ‘83 (Environmental Studies) won the Georgia Review Prose Prize for her essay “Phantom Pains,” in which she explores the emotional landscape of both personal and planetary loss

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Your innovative spirit has propelled you this far. What’s next? That’s for you to dream, make, live and unleash at The College of Idaho. Come see what awaits you here.

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