University of Minnesota
Department of Writing Studies
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writ@umn.edu


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{Home > Graduate : Graduate Handbook: M.A.: Minors & Supporting Programs}

Minors & Supporting Programs

The M.A. and Ph.D. programs require coursework outside the department, either as a formal minor or “supporting program.”  These courses (at least 6 credits for the M.A. and 12 credits for the Ph.D.) are intended to complement your R&STC program.  You need an outside member on your exams; if you have a formal minor, that person must be on its faculty.

Minors

The current Graduate School Catalog describes minors in many departments (in each department’s “Degree Program” section), as well as several free-standing interdepartmental or intercollegiate minor programs.

Minors popular with students in Writing Studies include

  • Feminist Studies
  • Literacy and Rhetorical Studies (e.g., taking English and Curriculum and Instruction courses)
  • Human Factors/Ergonomics
  • History of Science, Technology, and Medicine
  • Second Language Studies—English as a Second Language
  • Comparative Studies in Discourse and Society (focus on theory)

Other departments – not all have both Masters and Doctoral level minors

  • American Studies
  • Anthropology (for ethnography)
  • Classical and Near Eastern Studies
  • Education, Curriculum, and Instruction
  • Educational Psychology
  • English
  • History
  • Linguistics
  • Philosophy
  • Sociology
  • Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences

Other free-standing minors

  • International Education
  • Museum Studies
  • Public Health
  • Studies of Science and Technology
  • Transportation Studies (certificate)

Supporting Program

Unlike minors, a supporting program does not have to meet the formal requirements of another department. A set of complementary courses from one or more departments—but not Department of Writing Studies courses, and approved by your advisor—constitutes a supporting program.