Please consult your academic adviser for more detailed information. To see a complete list of specializations, see Academic Programs. Cognates and minors are both disciplinary in that they focus on single academic areas of study. A cognate usually focuses on one discipline, whereas a specialization is generally made of courses from various subjects revolving around a common theme. For example, a specialization in African American History and Culture would include courses in history, literature, sociology and anthropology.
Cognates require fewer credits than specializations.
With adviser approval, courses that apply to a specialization may also be used to meet certain cognate requirements. Consult your academic adviser for more details. I want to add a minor to my program of study, but I ve been told that MSU only offers minors for students going into teaching. If you do not want to pursue teaching, then you will select two cognates or a specialization to enhance your major field of study. Of course you may take more than the minimum number of credits for a cognate.