Choosing a college and a major
Because the University of Minnesota offers such a wide variety of programs, our university is organized into several "colleges." Seven of these colleges admit incoming freshmen. They are:
Biological Sciences
Design
Education & Human Development
Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences
Liberal Arts
Management (Carlson School of)
Technology (Institute of)Each college offers a variety of majors and programs. On your application, you will be asked to select your first and second college choices. You should choose a college whose major options and programs are a good fit for you. If you need help deciding which college is best for you, please contact the Office of Admissions. Descriptions of our freshman-admitting colleges are listed below:
Biological Sciences
The College of Biological Sciences (CBS) offers majors in biochemistry; biology; ecology, evolution, and behavior; genetics, cell biology and development; microbiology; neuroscience; and plant biology.
Design
The University's new College of Design (CDes) prepares students to think in innovative, sustainable, and socially responsible ways to use design to enhance the well-being of individuals and communities. The College is an emerging national and international leader in multidisciplinary research, creative production, teaching, and public engagement in a wide variety of design-related fields.
- The College of Design offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Clothing Design, Graphic Design, Housing Studies, Interior Design, and Retail Merchandising.
- In addition, the College offers a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Bachelor of Design in Architecture (B.D.A.), and a Bachelor of Environmental Design (B.E.D.) (Landscape Architecture), all of which require 1-2 years of completed college coursework prior to admission.
Note: The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Architecture is offered through the College of Liberal arts (CLA).
Education and Human Development
The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) offers undergraduate and advanced study in a wide range of teaching and human development fields that rank among the very best in the nation. Some programs offer preparation for careers in business, government, and community settings, while others prepare students for preK-12 teaching licensure by the state of Minnesota.
Students can choose from a wide range of options, such as kinesiology (the study of human movement), family social science (to prepare for careers in helping people and families), General Studies (curriculum and services previously offered in the General College-description and admissions overview located on page 1), business and human resource education (applying business and marketing knowledge to human resource issues), and foundations of education (preparing for an early childhood or elementary teaching career). Note: students interested in a high school teaching career should pursue a major in the subject area they would like to teach (e.g., math, history, etc.).
Most of the teaching licensure programs require a bachelor's degree for entry. Approximately 15 months of post-bachelor's study (including student teaching) are required to prepare for teacher licensure.
Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) offers nationally recognized undergraduate majors related to food, agriculture, and natural resources. Graduates are well prepared to address environmental, social and economic challenges in producing safe and healthy food and fiber while sustainably managing the natural resources on which they depend. Students receive a well-rounded science and liberal arts education while focusing on plant and animal food production and nutrition; forest, fish, and wildlife management; outdoor recreation; soil and water resources; ecology; business management and marketing; bio-products engineering; agricultural and environmental education; pre-veterinary medicine; and related disciplines. Graduates work in private businesses, public agencies, and nonprofit organizations or pursue graduate degrees.
Liberal Arts
The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) provides outstanding education for successful lives and careers. CLA graduates are leaders across a broad spectrum of human endeavors, in fields such as law, medicine, government, business, education, public relations and marketing, the arts, and international relations. CLA students may choose from more than 60 majors in the social sciences, arts, humanities, and the natural sciences, and enhance their career preparation with internships in a wide range of organizations.
Management (Carlson School of)
The Carlson School of Management (CSOM) is ranked among the nation's best business schools. The school focuses on building strong communication, team, and technology skills. Students select from majors in accounting, finance, marketing, information systems, insurance, actuarial science, international business, human resources and industrial relations, entrepreneurial studies, supply chain, and general management.
Technology (Institute of)
The Institute of Technology (IT) offers 20 bachelor's degree programs, including several engineering specialties, mathematics, physical sciences, computer science, and statistics. Admission is selective; to be successful, students generally should have strong science and mathematics aptitude. More than 150 companies recruit in IT each year, and long-range career opportunities are good in most fields.
Note: If you have already earned a four-year college degree, please visit http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/international/ for information on admission to the University of Minnesota Graduate School.
For a complete list of undergraduate majors, visit http://www.catalogs.umn.edu/majors.html.
To learn more about the various fields of study available at the University of Minnesota, take a look at our Custom Viewbooks!
