So, you are starting off university and are lost in options laid right in front of you. Don’t we all spend hours on end trying to decide what major to pursue? It never is easy choosing which career path to follow for the rest of your life, but there is one critical point everyone disregards; minors.
Minors in college are sometimes the “make it or break it” factor for companies you apply to. Having one or multiple minors during your college years is actually quite impressive. It provides you with the opportunity to expand into more profound and more broad topics aside from your college major.
However, we are often confused about choosing our majors in college, let alone knowing which minor to choose. However, take a deep breath and relax. We are about to tell you everything you need to know about minors in college and how many minors you can reasonably pursue.
What are Minors in College?
What are Minors in College?Minors are not minor, after all. You would think studying a minor at a college is such an easy feat when in reality, it just adds to your course load.
A college minor is an academic field of your choice from your current university that is secondary in importance to your college major. Despite it not being as important as your college major, having a minor can be such a rewarding thing and a fantastic complement to your resume.
BUT… you do not have to take a minor.
Many people feel pressured into pursuing a minor by their peers or friends who seem to be achieving more than they are. If you think that way, reevaluate your choices before you embark on this journey because trust us, it will not be easy.
You know how universities and colleges give you a bunch of different general courses and electives that you loathe taking? See, the good news about taking minors in college is that you do not have to go through the hassle of taking too many credit hours and drowning in your work.
You have the freedom of choosing something you actually enjoy without all the extra material that is compulsory when studying for a major. But, how many minors can you even have? We will be telling you all you need to know.
To be completely frank with you, you should not be pursuing a minor if you are taking it just for the sake of it. Evaluate your goals and be honest with yourself. Is a minor worth it for you? Would it simply be a waste of time? A time that you could spend on something much better?
Do Minors in College Matter?
Let us put it simply; a minor in college is worth it if you want to learn more about a secondary topic to your principal and expand your knowledge. It can also be an excellent idea to pursue a minor if it can help build on your current major and further add to your skills.
On the larger scale, asking yourself if minors in college matter is a loaded question. It depends on numerous different things: do you enjoy the topic you are considering? Do you think it will add to your life? Will it be too much work for you? Is it even worth the trouble?
However, we are here to simplify things for you. Here are the top 5 reasons students in college pursue a minor as an additional subject to their major:
Confusion about their career path: several students choose to pursue a minor in college mainly because they feel unsure about their current major. These students prefer to expand their horizons before committing to one specific, strict path for their entire lives.
- It complements their major: some subjects simply go hand in hand. For instance, some physics college majors pursue a minor in philosophy. On the other hand, some prefer minoring in mathematics. People have different expectations from their careers, and minors help them figure out what they are looking for.
- Personal interest: you might simply be aiming to pursue a minor in your college simply for the fun of it. You might be studying engineering but have a knack for literature. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that; it is pretty impressive for people to be interested in numerous different topics.
- Strengthen yourself: honestly, studying different topics and subjects will represent you as a solid and responsible person. Having both a major and a minor in college will wonderfully paint you later on in front of employers, as it shows how reliable and committed you are.
- An advantage over others: it is not always the case, but you might have an advantage over others in your work life, depending on where you apply. For instance, some people study hotel management and hospitality with a minor in French. They possibly would have the edge over others if you plan on applying in an area that speaks French.
So, if a minor is worth it or not is such a serious question that it cannot be simply answered. We believe that a minor can boost you a boost in life and your academic career if done right.
However, if you are merely doing it to be impressive or compete with your peers, then reevaluate your reasonings and motives before embarking on this adventure.
How Many Minors are You Allowed to Have in College?
It is all about the time you need to complete your minor. Despite each minor having an average of 3 classes to complete, imagine having that on top of your major’s course load, extracurricular activities, and the sleep you need to catch up on.
Having a minor can be extremely hectic for some people, which can be the case for you. The primary way you can evaluate whether it will be too much for you is to calculate how much free time you actually have during the week.
How much time do you spend watching Netflix or just chilling around doing nothing? If you feel like that makes a big chunk of your time, then you just might have the time for a minor.
Otherwise, if you are currently drowning in work and you have a sub-optimal social life, and you want more of that, then a minor might not be your best option right now.
Well, how many minors can you have? See, the main rule of having a minor is having a major, and you either have a college major and a college minor, or none at all. As for how many you can take, most universities allow you to take up to two minors as they want you to graduate on time.
Sometimes, colleges only allow you to choose three different fields of study; two majors and one minor, or two minors and one major. Here is the thing: colleges usually allow a maximum of two minors as they urge you to finish your undergraduate degree on time.
Moreover, studying for a major and more than two minors at the same time confuses you. It can also lead future employers or even officials at graduate schools to believe you are an indecisive person.
So even if your college of choice allows more than two minors, we do not recommend you to go down that path. You do not want to be completely distracted and spread out across numerous different fields when you should be narrowing it down to something you enjoy.
The purpose of college is to expand your knowledge. However, you are supposed to find your passion in life and run after that at the same time.
Can You Double Major and Have a Minor?
Yes. Of course, you can, and it certainly is a possibility. We have heard of people completing more than 3 majors during their four years of university and excelling at it. However, the real question should be, why are you considering taking all these courses? And also, why do you want to put that pressure on yourself?
You should acknowledge that the second college major you would be taking and that the minor you will be taking on will not do much for you in the future. The most important part of your educational career would be your fundamental major, and then everything will fall underneath that.
These additional “certifications” often act as a point of vanity and show off more than anything for most people, so you can double major and have a minor simultaneously.
However, sometimes double-majoring gives you a major advantage in college and in your career life. For instance, some high-achievers aim for a double major in physics and mathematics, which end up complimenting each other perfectly.
But do minors matter in this situation? In the long run, no, it definitely does not. Having a double major is impressive and complex enough, so having another minor will simply add to your own education and knowledge.
Moreover, having two majors essentially provides you with two different degrees, while a minor at this point would simply be adding on to your own information.
Consider this: a minor is like half a major. Therefore, despite a minor in college, it will never be as remarkable as a double major. Hence, if you are torn between choosing a major or a minor and confident you can successfully complete a second major, you know what to do.
What is the Difference Between Majors and Minors in College?
A major is literally an acknowledged certificate you are awarded from the university or college. However, a minor at college is not something people really care about much. It really is for personal improvement and will add to your experience.
However, let us compare them to each other to further understand what the difference is:
- A major at college is what you pursue to expand into your dream job or a graduate degree. A minor will assist you along to way and help you get to that point.
- A major is a degree from college, while a minor is not considered one. So, do minors matter? That question would be according to you and what you want to achieve in your academic life.
- A double major is usually something that compliments your main career path. At the same time, a minor can be completely unrelated to your major field. A minor can be anything you are interested in.
- Typically to graduate with an undergraduate college major, you need 120-130 hours over 4 years. However, a minor is usually a minimum of 18 credit hours, but students should expect to log in around 30 credit hours.
- Minors are opportunities for you to find something you love outside of your major. A major is much more stressful than a minor. A minor in college can be such a light-hearted thing that can earn you points in academics and expand on your views and knowledge.
So, how many majors and minors can you have? There really is no upper limit, and it usually differs according to your college or university. Some people have double majors and double minors in college. In contrast, others prefer to take a single, more straightforward path with only one major.
How Do You Choose Your Minor in College? 3 Things to Consider
You should consider numerous different factors when choosing a minor, but here are our top three. What is your ultimate goal? Are you looking for something that will be firmly integrated into your current field of study or something wholly unique and exciting to you?
- See, your intention for why you want to pursue a minor is the most essential factor in choosing. Ask yourself: do minors in college matter? Are you doing it to strengthen your understanding, or are you looking for something fun and light-hearted?
- Do you want something related to your major? For instance, some people opt for a minor in archeology while they study architecture. Some people would want to branch out and reach out for a minor in creative writing. Hence, find out what you are interested in. See how you want your life to pan out and what academic course you want to pursue throughout your life.
- The question is no longer how many minors you can have in college; it is your intention. Are you trying to impress others, or are you doing it for yourself? If you are considering a minor, we really hope it is not the former.
However, sometimes you look for easy minors in college that are light-hearted, fun, and not time-consuming. It can also be a personal aspect where you find mathematics-based subjects easier than creative ones. Despite that, we do have a list of easy minors that you might find fun:
- Psychology: psychology analysis the psyche of human beings, and having a minor in that might help you out with analytics, communication skills, and social understanding. You can minor in psychology while majoring in foreign languages, sociology, mathematics, or education.
- General Linguistics: as the name suggests, this minor is very general and focuses on semantics, syntax, and phonetics of all languages. It is the perfect minor for you to expand your cultural knowledge. This fits perfectly with American studies, computer science, and psychology.
- Economics: this minor is entirely flexible with minimal credit hours. Moreover, it fits if you have a knack for numbers, statistics, and analysis. This goes hand-in-hand with mathematicians, data scientists, historians, and political scientists.
Double-check which minors complement your major, and work around that. It is much easier and more accommodating to choose one relatively close to your field of study.
Not only does that add to your knowledge regarding your college major, but it will also expand on your interests and general strengths.
Wrapping Things Up: How Many Minors Can You Have?
Once you decide on which college or university you will be attending, do your fair share of research and find how difficult your major is. Not only that, but find out how many credit hours are required of you to graduate. That does change according to your specific major.
Find out what your main priority for obtaining a minor is. Are you looking for easy minors? Do you even think minors matter? Do you want to double major? Do you know what career you want to pursue?
One of the most important things to note is you should never be pressured into choosing your minor in college, just like you should not be pressured into your major. Do not aim for a technical minor only because others tell you it will land you a job. Believe in what you do, so you can love it, honestly.
To be confident about your field of study, the first thing you should do is do your fair share of research about your areas. Find out which minors complement your college majors, and draw tangents and conclusions from that.
Find out what you love, research it, and do not hesitate to pursue something you are passionate about.
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