Broad horizons and global perspectives: Here’s why you should consider an Interdisciplinary Minor

Pursuing an Interdisciplinary Minor — a minor that spans several academic areas — can expand an academic journey, help develop diverse skills, broaden perspectives and empower a student to pursue interests outside their main area of study.

At McMaster, students can choose to pursue an Interdisciplinary Minor from six different areas: Africa and Black Diaspora Studies; Community Engagement; Globalization Studies; Latin American and LatinX Studies; Sustainability; and Civic Vitality, Democracy and Elections Management.

“Exploring areas of study beyond one’s primary field not only broadens horizons but also fosters adaptability, which is essential for navigating the complexities of our world,” says Kim Dej, vice-provost, Teaching and Learning.

“The Interdisciplinary Minors also allow our students to engage with local and global community partners and take part in hands-on learning, giving them a more holistic understanding of societal engagement.”

At an information fair held last month, students, academic advisors and instructors with ties to the Interdisciplinary Minors shared their experiences and insights.

Here’s what they had to say:

Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability

“What I really liked about sustainability is that it includes three pillars: environmental, social, and economic. So, you can really bring that into different fields, and I really like the experiential learning opportunities that come with SUSTAIN courses as well.”

– Roxann Forget, Fourth Year Biomedical Discovery & Commercialization Student minoring in Sustainability

Interdisciplinary Minor in Latin American & Latinx Studies  

 “My favourite course was LATAM 2A03. You learn about Latin America as a whole and how diasporas move. You learn about the Indigenous people in Latin America — Taínos, the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs. And it’s a very cool course to learn about.”

– Daniel Yanes Alvarenga, Third Year Honours Political Science Student minoring in Latin American and Latinx Studies

“My favourite course was LATAM 3A03, and I think it was so much fun because we got to learn about the Black diaspora in Latin America and the Black history in every country of Latin America, which is often overlooked.”

– Danielle Berges, Third Year Honours Political Science Student minoring in Latin American and Latinx Studies

Interdisciplinary Minor in Community Engagement  

“The Minor in Community Engagement is beneficial for anyone who wants to learn how to make positive social change in their community and apply it right here in Hamilton with different institutions and organizations. Any student can benefit from pursuing a Minor in Community Engagement. It teaches you foundational knowledge that you can apply to any career path. My favourite course is Community Engagement 2A03. It was awesome for learning the foundational theories of community engagement, which I’ve  brought with me into every course I’ve taken since then and every career opportunity I’ve had as well.”

– Rachel Gallagher, Fourth Year Sociology Student minoring in Community Engagement

Interdisciplinary Minor in Africa & Black Diaspora Studies  

“I teach ABLD 2AE3, Introduction to Afro Environmentalism during Intersession 2024. The essence of the course is to understand climate and environmental justice through the lens of the Black experience. We look at engineering, issues around adaptation to climate change, and the lives of Black communities. The course explores how Black experiences and perspectives relate to environmental issues.”

– Hosea Patrick (PhD), ABLD 2AE3 Course Instructor

Interdisciplinary Minor in Globalization 

“The Minor in Globalization provides students with an opportunity to explore globalization from an interdisciplinary perspective. This minor is suitable for students who are interested in connecting the human experience with programs and fields that may not otherwise offer space for it like economics, business, sciences.”

– Rhiannon Muirhead, Administrative Assistant, Minor in Globalization

Interdisciplinary Minor in Civic Vitality, Democracy, and Electoral Management 

“Available as of Fall 2024, CIVDEM is an Interdisciplinary Minor in Civic Vitality, Democracy, and Electoral Management, and it is for everybody because democracy is for everybody. It offers experiential learning opportunities with a variety of external partners who are working in the sector of elections and democracy so students can get hands-on experience. They can learn about the jobs that are available in this sector because it takes a lot of skills to improve democracy and run an election, whether geographic skills, operations management skills, or philosophy, and thinking about what trust and electoral integrity means.”

– Karen Bird, Political Science Professor