Going the Extra Minor in a Major Way

How Honors Students are Expanding Their Education With Multiple Areas of Study

by Elizabeth Connor

In a crowded lecture hall filled with students who sat through The History of Oil class, biochemistry major Aaron Smith was at the edge of his seat. He was only there in the first place to tag along with a close friend, but he already knew he’d be coming back. 

Chemistry was all well and good. But in a Becker Communications Studies Building lecture hall, learning about a topic he never would’ve heard about as a STEM major, Smith’s eyes opened to a whole new playing field. 

Smith’s interest in history didn’t start with The History of Oil. Long before he even knew what biochemistry was, his brother, Ryan, a history major, was telling him all about the Crusades, the discovery of the Western world, or anything spanning from the Roman Empire to the Cold War. Smith listened but never thought about going further with history.

But as professor Tyler Priest gave a lecture on Middle Eastern oil fields, lightbulbs went on in Smith’s head. Right then and there, Smith resolved he’d do more at the University of Iowa than his intended major. 

A year later, Smith is enrolled in several history classes, having added it as a minor, including the one he stepped into by chance on that pivotal day. As it turns out, studying history has become essential to who he is as a student.

“Having that history minor inadvertently led to me expanding my interests,” Smith said. “It’s as easy as going to your MyUI and adding on a minor. Anybody can do it.”

Pre-law honors student Malvika Khadiya felt the same way about studying what she loves. So far, Khadiya has tacked on two extra degrees to her lineup. Starting as an ethics and public policy major, Khadiya added a political science major in the spring of her freshman year. 

The real wildcard however, came this past spring, when her interest in the Russian language exploded into a full-blown major too.

“The more you learn, the more you realize that a lot of things are not black and white,” Khadiya said. “I just fell in love. I really like languages.”

She had taken a few classes that drew her in, like First-Year Russian and Russia Today. Eventually, however, she realized she wanted to do more than just fill her schedule. 

Both Smith and Khadiya have noticed the same things about studying more than just what’s required. Extra subject areas can broaden their perspectives of the world around them. 

“I think it's good to study something different and to just know more about the world,” Smith said. “I feel like I'm doing a better job as an American citizen, knowing what's going on and how to better understand it.” 

A history minor gave Smith access to an understanding of current global politics that he wouldn’t have had without it. He explains how, in the current political climate especially, it’s more than helpful to have extra history knowledge in his pocket. 

“[I’m learning] how to make better decisions than just automatically going for one decision,” he said. “The upcoming election, [Donald] Trump or Kamala [Harris], I’m learning about them. I know who I would rather have based on what I’ve learned so far.”

Khadiya stresses how there’s no better time to learn about something new than time at a university. Specifically, studying Russian has become an outlet to do something that will be beneficial to her career but also to do something she truly enjoys and has fun with. 

“People ask, ‘What do you want to do with Russian?’ — and even if it doesn't take me to a job, it's something that is just enjoyable, and I could fit it in,” Khadiya said. “You only do college once. You might as well. It's never going to hurt.” 

Aside from curiosity, many students decide to add minors to help them in their future careers. For example, Abigail Adams, an honors student and English and creative writing major, has added minors in business administration and news and media literacy. With aspirations of going to law school, she hopes to use her many skill-sets to excel in company law one day. 

“Having an understanding of how businesses work will help when everyone has to work as a team together in one of those companies,” Adams said. “I think it’s very useful to have a wide range of skills and a unique perspective.”

Third-year neuroscience and honors student Ellie Wojcikowski has similar motives. Along with her major, she has a psychology minor, a Spanish minor, and a certificate in clinical and translational sciences. 

Wojcikowski, a seasoned researcher on clinical psychology, wants to use her skills to help people who struggle with mental illness. Her Hispanic background will help her communicate with non-English speaking patients, and her psychology expertise gave her a “qualitative, holistic approach to people in a way that neuroscience can overlook.”

Ultimately, Wojcikowski studies psychology and Spanish because both can equip her to help people.

 “I want to make an impact on people who are negatively affected by severe mental illness,” she said. 

These four students are not alone in their multiple programs of study. University of Iowa Honors Program Data Analyst Mark Archibald found about one in four honors students has a double major. Furthermore, about one in five has three different programs of study, whether they are majors, minors, or certificates. 

“It is super common for students to add a minor or certificate that is divergent from their major discipline,” Archibald said. 

According to his data, honors students are pushing the limits of what they can accomplish at the UI — because there’s more to college than going to class, getting good grades, and snagging a diploma on graduation day. Being a student at the UI is an opportunity to be in a place where it’s possible to learn about anything. Aaron Smith, with one foot in biochemistry and one in history, knows this. 

“Now is the opportunity to know as much as you can know,” Smith said. “Just learn as much as you can, not about one specific thing. Learn as much as you can about everything else.”