Elective courses are those that are not required for your major, minor, concentration, or general educaiton. These are courses from any discipline that help you reach the required 120 hours for graduation.
The number of required elective courses is different for each student, depending on their major, concentration, and minor. To determine how many elective hours you need, you may consult UMDegree and your advisor.
An upper division (UD) elective is any course with a course number in the 3000 or 4000 range. For example, SOCI 3401 may be used as an upper division elective.
A general elective is a course at any level. So, a course number in the 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 range may be used as a general elective. For example, SOCI 2100 may be used as a general elective while SOCI 3401 may also be used as a general elective.
You may take several approaches when choosing an elective.
Take a course that supplements your career or grad school plans. For example, if you're interested in counseling, you may want to take COUN 4781. If you're Interested in going into business, you may want to take MGMT 3215.
Take a course in an area that you want to explore for a potential career.
Take a course in an area that interests you. For example, if you enjoy visual art, you may want to take ART 2523 or ART 2701.
Find a course that fits into your schedule. For example, if you need to work three days a week and want to take on-campus courses, search for a course offered on Tuesday/Thursday.
If you have a heavy load, look for a course that may not be as difficult for you. Maybe it's a topic that you're familiar with. Maybe it's a lower level course. Maybe it's a course that a friend took and recommended.
Consider the following electives that supplement the academic or career area that best matches you.
Behavioral Analysis
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship); PSYC 3103 (Child Psychology); SPED 4111 (Intro Applied Behavior Analysis); SPED 4113 (Applied Behavior Intervention/Strategies); SPED 4112 (Assessment/Analysis in Applied Behavior Analysis); SPED 4114 (Practitioner Issues in ABA); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); SWRK 3902 (Human Behavior and the Social Environment); ECED 2360 (Development/Exceptional Child); SPED 2000 (Foundation/Exceptional Learner); SPED 4900 (Consultation School/Family/Community).
Counseling/Therapy
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 3102 (Psychopathology); PSYC 3103 (Child Psychology); PSYC 4102 (Child Psychopathology); PSYC 4401 (Intro to Clinical Psychology); PSYC 4507 (Internship); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interactions); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention); COUN 4783 (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling); COUN 4901 (Princ/Tech/Rehab Counseling); COUN 4913 (Medical/Psyc Aspect/Rehab); COUN 4901 (Principles and Techniques of Rehab Counseling); COUN 4921 (Vocational Dev/Occupation Info); SOCI 4420 (Racial Inequality); SOCI 3422 (Racial/Ethnic Minorities); SOCI 4442 (Sociology of Poverty); SOCI 4541 (Sociology of Aging); HLSC 3500 (Health Habits/Personal Wellness); HLSC 4100 (Health and Aging); HLSC 4300 (Individuals with Disabilities and Special Needs); COMM 4341 (Interpersonal Communication); COMM 4375 (Intercultural Communication); COMM 4342 (Small Group Communication); COMM 4373 (Interracial Communication); COMM 4375 (Intercultural Communication); SOCI 3501 (Sociology of Deviant Behavior); EDPR 2111 (Development Across Lifespan)
Additional suggestions for those seeking a PhD or PsyD: PSYC 4302 (Research Methodology); PSYC 4504 (Directed Research) or PSYC 4506 (Directed Research In Behavioral Neuroscience); PSYC 4994 (Thesis) or PSYC 4996 (Honors Thesis) or PSYC 4997 (Thesis In Behavioral Neuroscience) or PSYC 4995 (Honors Thesis In Behavioral Neuroscience) or PSYC 4998 (Thesis in Cognitive Science) or PSYC 4999 (Honors Thesis In Cognitive Science).
Child and Adolescent Work
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship); PSYC 3103 (Child Psychology); PSYC 4102 (Child Psychopathology); PSYC 4034 (Children Social Relationships); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); EDPR 2111 (Development Across the Lifespan); ECED (Early Childhood Education) courses; EDPR 3302 (Child/Adolescent Development); SOCI 4420 (Racial Inequality); ANTH 3511 (Culture/Kin/Family); CDFS 2100 (Intro Field of Child Dev & Fam St); CDFS 2101 (Family/Global Perspective); CDFS 2110 (Infant/Toddler Development); CDFS 3401 (Parent Child Relations); CDFS 3410 (Facilitating Social Emotional Development for Young Children); CDFS 3420 (Play-Based Assessment for Young Children); CDFS 3430 (Child Language for Early Learning Professional); CDFS 4220 (Understanding Children Behavioral Guidance); CDFS 3401 (Parent Child Relations); CDFS 4101 (Int Curriculum for Early Learners); CDFS 4220 (Understanding Children's Behavior and Guidance); CDFS 4223 (Home/School/Comm Engage); CDFS 4240 (Hospitalized Children and Their Families); CDFS 4915 (Rethinking Challenging Behavior); SWRK 4934 (Child Welfare Policy and Services); SOCI 4442 (Sociology of Poverty); CJUS 4533 (Juvenile Delinquency).
Substance Abuse Treatment
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 3102 (Psychopathology); PSYC 3507 (Alcohol/Drugs/Behavior online); PSYC 4507 (Internship in substance abuse treatment facility); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interactions); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention); COUN 4783 (Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling); COUN 4901 (Princ/Tech/Rehab Counseling); SWRK 2010 (Introduction to Social Work); SWRK 2911 (Social Response to Human Need), SWRK 3902 (Human Behavior and the Social Environment); SWRK 4061 (Substance Abuse Treatment); CJUS 4152 (Drug Misuse and Abuse); ANTH 4531 (Alcohol/Drugs/Culture); COMM 4373 (Interracial Communication); SOCI 4420 (Racial Inequality); SOCI 3422 (Racial/Ethnic Minorities); SOCI 4442 (Sociology of Poverty); HLSC 4520 (Health and Lifestyle Coaching).
NonProfit Community Agency Work
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interactions); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention); PADM 4226 (Intro Nonprofit Organizations); PADM 4227 (Issues/Nonprofit Admin); PADM 4228 (Grant Development/Management); SWRK 2010 (Introduction to Social Work); SWRK 2911 (Social Response to Human Need); SWRK 3902 (Human Behavior and the Social Environment); COMM 4011 (Communication in Organizations); COMM 4341 (Interpersonal Communication); COMM 4342 (Small Group Communication); COMM 4373 (Interracial Communication); COMM 4375 (Intercultural Communication); COMM 4380 (Communication and Conflict); MGMT 4461 (Managerial Leadership); MGMT 4710 (Strategic Management); MGMT 4481 (Teamwork/Group Dynamics in Organizations); CJUS 1100 (Intro/Criminal Justice); CJUS 4542 (Victomology); CJUS 2326 (Introduction to Courts); CJUS 4460 (Race/Ethnicity/Gender/America); LEGL 2410 (Intro to Law)
Criminal Justice Work
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship); PSYC 3102 (Psychopathology); PSYC 3507 (Alcohol/Drugs/Behavior); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interactions); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention); SWRK 2010 (Introduction to Social Work); SWRK 2911 (Social Response to Human Need), SWRK 3902 (Human Behavior and the Social Environment); CJUS 1100 (Intro/Criminal Justice); CJUS 2120 (Contemporary Issues); CJUS 2140 (Crime & Public Policy); CJUS 3226 (Police in America); CJUS 3540 (Criminological Theory); CJUS 3510 (Law and Society); CJUS 4126 (Criminal Justice Admin and Mgmt); CJUS 4170 (Prevention/Deterrence Crime); CJUS 4180 (Corporate/White Collar Crime); CJUS 4533 (Juvenile Delinquency); CJUS 4512 (Foundation Criminal Process); POLS 3211 (State/Local Government); POLS 3219 (Judicial Process); POLS 3405 (Intro to Law/Jurisprudence); POLS 4212 (Constitutional Law/Civil Liberty); COMM 4373 (Interracial Communication); COMM 4380 (Communication and Conflict); COMM 4375 (Intercultural Communication); SOCI 3501 (Sociology of Deviant Behavior); SOCI 4420 (Racial Inequality); SOCI 3422 (Racial/Ethnc Minorities); PADM 4401 (Comparative Public Administration); LEGL 2400 (Legal Ethics); LEGL 2410 (Intro to Law).
Research
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4032 (Research Methodology); PSYC 4504 (Directed Research) or PSYC 4506 (Directed Research In Behavioral Neuroscience); PSYC 4994 (Thesis) or PSYC 4996 (Honors Thesis) or PSYC 4997 (Thesis In Behavioral Neuroscience) or PSYC 4995 (Honors Thesis In Behavioral Neuroscience) or PSYC 4998 (Thesis in Cognitive Science) or PSYC 4999 (Honors Thesis In Cognitive Science).
Human Resources
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship in HR); MGMT 3110 (Organization and Management); MGMT 3215 (Management of Human Resources), MGMT 3510 (Business Communications), MGMT 3812 (Managing Employee Wellness), MGMT 4420 (Organizational Behavior in Business), MGMT 4461 (Managerial Leadership), MGMT 4710 (Strategic Management); PBRL 3421 (Public Relations Writing); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interaction); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention); BMGT 3630 (Human Resource Mgmt); COMM 4373 (Interracial Communication); COMM 4410 (Conflict Resolution and Negot); COMM 4341 (Interpersonal Communication); COMM 4342 (Small Group Communication); COMM 4011 (Communication in Organizations); COMM 4375 (Intercultural Communication); COMM 4380 (Communication and Conflict); ENGL 3601 (Technical and Profess Writing); Public Administration (PADM) courses; HCL 4030 (Healthcare Human Resources).
Management/Business
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship in business); MGMT 3110 (Organization and Management); MGMT 3215 (Management of Human Resources); MGMT 3510 (Business Communications); MGMT 3812 (Managing Employee Wellness); MGMT 4420 (Organizational Behavior in Business); MGMT 4461 (Managerial Leadership); MGMT 4710 (Strategic Management); other Management (MGMT) courses; Marketing (MRKT) courses; ACCT 2010 (Fundamentals of Accounting I); ACCT 2020 (Fundamentals of Accounting II); MIS 2749 (Foundation/Information Systems).
Public Relations
Recommended UoM electives: PSYC 4507 (Internship in PR); Public Relations (PBRL) courses; JRSM 1700 (Survey of Media); JRSM 1750 (Precision Language); other Journalism (JRSM or JOUR) courses; MGMT 3510 (Business Communications); Marketing (MRKT) courses; Communications (COMM) courses; Advertising (ADVR) courses; Persuasive Writing (ENGL 3604).
Art Therapy
Recommended UoM Electives: ART Courses; PSYC 4507 (Internship with art therapist); PSYC 3102 (abnormal psychology); Child Psychology (PSYC 3103); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interactions); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention).
Music Therapy
Recommended UoM Electives: Music courses; PSYC 4507 (Internship with music therapist); PSYC 3102 (abnormal psychology); Child Psychology (PSYC 3103); COUN 4611 (Intro to Counseling); COUN 4621 (Human Interactions); COUN 4781 (Crisis Intervention).
Occupational Therapy
Recommended UoM Courses: Consult prerequisite courses for the graduate program at the school you wish to attend. To get started, look at recommendations from our pre-health advisors. If you still have room for additional electives, consider these: PSYC 3210 (Abnormal Psych); PSYC 4507 (Internship) in multiple OT settings.
Physical Therapy
Recommended UoM Courses: Consult prerequisite courses for the graduate program at the school you wish to attend. To get started, look at recommendations from our pre-health advisors. If you still have room for additional electives, consider these: PSYC 3210 (Abnormal Psych); PSYC 4507 (Internship in a PT setting or multiple PT settings); ESMS 3410 (Kinesiology); EDPR 2111 (Development Across the Lifespan); ANTH 1200 (Cultural Anthropology); HMSE 2000 (Health/Sport Sc Terminology).
Speech Therapy
Recommended UoM Electives: Some programs require undergraduate courses in speech and language pathology while others do not. For example, the UoM masters program in Speech and Language Pathology does not require prereqs. Instead, UoM requires that students take two introductory courses in the summer before beginning their masters. Consult the requirements for the master’s program in which you’re interested to determine if there are any undergraduate prerequisite courses you need. In addition, you may consider an internship (PSYC 4507) in speech and language pathology and SPCH 1010 (Fundamentals of Speech Comm).