The University of Florida is home to over 130 undergraduate minors with which students can supplement their curriculum. Among them is the leadership minor, housed in the UF/IFAS department of agricultural education and communication.

The leadership minor is open to students in any undergraduate major, but interested students are required to apply. Throughout the 15 credit hours required, students acquire a foundational understanding of leadership while developing knowledge and skills in relation to inter and intrapersonal leadership, global leadership, communication and ethics, and more. Coursework options are broadly focused, so students can customize the program to their own interests and career goals.

“We’ve had students come to the leadership minor from a variety of disciplines,” said Megan Stein, faculty coordinator for the minor. “Sometimes students love the technical courses they are taking in their field, but want some courses built more for personal development to make them more well-rounded for the workforce.”

The application for the leadership minor is unique, as most minors at the university only require an “Add a Minor” form. With Becky Raulerson, advisor to the leadership minor, Stein reviews applications once in the fall semester and once in the spring. The application consists of questions about students’ leadership experiences and goals.

“I love the leadership minor because it can make a big impact on students,” Stein said. “Every person has a story and how you develop that story helps you connect with others. This minor allows students to use theory-based leadership practices to grow and develop themselves as leaders.”

Students should visit aec.ifas.ufl.edu for additional details regarding the leadership minor, including the application, due 11:59 p.m. October 2. Additionally, questions can be directed to Megan Stein, mstein17@ufl.edu, or Becky Raulerson, beckyraulerson@ufl.edu.

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