The Metamorphosis
When you enroll for whatever program you are interested in, choosing a minor and a major is something you have to do. A college minor is called such because it does not pose the same importance as your college major. But it matters, and it is still worth taking.
But what if you finished your bachelor’s degree? Are you one of those who ask, “Can I get a minor after graduating?”
Table of Contents
College Minor: What is It?
A college minor may seem less important to you than a major when you’re after a degree. But there’s nothing minor about taking a minor at all. Unlike your major, a minor concentrates on classes requiring fewer courses and lesser depth from the student. It is like a secondary academic discipline in addition to your major.
Your minor has nothing to do with your major, academically. While other colleges do not require you to choose one for your degree, it is still an essential opportunity to train in another discipline. Or you can take a minor that will support your major.
Applying for a Minor
A student applying for a minor after graduation is unheard of in most colleges as it is usually taken with a major. It is to your benefit to ask your school’s registrar’s office to know the details as it always varies from school to school.
However, if you plan to take a minor program, applying for it will need to be a meticulous process.
Qualifications
Have a Major
Minors cannot be accomplished without a major program for your degree. You need to have one active major to pursue a minor, making you an enrolled student of the school.
Minor Outside Your Major
Some schools require you to take a minor program that is not in your major department. However, you may take an interdepartmental minor, including courses from your major, on the condition that at least 16 units or four courses for the minor are not from your major department.
Units
Taking a minor is not a decision only the student influences on. While a minor requires at least 16 units, most will range between 20–24. However, your college department may require you to have passed at least 150 units before you can take a minor.
Rules
No Pass/Fail Basis
In some colleges, like the University of Southern California, you are not allowed to take a minor on a pass/fail basis, and you must earn a minimum of 2.0 in grade point average in all courses required.
Advantages of Choosing a Minor
Major Support
You can use your minor to supplement your major, learning more about the areas around your degree.
Value-Added Learning
If you take a minor which has nothing to do with your major, it is still important to remember that you are learning. And when learning and your interest coincide, it does not seem like studying is a challenging task at all.
Enhance Your Resume
When you finish a minor, they will show on your transcript. And a well-decorated transcript is pleasing to the eyes of potential employers and the job market, in general.
Picking a Minor
Choosing a minor will need a decision process that involves thorough thinking through and assessment. Here are the things to remember when picking your minor while you’re getting your degree.
Career Goals
A great way to pick a minor is to know your career goals to line them to what you want your career to be.
Personal Interest
It is known that not all minors have to be influenced by your career. Picking a minor that you have a personal interest in will help you enjoy and savor the learning process.
Time and Commitment
Picking a minor requires commitment and time. If you are serious about picking a minor, assess if you can commit to the effort and time required to pass one.
Types of Minors You Can Take
Getting a degree is not the easiest task you can do. But if you have the extra time and effort in your quest, you can minor in other subjects out of interest or further support your major. Here are some of the types of minors you can take.
Foreign Language
Maybe you’re interested in Spanish or French, or Latin, taking a foreign language as your minor will help you explore much of your interest. Plus, learning other languages may come to your advantage in the future.
Business
If you want to know how entrepreneurship goes, maybe minoring in a business course will jumpstart your adventure.
History
Learning the past is somehow the key to the future. Taking history as your minor will help you understand how the present came to be so as you can influence the future.
Psychology
Every day you deal with different people. Maybe you want to figure out how the human mind works, or you think you can make use of knowing human mind interaction someday in your career. Taking psychology as a minor will help you gain perspective on such things.
Political Science
Politics is a controversial topic, and knowing its science will help you understand things a bit. Taking political science as your minor will help your case if maybe someday you aspire to become a politician or a lawyer.
Mathematics
I do not prefer minoring in mathematics. But maybe you would want to conquer your weakness when it comes to numbers and formulas. Minoring in mathematics may have nothing to do with your degree, but it does help you in the long run.
Others
Each school has different types of minors you can take. So whatever it is you’re interested in, best to inquire in your department.
Turning Your Minor Into a Major After Graduating
Can you even turn a minor into a major after graduating? Well, like always, it depends on your school and its requirements. Some majors only accept a student once a year, while others accept all year round. Knowing the major programs will help you know what you need to keep in mind when taking a major.
And when you decide to turn your minor into a major, close communication with your academic advisor will be essential and critical. You can ask them about some relevant information on how you can adjust your schedules in any activity relating to the program, the expectations on graduation time, and other activities like research and internship.
Mind Your Minor
Now that you’re well informed on what a minor is and other information surrounding it, you can make an informed decision if you will pursue one or not. However, it is great to pursue your career, interest, and growth alike, especially when your time as a student comes to an end.
