The undergraduate minor once served a simple purpose: it gave students a structured way to develop depth beyond their primary field of study. As universities move toward more flexible, workforce-oriented degree models, that raises a larger question about what may be lost when intellectual breadth becomes optional.
Corey Alderdice, a national voice on talent and transformation, explores the changing role of undergraduate minors, the tension between workforce preparation and liberal education, and why interdisciplinary study may matter even more in an era of rapid technological change. Drawing on his own experience in English, his wife’s background in Communications and Women’s and Gender Studies, and the questions his family is beginning to ask as their son approaches college, Corey considers whether higher education should prepare students only for their first job—or for a lifetime of learning, adaptation, and seeing the world through more than one lens.
For additional thoughts from Corey, visit coreyalderdice.com.
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