A minor is not a degree requirement in the College, but an optional grouping or clustering of courses, a mini-specialization. A minor might complement a major, the way an Anthropology minor, say, can supplement a History major. The minor, however, does not have to be directly related to the major and might address quite different interests. This is where students enjoy almost total freedom. One of the benefits of attending a liberal arts college that is part of a large research university is that it provides access to a particularly rich array of courses and professors.
Students often take at least some of their electives outside of the area of their major.