Mindfulness Minor

Program of Study

Mindfulness as an academic study explores the scientific, psychological, and philosophical dimensions of present-focused awareness and its impact on human well-being. Rooted in ancient contemplative traditions, mindfulness as an area of study offers practical application for a range of interdisciplinary fields. Academically, the study of mindfulness can be examined in a variety of programs, including interdisciplinary fields such as, education, healthcare, kinesiology, neuroscience, psychology, and sociology. The research involving mindfulness has been promising, in relation to a variety of areas such as, cognitive functions, stress reduction, emotional regulation, and overall mental health.

Mindfulness helps enhance students’ lives and relationships by deepening present moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, and actions. The Minor in Mindfulness offers students opportunity to cultivate stronger well-being through scientifically backed practices that are designed to promote kindness, joy, focus, equanimity, and compassion. The interdepartmental curriculum will help promote greater health and social-emotional wellbeing. This minor creates opportunities for students to integrate contemplative practices into their personal and professional lives and obtain a life skill for any career.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students who earn a Minor in Mindfulness will be able to:

1. Describe the current research documenting the role mindfulness plays with regard to health, wellness, and compassion.
2. Analyze practices and techniques associated with mindfulness.
3. Evaluate best practices in designing and teaching mindfulness practices.
4. Develop and demonstrate insight into their own well-being and personal strengths by practicing scientifically based mindfulness practices that are designed to increase kindness, focus, equanimity, and compassion.
5. Integrate and apply sociological mindfulness to understand diversity and magnitude of connections between individual thoughts/actions and social environments. 
6. Describe the importance of mindfulness toward community, social issues, and human interconnectedness.
    

Special Conditions for the Minor in Mindfulness

All graded courses for the minor must be completed with a grade of C (2.0) or better. Courses submitted for the minor may also be used to satisfy General Education requirements. Any CSUSM Major may pursue this minor. At least seven (7) units must be unique to the minor (i.e., not double-counted for other requirements). 

Required Courses (17 Units)

• KINE 150  - Foundations in Mindfulness Units: 1
• KINE 310  - Social and Emotional Health Units: 3
• PSYC 100  - Introduction to Psychology Units: 3
• PSYC 344  - Positive Psychology Units: 3
• SOC 425  - Sociological Mindfulness Units: 4
• UNIV 495C  - University-Wide Internships Units: 3 *