What is a College Minor?

Key Takeaways:

• A college minor is a secondary academic discipline that may complement a student’s major, but it does not have to.
• Undergraduates must complete between 16 and 30 credit hours depending on the program (or approximately 6 – 10 courses) to earn a minor.
• Students are not required to declare a minor to earn a degree.

A college minor is similar to a major, but while a major is your primary focus, a minor is your secondary specialization. They require fewer credits compared to a major and you can select a minor based on your desired field or personal interests. If you want to know more about college minors, we’ve covered everything you need to know below, including how to declare one, the benefits of selecting a minor, and FAQ.

What Is a Minor in College?

If you’re going for a bachelor’s degree, you’re required to pick a major. This is usually a designated set of courses related to a specific subject as dictated by the college. Some schools let you design your own major or major in more than one subject. No matter what you pick, it will be your main focus for a majority of the time you’re in college.

A college minor, on the other hand, is a smaller concentration that can be selected alongside your major. It can be a focus related to your major or something completely different. For example, a Business student might choose to minor in Economics or Marketing or they could choose something they’re simply interested in and passionate about, such as Art History.

Your major courses will take up a majority of the 120 credits you need to graduate with a bachelor’s degree (usually between 40 and 60). A minor tends to range between 16 and 30 credits.

College Minor Examples

College minors can be on just about any subject! They can be a broad field of study, such as Biology, or something more niche, including Athletic Sport Coaching.

Minor availability depends on the school. Colleges tend to offer most or all of the popular majors, such as Criminal Justice or Chemistry, as minors. Many schools also offer minors that don’t have a major at the school but do well as a minor. For example, the University of West Florida has an Anthropology major and an Anthropology minor. They also have a related Anthropology minor called Africana Studies, but Africana Studies isn’t an undergraduate major offered at the school.

Some colleges will also allow you to design your own minor. Designing your own minor tends to be less strict than designing your own major, but you’ll still need to demonstrate why you want to take the specific courses and how they relate to your goals.

You can visit your college’s website to see their minor programs or talk to your college advisor about available minors or designing your own.

Pros and Cons of College Minors

Unlike a major, however, a minor is not always required to graduate with a degree. You can absolutely choose not to minor in anything and simply take electives that interest you or support your career goals.

When choosing whether or not to select a college minor or choosing a field of study, consider these benefits and downsides:

Benefits of College Minors

College minors come with a lot of advantages, and only a handful of downsides. By selecting a college minor, you can:

• Broaden your knowledge. The main benefit of college minors is the fact that you’ll learn more about a specific subject. It can deliver a well-rounded education while also helping you gain transferable skills. If you’re planning on going to graduate school, choosing a minor that aligns with your intended graduate program can help you be better prepared.
• Enhance your major. Choosing a minor related to your major can help you deepen your understanding of your field of study.
• Follow your passion. Minors don’t have to be related to your major. It can be a chance for you to pursue a field of study you would have liked to major in, but it didn’t align with your career goals.
• Increase career opportunities. Minors can also support your career goals and work as an extra form of experience. For example, a Human Resources Management student with a Psychology minor can be an attractive candidate. A Business major with a foreign language minor can be exactly what a company is looking for and it could increase your salary.

Considerations of Declaring College Minors

If you decide to declare a college minor, you want to consider a few things that may impact your goals and graduation timelines. For example:

• The credit requirements of completing your minor may require you to skip unrelated electives you would have liked to take but simply can’t fit into your schedule.
• Certain fields of study are more expensive than others. Choosing a minor could increase your college costs depending on the subject. For example, if you minor in Photography, you’d have to buy all the gear and supplies.
• Certain fields of study are more rigorous than others. If you decide to minor in Biology, for instance, you could be facing a lot more studying than previously.
• If you take too long to complete your minor and are dedicated to completing it, it could push back your graduation timeline.

Pro tip: Planning ahead and working with your college advisor should help you avoid these situations.

Should You Declare a Minor in College?

A majority of colleges don’t require you to select a minor to earn a bachelor’s degree. You can choose to simply take courses that interest you.

If you do decide to take a minor, you should declare it with the college. This will put the chosen minor on your transcripts and could help you get easier access to classes where spots are limited. You will need to speak with your college academic advisor to sign up and create a plan for your schedule.

As with a major, you will have to take specific courses in college to complete your minor. This course list could be dictated by the school, or it may be a set of classes you designed with your advisor.

It’s generally recommended that you declare your minor alongside your major, at the end of your sophomore year or the beginning of your junior year. This will allow you to have plenty of time to take minor requirements and graduate on time. However, most schools don’t require you to officially declare your minor until the fall of your senior year, so don’t worry if you’re not sure yet!

Deciding whether or not to select a minor really comes down to your own goals and personal preferences.

How to Choose a College Minor

There are two major ideas that can impact your college minor choice: your career or education goals or your personal interests.

Choosing a minor related to your career or education goals usually means choosing something directly or loosely related to your major. An Anthropology major looking to study Africana Studies in graduate school would likely benefit from an Africana Studies minor as an undergraduate. A Business major who wants to work for a global brand can benefit from a foreign language minor.

But there’s no rule that your minor must go hand in hand with your career or education goals. You can choose one that enhances your skills or one that simply interests you. Most colleges won’t restrict you from minors even if you’re not majoring in that subject. As an Information Technology major, you’re generally still able to minor in Music Theory. But you’ll likely have to audition for a spot in that particular minor.

Frequently Asked Questions About College Minors

Is Getting a College Minor Worth It?

Declaring a minor is a personal choice. For one student, it may not matter, and it may not be worth it to focus on one particular field of study in addition to their major. For another student who plans on entering a specific career field or graduate school, a minor can provide a boost to knowledge and skill sets. And for students interested in a particular subject (but don’t want a full major in), a minor is a great way to explore that topic.

How Many Credits are Required for College Minors?

The amount of credits required for a minor depends on the program and school, but generally between 16 and 30 credits are needed.

Do You Have to Pick a College Minor?

No, at most colleges, you don’t have to pick a college minor. You can graduate and earn a bachelor’s degree without ever declaring one.

What is the Difference Between a Concentration and a College Minor?

A concentration is a part of your major. It’s a specific area within your field of study. For example, some English major programs have concentration options, including American Literature and Creative Writing. The number of concentration-related credits required for a degree depends on the program and school, but usually 30% of your major will be focused on your concentration.

A minor is a program separate from your major, and can be in a related field of study or a completely different one.

What is the Difference Between a Double Major and a Minor?

A double major is two major programs. So if you wanted to major in English as well as Film, you’d be a double major. Each would require about 40 and 60 credits. A minor is less intensive than a major, and only requires 16 and 30 credits. If you chose a double major and you’d like to graduate within 4 years, you may not have time to fit a minor into your schedule.

College minors aren’t required to earn a bachelor’s degree at most colleges. You can choose one based on your interests, your passions, your career goals, or your education goals. What you choose is completely up to you, but it’s a great way to learn more about a subject that interests you!

Want to learn more about minors, majors, and concentrations? Use our Major Search tool to start exploring them today!