Health and Human Development Minors

Study life and health sciences alongside humanities disciplines, ranging from ethics and history to religious studies and literature.  This intersection affects a variety of careers related to health and human development, including ethical situations in clinical practice, nutritional sciences, and other healthcare fields.

Learn more about the Bioethics and Medical Humanities minor >>

Suggested majors for Bioethics and Medical Humanities minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Address ethical issues in the understanding of biological, behavioral, and physiological human functions.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Bring humanities disciplines, like human value and ethics, to interacting with persons overcoming speech, language, or learning difficulties. 
• Health Policy and Administration — Understand and manage ethics issues at hospitals and healthcare facilities.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Understand how humanities disciplines interpret human development and the life cycle, and navigate ethics concerns in human services settings.
• Kinesiology — Address ethics issues in physical or occupational therapy clinics.
• Nutritional Sciences — Understand ethics concerns that relate to nutrition and food systems. 
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Gain an interdisciplinary understanding of child maltreatment, the structure of child protective service systems, and ways to identify, investigate, treat, and prevent child maltreatment.  These are important skills for many health and human development students who plan to work in a setting focused on children and families, including healthcare, counseling, and education.

Learn more about the Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies minor >>

Suggested majors for Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies minors

• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Work with children overcoming speech, language, and learning disabilities in the foster care system.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Interact with children and families who have experienced maltreatment or who are involved in child protective services.
• Nutritional Sciences — Understand the nutritional implications of child maltreatment and how to use food as a path to future health.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Work in a facility that hosts children and families who have experienced maltreatment.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Learn about people with hearing disabilities, audition, and deafness, and be able to recognize the impact of deafness and its cultural differences on an individual in educational, social, and vocational settings. 

Learn more about the Deafness and Hearing Studies minor >>

Suggested majors for Deafness and Hearing Studies minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Study the biological and physiological causes of deafness and hearing disabilities.
• Health Policy and Administration — Understand policy and management at a facility that caters to deaf and hearing-disabled persons.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Understand how hearing disabilities and deafness affect development.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Develop a broad understanding of disability, including social systems, environmental factors, and cultural history.  This minor will help supplement studies in both the clinical realm and humanities disciplines, including discussions of human value and political agency.

Learn more about the Disability Studies minor >>

Suggested majors for Disability Studies minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Study how biological, behavioral, and physiological functions affect disability.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Develop a broader understanding of disability, including speech and learning concerns, and its social and environmental influences.
• Health Policy and Administration — Understand healthcare policy and management related to disability.
• Hospitality Management — Learn to accommodate disabilities in hospitality and entertainment venues.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Interact with individuals affected by disabilities and learn how disability affects individual and community development.
• Kinesiology — Work with individuals with disabilities in physical or occupational therapy settings.
• Nutritional Sciences — Advocate for healthy food and nutritional in communities affected by disabilities.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Learn to work with and accommodate disabilities in recreation and tourism venues.

Explore the role of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic status, and cultural diversity in various health and human development careers, including healthcare, education, hospitality, and tourism.  Employers in these fields know their workforce and customers are becoming more diverse, and they actively seek employees with cultural competencies.

Learn more about the Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Development minor >>

Majors for Diversity and Inclusion in Health and Human Development minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Study diversity markers in human biology, physiology, behaviors, and cultures.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Learn to interact with diverse populations in speech and language therapy environments.
• Health Policy and Administration — Manage healthcare facilities with diverse consumers and work forces.
• Hospitality Management — Represent and interact with diverse populations at hospitality and entertainment venues.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Explore how diversity markers affect individual, family, and community development.
• Kinesiology — Learn to interact with diverse populations in physical and occupational therapy settings.
• Nutritional Sciences — Study how diversity markers affect nutritional behaviors and related health issues.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Represent and interact with diverse populations at recreation and tourism venues.

Address pressing needs in established companies and initiate new business opportunities around the world.  This minor uses problem-based and active learning to prepare students to be agents of positive change in their careers.

Learn more about the Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor >>

Suggested majors for Entrepreneurship and Innovation minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Utilize base knowledge of human functioning to support related business and consumer ventures.
• Health Policy and Administration — Take an innovative approach to established healthcare business and policies.
• Hospitality Management — Support new and established hospitality businesses that bring positive change to individuals and communities.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Take an innovative approach to human services industries, including healthcare, counseling, marketing, human resources, and advocacy work.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Influence positive change in recreation and tourism businesses.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Gain an in-depth understanding of the aging process and old age.  With a growing number of older people in the population, employers in all disciplines are actively seeking workers with knowledge of the aging process and problems faced by older adults. 

Learn more about the Gerontology minor >>

Suggested majors for Gerontology minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Study the biological, physiological, behavioral, and cultural changes associated with aging
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Work with older adults overcoming speech, audition, and language challenges.
• Health Policy and Administration — Understand how healthcare policies and management can benefit older adults.
• Hospitality Management — Manage hospitality and entertainment venues that cater to older adults.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Study human development at the end of the lifespan and interact with aging populations.
• Kinesiology — Work with older adults facing new challenges in physical health and motion.
• Nutritional Sciences — Understand changing nutritional needs in older adults and help aging populations manage health with food.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Develop recreation and leisure activities and venues for older adults.

Understand the theoretical and practical issues affecting health in populations around the world, the study of which will support careers in public health intervention, education, policy, or research.  This is a competitive minor, so students must apply.

Learn more about the Global Health minor >>

Suggested majors for Global Health minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Relate studies in human functioning to health issues around the world.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Work in speech, audition, and language disabilities with non-English speakers.
• Health Policy and Administration — Enact healthcare policies and management that can benefit global populations.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Understand how differences in global health affect human development around the world.
• Nutritional Sciences — Understand how differences in food systems around the world affect global health.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Support a career in the healthcare industry by learning policy issues and administrative challenges related to quality, cost, and access to healthcare.

Learn more about the Health Policy and Administration minor >>

Suggested majors for Health Policy and Administration minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Understand how organizations and policy affect individual and population health.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Understand how communication needs are addressed at healthcare facilities.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Connect to interests in pediatric hospitals, long-term care, or mental health organizations.
• Kinesiology — Manage orthopedic, physical therapy, or sports medicine businesses
• Nutritional Sciences — Understand the science behind nutritional needs and how metabolic disorders are addressed at healthcare facilities.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Connect mind, body, and health by understanding the benefits of time spent in nature.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how individuals develop across the lifespan and how families and communities influence individual development.  This minor can support careers in a variety of industries designed to improve the lives of individuals and families, including human services, health professions, education, marketing, and human resources.

Learn more about the Human Development and Family Studies minor >>

Suggested majors for Human Development and Family Studies minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Understand how biological, behavioral, and psychological functions influence individual and family development.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Work with developmental issues and family dynamics in speech-language and audiology careers. 
• Health Policy and Administration — Interact with health care managers and policy makers in non-profit and human services careers.
• Hospitality Management — Deal with families visiting hotels and restaurants by bringing a strong human resources background.
• Kinesiology — Examine how sports and physical activity play a role in development and family relationships.
• Nutritional Sciences — Support the nutritional needs of children and adolescents or assist non-profit organizations addressing nutritional challenges.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Develop healthy leisure and recreational activities for healthy child development and adult aging.

Meet the critical need for individuals with expertise in health care information technology by learning to develop web-based systems for patient education and physician-patient interaction, securely transmit sensitive medical information, and pioneer advanced technologies like remote robotic surgery.  This is a competitive minor, so students must apply.

Learn more about the Information Sciences and Technology in Health Policy and Administration minor >>

Suggested majors for Information Sciences and Technology in Health Policy and Administration minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Understand and develop technologies that interpret human functioning and address related challenges.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Support speech, audition, and language therapies by innovating new technologies.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Understand how technology affects human development and design digital systems for better interaction.
• Kinesiology — Support physical and occupational therapies by innovating new technologies.
• Nutritional Sciences — Design new technology that addresses nutritional challenges and food systems.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of human movement, including specialized studies in arts, humanities, sciences, and professional disciplines.

Learn more about the Kinesiology minor >>

Suggested majors for Kinesiology minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Prepare for graduate school in physical or occupational therapy, or focus on physical activity as a health determinant.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Understand motor control issues related to speech and swallowing disorders.
• Health Policy and Administration — Connect healthcare business and policy to a career in orthopedics, physical therapy, or sports medicine.
• Hospitality Management — Connect with sports management or physical activities at a hospitality or resort venue.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Understand human development to complement the study of physical movement in children, adolescents, and older adults.
• Nutritional Sciences — Connect kinesiology to biomechanics or sports nutrition. 
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Work with physical activity and related programs in leisure and park facilities.  

Undertake an in-depth study of the basic and functional aspects of the nervous system in preparation for technical, professional, or research careers.  This minor spans levels of investigation in neuroscience from molecular to behavioral and cognitive for a wide variety of careers in healthcare.

Learn more about the Neuroscience minor >>

Suggested majors for Neuroscience minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Pursue an in-depth exploration of neuroscience related to human functioning.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Learn how neuroscience affects individual and community development.
• Kinesiology — Understand how neuroscience affects human movement.
• Nutritional Sciences — Explore links between neuroscience and nutrition and food systems.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Integrate nutritional science with the study of physiological science, behavioral science, foods and food systems management, and nutrition as medicine to help individuals and communities lead healthier lives.

Learn more about the Nutritional Sciences minor >>

Suggested majors for Nutritional Sciences minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Combine social understanding of health, genetics, or neuroscience with biological and community nutrition for careers in science or public health.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Understand how swallowing related to communication disorders is connected to nutritional challenges and related health issues.
• Health Policy and Administration — Understand finance, insurance, and other administrative and policy aspects in a variety of healthcare settings.
• Hospitality Management — Understand the nutritional focus of restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality businesses.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Support the nutritional needs of children and adolescents or assist non-profit organizations addressing nutritional challenges.
• Kinesiology — Emphasize both nutritional and physical activity wellness in a variety of settings, including collegiate or professional sports teams.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Work in nutrition at public facilities, including national and community parks, resorts, and tourism destinations.

Gain a broad understanding of recreation and leisure services and the professional skills essential for delivering them in a variety of settings, including resorts, theme parks, convention centers, sports and fitness facilities, private corporations, nonprofit and government agencies, colleges and universities, correctional facilities, camps, public parks, nature centers, and healthcare facilities.

Learn more about the Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management minor >>

Suggested majors for Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management minors

• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Focus on leading parks and recreation programs for individuals with speech and language disabilities.
• Health Policy and Administration — Work in on-site healthcare at recreation and wellness facilities.
• Hospitality Management — Work with food and lodging for a national park, recreational resort, or tourism destination.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Develop community, commercial, or outdoor recreation programs for children, adolescents, or older adults.
• Kinesiology — Engage with clinical and exercise professionals at leisure and tourism facilities.
• Nutritional Sciences — Understand how community nutrition fits into community recreation or address nutritional needs or education in parks or wellness facilities.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Study skills related to health, disability, and interpersonal interactions.  Employers actively seek individuals who can interact and relate to a population that is living longer with chronic illnesses and disabilities due to medical advances, as well as understand how individuals adapt to social issues, such as poverty, addiction, family violence, and homelessness.

Learn more about the Rehabilitation and Human Services minor >>

Suggested majors for Rehabilitation and Human Services minors

• Biobehavioral Health — Study how individuals adapt to biological, physiological, or behavioral challenges and develop rehabilitation strategies.
• Communication Sciences and Disorders — Gain a broad understanding of how to interact with individuals facing disabilities and speech and language challenges.
• Health Policy and Administration — Work in facilities and develop policies that support individuals facing disabilities and seeking rehabilitative services.
• Hospitality Management — Manage facilities that support persons with disabilities and those seeking rehabilitation.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Understand how disability and rehabilitation affect human development and interaction.
• Kinesiology — Work in rehabilitative settings for those with physical disabilities.
• Nutritional Sciences — Develop rehabilitation strategies related to nutrition and relationships to food.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Work in recreation and tourism facilities that cater to individuals with disabilities or pursuing rehabilitative services.

Apply industrial engineering techniques for modeling, analysis, and design to service enterprise industries, many of which are related to health and human development, including hospitals and human services.  The service sector represents over 80 percent of the economy and industries actively seek employees who can address challenges in creative ways. 

Learn more about the Service Enterprise Engineering minor >>

Suggested majors for Service Enterprise Engineering minors

• Health Policy and Administration — Utilize engineering techniques to innovate in healthcare facilities.
• Hospitality Management — Address challenges in hospitality venues with engineering theories.
• Human Development and Family Studies — Establish new approaches and business strategies in human services industries derived from engineering techniques.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Apply techniques from industrial engineering to businesses in leisure and tourism.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors

Promote environmental, social, and economic stability in personal and professional settings.  This minor allows students to focus sustainability leadership studies in a particular topic, many of which are related to health and human development fields.

Learn more about the Sustainability Leadership minor >>

Suggested majors for Sustainability Leadership minors

• Health Policy and Administration — Develop healthcare policies and management tools that promote environmental stability.
• Hospitality Management — Manage hospitality and entertainment venues in environmentally and economically sustainable ways.
• Nutritional Sciences — Study how environmental factors affect global nutrition and food systems.
• Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management — Ensure environmental and economic sustainability in recreation and tourism venues.
• All College of Health and Human Development majors