What is a Minor in College?

A minor is a secondary area of discipline an undergraduate student may focus on other than his or her main specialization, the major.

Although a minor usually complements one’s chosen major, it can also allow a student to explore an interest.

At many colleges and universities, adding a minor is completely optional.

Declaring and Changing College Minor

The general consensus is that undergraduates should declare a minor at the same time that they declare a major — by the end of their sophomore year or before their junior year.

The process of adding a minor to a student’s curriculum can vary from one institution to the next.

The same can be said for the requirements for minoring.

Prior to committing to a minor, make sure that you understand how minors work at your school.

For instance, lower-division classes can apply to your minor (and your major, too).

You may also have to complete anywhere from 16 to 24 credits, or sometimes even more, to fulfill the requirements of having a minor.

Some colleges and universities that offer minors may require undergrads to choose from a certain list of minors only, depending on the major or department.

If you are interested in minoring in something not included in the catalog, you should meet with the department or academic advisor about the steps you may take.

Most postsecondary institutions have a formal process for choosing a minor — in many instances, you can’t just enroll in courses that collectively make the minor of your liking.

Usually, you will have to fill out a form and submit it to the admissions office.

While minoring is optional at some colleges and universities, it’s a requirement at others.

This is especially true for minors that require undergraduates to declare a minor, usually from a given list, to earn their bachelor’s degrees.

Similar to adding a minor, there is a process an undergraduate student must follow when changing a minor.

Of course, the procedure may look different from one institution to the other. In most instances, changing a minor requires a student to fill out a form as well as meet requirements specified by the college or university.

At some postsecondary institutions, switching minors requires deregistration from one’s current minor; otherwise, the student will not be allowed to register for a different minor in the first place.

Meeting with the department or academic advisor is a common requirement at many colleges, too.

Where changing minors is allowed, technically speaking, there is no limit as to how many times undergrads can switch minors.

However, just like when switching majors, it’s of utmost importance to consider whatever consequence that going from one minor to the other several times has, including spending more time in college and shelling out more money for tuition costs.

Best Minors for Popular Majors

Certain minors are best for specific types of undergraduate students, depending on their reason for having a minor.

While some may opt for a minor that makes for a good accompaniment for their declared major, others may go for a minor as a way of pursuing something that they are interested in or passionate about.

Below, you will come across 10 of the most popular majors, as per The Princeton Review.

I will also indicate some of the majors that tend to go really well with each one of them.

Biology

• Anthropology
• Chemistry
• Criminal justice
• Economics
• Journalism
• Marine biology
• Microbiology
• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Zoology

Business

• Accounting
• Business analytics
• Computer information system
• Entrepreneurship
• Finance
• Hospitality
• International business
• Legal studies
• Management
• Supply chain management

Chemical engineering

• Alternative energy technology
• Biology
• Business
• Computer science
• Foreign language
• Mathematics
• Mineral processing
• Physics
• Polymer science and engineering
• Technology management

Communications

• Business
• Computer science
• Foreign language
• Graphic design
• Journalism
• Marketing
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Writing

Computer science

• Biology
• Business
• Communications
• Creative writing
• History
• Liberal arts
• Management
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Software engineering

Economics

• Business
• Data science
• Foreign language
• Global systems
• History
• Information technology
• Mathematics
• Political science
• Sociology
• Statistics

English language and literature

• Communications
• Creative writing
• Humanities
• Journalism
• Linguistics
• Marketing
• Political science
• Psychology
• Public relations
• Religious studies

Nursing

• Counseling
• Gerontology
• Health education
• Healthcare administration
• Hospital administration
• Journalism
• Mathematics
• Nutrition
• Psychology
• Sociology

Political science

• Applied economics
• History
• Leadership studies
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Public administration
• Security studies
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Transnational perspectives

Psychology

• Anthropology
• Biology
• Business
• Communications
• Education
• Foreign language
• Health science
• Political science
• Public service
• Sociology

Please take note that the minors given above are some of those that complement each of the stated popular majors — you may also opt for a minor that goes well with an interest or passion of yours instead of your declared major.

Pros and Cons

Whether required or optional, having a minor can come with a number of benefits, some of which you can enjoy during your college career, while others you can take advantage of when it’s time to enter the workforce.

Unfortunately, adding a minor to your curriculum can also come with some downsides, which you must look into beforehand.

In this part of the post, we’ll take a look at some of the pros and cons of minoring in college.

Pros

• Obtain knowledge and skills in a different field to broaden one’s horizons
• Narrowing the focus of one’s major to specialize in a particular area of study
• Demonstration of ability to manage time and organize and balance several different commitments
• Establishment of a backup career plan
• Seeking one’s interest or passion in life
• Enjoy a more competitive resume in an aggressive job market
• Increasing job opportunities and raising earning potential

Cons

• May require students to spend more time in college
• May cause an increase in tuition costs
• May leave undergraduates with more educational debt than necessary
• May cause students to get lower GPAs and lose their eligibility for financial aid
• Distraction from major courses
• Requirement to complete additional credits to graduate
• Increased risk of suffering from academic stress and burnout

FAQs

How Many Minors Should You Have

It’s not uncommon for some colleges and universities to limit their students to having a single minor.

At many postsecondary institutions, undergraduates can have up to a maximum of two minors.

Students at certain schools may also triple minor, although they will have to consider enrolling in courses strategically to avoid delaying graduation or spending more on tuition.

Can Multiple Minors Result in a Single Major?

Taking a number of minors can result in the completion of a single major.

However, it’s important to point out that students must have a major to be able to minor.

That being said, taking multiple minors may result in the undergraduate student earning a secondary major, provided that he or she has completed all the courses required by that particular major.

Do Employers Consider a Minor?

Some employers may in fact take a candidate’s college minor into account.

This is especially true if they are looking for individuals whose specialized knowledge or additional skill set can be beneficial for the business or company.

It’s also not unlikely for job applicants to have increased chances of getting employed if their minors relate to the positions to be filled.