The best minors should ideally complement your major and be an extension of the field you are already studying. For example, it is not uncommon to hear of a Business major with an Economics minor or a Neuroscience major with a Psychology minor. While a minor can help you specialize or concentrate in a specific area for your major, the two do not always have to go hand-in-hand. As a Biomedical Science major, I do have a Chemistry minor; however, I also have a Women and Gender Studies minor. Even though this minor does not directly help me with my career plans, it will still help me develop as a person.
I added my Women and Gender Studies (WGST) minor because I have always been passionate about issues revolving around women’s rights and I wanted the chance to take more non-STEM classes during my undergrad. While I do enjoy my major classes, sometimes they can become really stressful and I wanted to add some variety to my course schedule. At Susquehanna the WGST minor is interdisciplinary, meaning the courses offered span over two or more major fields. Because of this, there is a lot of flexibility in the courses we can take to fulfill the minor credits, and we can choose from fifteen different classes outside of the introductory course. Some of these classes include Feminist Philosophy, Women in Art, Gender-Based Violence, and Psychology of Gender. While taking these classes, I will also be able to learn a little bit about topics in Art History, Anthropology, Psychology, etc. which will help me receive a more well-rounded education.
I would definitely recommend adding a minor outside of your major field if you have been considering it. I don’t think that every class you take, or even minor for that matter, has to always help you with your career path or further education. If you genuinely enjoy the subject but do not want to pursue it professionally, adding a minor might be another way to still learn more about it without having to commit to that major.