Jazz Up Your Education For Relatively Low Effort – Do A Minor

As students, we get to choose our major (AKA what we want to focus our education on) whether that is neuromechanical and physiological sciences, social and behavioural sciences, or multidisciplinary science. Just like choosing your major, you have the option to focus your electives on a specific field that interests you or caters to your goals.

I like to think of a minor as a ‘mini-major’. It’s something you are focusing on in your studies, just not quite as intensely as your major. I mean we have to take these electives anyways, you might as well get recognition for it, and it adds a little *spice* to your resume.

Here’s a riddle: Two identical KIN graduates walk into a job interview, but one of them also has a minor. Which one gets hired?

Obviously, life is way more complex than that, but what I’m trying to say is that having a minor is a really easy way to stand out when applying to postgraduate school or jobs. It shows you have extended yourself beyond the normal coursework of your degree and have found additional topics that interest you. As KIN students, our faculty recognizes four different minors: arts, science, nutrition, and business.

Minor in Arts or Science

Both science and arts have the same requirements: 18 upper-level credits in one field AKA six upper-level (300+) courses! You could pick psychology, sociology, biology, English, history, chemistry, biochemistry, economics….I could sit here and list the hundreds of different fields you could minor in but I think you get the picture. However, you should keep in mind that many upper-level courses have several prerequisites, for example, to take PSYC 300 you need to have taken PSYC 100 prior, and BIOL 306 requires BIOL 203 and 121. Also, you can’t take FREN 300, ECON 300, PSYC 300, SOCI 300, ENGL 300, and HIST 300 (for example) and think you’ve achieved an arts minor…spoiler: it doesn’t work that way; that’s a fantastic way to get a multidisciplinary education but it won’t get you an arts minor since all six courses need to be in the same field.

Minor in Nutrition

This is a pretty common minor that KIN students do as nutrition is indicated in many of the courses we take, and it plays a big role in sport science and performance. Because it is so popular, that means it can be competitive to get into and enrollment is limited. First things first, you need to be a student with a third year-standing to apply. You need a minimum average of 68% from the previous two years and have already taken FNH 250. Once you are in, you have to take FNH 350 and 351, and four of the following: FNH 301, 355, 370, 398, 402, 451, 455, 471, 473, 474, 477, 490. Six courses total…super straightforward. The biggest issue with these courses is that they are high demand and might fill up quickly, and they may conflict with KIN courses. This minor requires lots of planning ahead of time to avoid potential conflicting schedules and ensure you meet the prerequisite requirements.

Minor in Business/Commerce

This minor is great for students who want to venture into the world of business management or sports management. Just like nutrition, students need to have at least 68% from their previous two years of school, and enrollment is limited. Before getting in, students need to have already taken ECON 101, ECON 102, and one of: MATH 100, 102, 104, 120, 180, or 184. Once you have enrolled, you then have to take COMM 329, 457, 465, 473, and 493, and one of the following: COMM 398 or 458. Just like the other minors, six courses total.

With all of the minor programs, you will complete the application (usually just a simple form) in your third year, but the hardest part is planning far enough in advance to ensure you have space in your schedule to fit everything. I would recommend deciding by the end of your first year or beginning of second year to ensure you have completed the prerequisite courses already. However, even if you are in your third year, don’t let this advice deter you from pursuing a minor. I decided to do an arts minor halfway through my third year while taking my very first upper level psyc course, and I’m now in my final semester and taking the last course I need. With three semesters left, I was able to fulfill the requirements. Of course, certain prerequisites might make it more difficult to do, but you can adjust your schedule, take summer courses if needed, or even take an extra semester if you really want to. If everything works out, AMAZING, but if it doesn’t, who cares, it’s just a minor. 

I hope this mini informal guide has helped you understand what a minor is, why you should consider the possibility of doing one, and what you have to do to get one. 

http://www.calendar.ubc.ca/vancouver/index.cfm?tree=12,205,352,607 go here for some direct reading material regarding minors in KIN, or reach out to advising for some extra advice or info kin.advising@ubc.ca