Minors
Enhance your education with a minor from the College of ACES. Employers are often impressed with students who have worked to fit in a second area of study. Minors are often easy to complete, requiring only 18 to 21 credit hours. Some minors provide students opportunities to travel abroad or pursue experiential learning experiences.
A look at the Leadership Studies Minor
To help better prepare students for future careers, the University of Illinois has established a new minor in Leadership Studies available to all undergraduate students.With collaboration from virtually all colleges on campus, this new curriculum is in place to offer students an interdisciplinary minor that will deepen their understanding of leadership principles.
“This minor will broaden students’ perspectives in multiple leadership contexts,” said Lisa Burgoon, program coordinator of the minor in leadership studies. “It aims to enhance understanding of the social and organizational processes that influence effective leadership across diverse contexts.”
The curriculum, developed by faculty and staff from all U of I undergraduate colleges, and administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), requires students to fulfill 17 to 18 credit hours through a variety of courses offered by every college across campus. Three required courses provide instruction in leadership theory, interpersonal dimensions of leadership, and scientific research that support theories of leadership.
Students will also choose two elective courses – which can either be outside or within their major discipline, Burgoon said. The Illinois Leadership® Center, a partnership in student leadership education between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs at the U of I, has also been instrumental in creating and implementing courses and recruiting students in the minor.
Rachel Bernstein, a senior majoring in communications and minoring in leadership studies, said leadership skills transcend all occupations and community endeavors.
“Whether I am trying to excel in the business world or as a community organizer, the leadership skills I develop at the University of Illinois through this minor will be extremely beneficial to me and my community,” Bernstein added.
Burgoon said that this program will help students develop the non-technical, life and communication skills that organizations want and need.
For more information, contact Lisa Burgoon at burgoon@illinois.edu.
