As a new school year begins, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is buzzing with the excitement of roughly 7,100 first-year students and 1,700 transfer students settling in for one of the greatest academic adventures of their lives.
To stay on the cutting-edge of world-class academics, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities regularly adjusts its course offerings, majors, minors, and other programs to meet the changing needs of society and our students.
This fall, for example, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Design is launching Minnesota’s first Bachelor of Science Degree in User Experience (UX) Design. The program is only the second of its kind among the 18 schools in the Big Ten.
"The world is changing faster than ever, and the University of Minnesota is keeping in step with those changes,” says Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Ritter. “These exciting new academic offerings are one example of our commitment to innovation and excellence, and to preparing our students to become tomorrow's leaders."
With more than 150 majors and minors and more than 200 graduate and professional programs, there are truly endless opportunities for all learners here, at any stage of life.
Here we highlight several new majors, minors, and other programs that are coming soon or were recently added to the University of Minnesota Twin Cities curriculum.
Bachelor of Science Degree in User Experience (UX) Design
The University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Design is launching Minnesota’s first Bachelor of Science Degree in User Experience (UX) Design this fall semester.
User experience design focuses on how people interact with digital products—websites, apps, smart technology—blending psychology, research, technology, and design to create human-centered, user-friendly, and accessible experiences.
Companies across tech, healthcare, retail, and finance are investing heavily in skilled designers to improve digital interactions, and UX roles are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying jobs in design and technology.
The UX major is a good option for someone who has a little creativity and a visual eye, as well as an interest in computer science, and it opens students up to a wide range of career options.
Esports management minor
As the global esports audience is projected to soar to 318 million by 2025, the demand for skilled esports management professionals continues to grow. To meet this need, the School of Kinesiology began offering an undergraduate esports management minor in the spring of 2025. The minor covers three main areas that are central to the industry: athlete performance and well-being, event and team management, and technology in sport management.
Minor in medical Spanish
Building on decades of relevant coursework, the Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies recently launched a new minor in medical Spanish. The minor equips Minnesota’s next generation of healthcare professionals with the language and experience to provide empathetic and culturally appropriate care to more members of our community.
PhD in American Indian and Indigenous Studies
Housed in the first American Indian studies department (founded in 1969), a new PhD in American Indian and Indigenous Studies starting this fall will use interdisciplinary methods of critical inquiry as a means through which doctoral students will engage in research and scholarship. The program is committed to broad interdisciplinary training in the field with an ethic of collaboration with tribal nations, communities, and other organizations.
Bachelor of Electrical Engineering; Master of Science in Robotics
The Twin Cities College of Science and Engineering will add two new concentrations as part of its computer engineering degree pathways starting this fall. The Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and the Master of Science in Robotics will allow students to streamline their education in a condensed time frame, helping them to accelerate their entry into higher-paying jobs.
Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Rural Family Medicine Residency Program
The Medical School on the Twin Cities campus will create a Grand Itasca Clinic and Hospital Rural Family Medicine Residency Program beginning in the summer of 2026. The residency will consist of one year of training at Woodwinds Family Medicine residency program, an established urban residency, followed by two years of training in the rural health system in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The curriculum will help meet the critical need in the rural healthcare workforce in Minnesota by training family physicians who will form the foundation of healthcare delivery and help build effective bridges to specialty care as needed for rural patients.
AI for Business Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Minnesota Carlson will create the “AI for Business Post-Baccalaureate Certificate” in spring 2026. Business analytics and data science are two of the most sought-after skill sets in modern industry. The certificate will help students gain the foundational skills and knowledge needed to extract critical analytical insights in the area of artificial intelligence and apply the results in modern business settings. The program will be offered completely online.
Master of Professional Studies in Long Term Care Leadership
America faces significant challenges in long-term care due to an aging population and the declining availability of caregivers. By 2050, the number of seniors needing long-term care is projected to more than double. The University of Minnesota Twin Cities College of Continuing and Professional Studies will create a Master of Professional Studies in Long Term Care Leadership in fall 2026. The degree covers a broad spectrum of essential topics, including healthcare management, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and ethical leadership. The program will be offered completely online.
