Students having a discussion in class.

Turn ideas into action.

The applied thinking and innovation minor enables students in varying all academic colleges and backgrounds to unite in a cross-disciplinary setting to explore perspectives on a range of societal issues. The minor will enrich students’ aptitude in critical thinking, collaboration and innovative inquiry. This program is focused on developing interpersonal and critical thinking skills that students can apply to any major and career field to make them more competitive and better prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to their communities after graduation. Courses that comprise the minor are specifically designed to prepare students for success in their professional careers. This minor is open to all majors.

This minor can serve as a pathway to Honors College distinction for students who choose to complete an additional 6 credits of Honors coursework and earn a 3.5 cumulative grade point average upon graduation. However, students can also complete this minor without pursuing Honors College distinction.

Suggested Majors
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (B.S.)
students learn in the eTrading lab
Agricultural Business (B.S.)
Teacher teaching
Agricultural Education, Communication and Leadership (B.S.) - Leadership Specialization
Students in Harding Hall
Business Economics (B.A./B.S.)
Professor and student are looking at a concrete column in the structural lab.
Civil Engineering (B.S.)
Student and professor looking at a computer monitor.
Computer Science (B.S.)
Dairy Manufacturing
Dairy Manufacturing (B.S.)
solar panels on Daktronics Engineering Hall
Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
Student and instructor sit in circle looking at classroom examples.
Elementary Education (B.S.)
A panel of 5 people at the South Dakota Entrepreneuship Education Conference.
Entrepreneurial Studies (B.A./B.S.)
male student runs on a treadmill
Exercise Science (B.S.)
Student working on computer.
Geographic Information Sciences (B.S.)
Three students walking on campus with the campanile in the background.
Interdisciplinary Studies (B.A./B.S.)
Leadership and Managment of Nonprofit Organizations (B.S.)
Leadership and Management of Nonprofit Organizations (B.S.)
Four students standing next to a vehicle students designed and built for NASA's Break the Ice Lunar Challenge.
Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)
View of the symphony orchestra playing.
Music (B.A.) - Music Studies Specialization
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nutrition and Dietetics (B.S.)
Pharmacy students in lab
Pharmaceutical Sciences (B.S.)/Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)
Students sitting at computers in a precision agriculture classroom listening to the instructor.
Precision Agriculture (B.S.)