Humanities and Social Sciences Minor Degrees

The minor in behavioral health focuses on a core of useful and requisite knowledge to work within the behavioral health field. The courses for this minor introduce students to the behavioral health field by teaching them concepts related to ethics, cultural diversity and basic clinical skills to apply as behavioral health paraprofessionals. It can help fulfill the need for entry-level professionals to work as part of an interdisciplinary team in behavioral health. This minor can help prepare students who are seeking employment as behavioral health paraprofessionals. This minor does not lead to licensure or certification.

The minor in counseling is designed to help develop students' understanding of counseling theories and how they relate to working in the human relations field of behavioral health. This minor can provide the opportunity to develop applicable skills in interpreting diagnoses, writing reports and working on integrative health teams. It can help prepare students for positions in behavioral health settings, such as community and private organizations with a focus on addictions and substance use disorders. The minor in counseling can also coordinate well with the theoretical backgrounds of psychology, sociology, communications and ministry. The interplay of theory and practical skills allows students to market their skills to a wider audience of employers. This minor does not lead to licensure.

The minor in forensic psychology focuses on the psychological experiences of victims and sheds insight into abnormal human behavior. Students are introduced to an understanding of the criminal justice system and exposed to crime scene processing. The minor program can help prepare students to work with people who need assistance coping with the aftereffects of a violent crime. Often, police officers are the first point of contact for these individuals. The program is designed for individuals seeking a career as a correctional professional, social worker, homeland security professional, community mental health professional or private-sector worker.

The minor in performance and sport psychology can provide individuals interested in sports, performing arts, health and fitness or mental health fields the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities to help improve the performance and lives of those with whom they work. The field of sports and performance psychology is concerned with the psychological factors that influence human performance. It involves assessment and intervention strategies that can enhance performance and personal growth.

The psychology minor introduces students to the study of human behavior of all ages (children through aging adults). The program examines how personality and cognitive thinking are formed, developed and influenced through each person’s social and cultural environment. Since behavior and emotional development are often affected by both cognitive thinking and the environment, students will be taught the roles of science and research in understanding and enhancing mental health.

The minor in criminal justice exposes students to knowledge and skills across a broad range of applications in criminal justice. Students are taught detailed knowledge of criminality and the justice system’s response to criminal behavior. This minor can benefit those seeking careers in local, state and federal law enforcement, such as police, sheriff, probation and correctional officers.

The pre-law minor exposes students to major concepts of the law, which include the philosophical underpinnings of the Western legal tradition, civil law, criminal law and the practice of law. This foundation of legal thought can help prepare students for law school or a legal career path for those who desire to get a head start in their understanding of the framework of law.

The minor in public administration can help enhance students' understanding of how various factions of government and the private sector interact. This minor can help students prepare for career opportunities in the nonprofit and government sectors, such as city manager, legislative policy administrator, legislative liaison or government relations.

The minor in history examines historical sources, such as written documents, artifacts, oral accounts, and visual materials to understand events, societies, cultures and individuals from earlier periods.

The minor in mathematics teaches skills in mathematical modeling, including many applications in computer science, engineering and business. It can help support students for careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), quantitative visualization and analytics.

The minor in child and family social services offers students the opportunity to gain broader knowledge in the areas of social welfare, child and adolescent development, family dynamics and counseling. This minor is designed for those interested in working in social services and could pair well with undergraduate studies in psychology, counseling, education, nursing and behavioral health sciences. This minor does not require a practicum.

The minor in human services case management teaches knowledge in understanding trauma-informed care, the case management process, coordination of care and working on integrative human services teams and other helping professions. This minor coordinates well with theoretical backgrounds in psychology, sociology, counseling and ministry.

The minor in African American experiences provides students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the African American influence within the U.S. and global communities, including its rich history, diverse voices and important events. Graduates will be taught how cultural differences unify around the core Christian doctrines and common practices of faith.

The minor in Hispanic experiences can provide students with a deeper understanding of the Latinx influence within the U.S. and global communities. Students will be taught about Hispanic traditions, diverse voices and important events in their history. The core Christian doctrines and common practices of faith are also examined to offer an understanding of unity among cultural differences.

The minor in Spanish offers students the opportunity to develop at least intermediate-level fluency in listening, speaking, reading and writing Spanish, and teaches a general introduction to Spanish culture and literature to enhance cross-cultural sensibilities and expand opportunities in the bilingual job market.

The communication minor is designed to develop a student’s foundational knowledge for speaking, writing and thinking critically. This minor can help prepare students for positions in business, government, education, science and healthcare. Communication is essential for the development of the whole person — socially, culturally and professionally.

The minor in literature can help broaden students’ exposure to, and deepen their understanding and appreciation of, essential works of fiction, poetry and drama. The works selected represent every important period and genre in the history of British and American literature, from Anglo- Saxon poetry to Existentialist drama. The authors studied in this program include the mainstays of the literary canon, such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Pope, Wordsworth, Hawthorne, Whitman, Dickinson, James and Eliot, as well as writers whose works exemplify the challenges faced by women, Native Americans, African Americans and other underrepresented groups.

The professional writing minor focuses on teaching students the skills in writing and editing that can be applied to a broad range of professional contexts and careers. The courses for this minor can provide students with important practice and writing in a variety of professional genres, which can help prepare them to adapt their practice to other contexts. Skills taught include writing for public relations, writing and presentation for news stories in various forms of media, writing technical documents and communicating scientific ideas to a variety of people.