Four New Minors Expand Academic Paths • Newsroom • Lewis & Clark

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Four New Minors Expand Academic Paths
Four New Minors Expand Academic Paths
Lewis & Clark is expanding its curriculum with four new minors in law and policy, education, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Together, they give students fresh ways to connect a liberal arts education to rapidly changing fields and meaningful careers.
Future Focused
April 08, 2026
Each of the new minors helps prepare students for a wide range of paths after graduation.
Credit: Nina Johnson
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At Lewis & Clark, a liberal arts education opens doors—across disciplines and into careers. Four new minors in law and policy, education, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence build on that tradition, giving students new ways to pursue rapidly developing fields while grounding their studies in critical inquiry, ethical reflection, and experiential learning.
“What excites me most is how naturally these minors fit with the existing strengths of our institution, including the expertise of the law school and the graduate school,” says Bruce Suttmeier, dean of the undergraduate college. “They will challenge students to bring curiosity, creativity, and thoughtful analysis to issues that matter deeply in today’s world.”
The law and policy minor
gives undergraduates an interdisciplinary way to explore how law shapes public life and intersects with major social and political questions. Along with building a grounding in the American legal system, students will have the unique opportunity to take select courses at
Lewis & Clark Law School
and gain hands-on experience through its practical skills clinics—valuable preparation for law school, public policy, or related careers.
The education minor
explores teaching and learning through a liberal arts lens—one that values curiosity, cultural awareness, and critical thinking alongside classroom practice. Interdisciplinary by design, it pairs foundational courses with electives in areas like child development, communication, and the social contexts of schooling. Students will gain direct exposure to K–12 education, including a practicum in a local school, while benefiting from advising and connections to the teacher preparation program at
Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling
The cybersecurity minor
introduces students to one of today’s most pressing and fast-growing fields. Combining technical study with courses in areas such as philosophy, law, psychology, and international affairs, it explores not only how digital systems are protected, but also the ethical, legal, and social questions surrounding them. A new grant-funded Cybersecurity Clinics course will add hands-on experience, giving students the chance to connect classroom learning with the community’s real-world cybersecurity challenges.
The AI minor
enables students to engage with one of the most consequential technologies shaping contemporary life. It provides technical training in computer science and mathematics with critical study of AI’s broader social implications, including questions of bias, privacy, democracy, intellectual property, and environmental cost. Students will learn not only how AI and machine learning systems work, but also how to apply them thoughtfully to real-world problems. While especially appealing to students in computer science, data science, and math, the program is designed to be accessible to students pursuing any major.
Lewis & Clark will begin offering these minors in fall 2026.
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