How does minoring in college work

This means that you will likely spend an additional semester in college, which will require that you appropriate two important resources: time and money. Thus while attaining a college minor can bring many benefits and advantages, it also necessitates the allocation of resources you may not be willing to spend. There are a plethora of wonderful benefits that result from declaring a college minor.

Some of them include: 1. Personal Fulfillment. In many cases, individuals who opt to declare a minor do so because they are passionate about a specific subject.

Professional Enhancement. In many cases, employers are looking for employees who specialize within a specific sector, and they are often willing to pay such individuals more than the base level annual salary generally offered. For example, the rise of concerns about the environment and sustainability has precipitated a specific sector within the field of accounting referred to as environmental accounting.

Related: 40 Great Internships for College Students. There are several benefits of declaring a college minor that you might want to consider, including that it:. Minors are a great way to develop your skills in an area that is related to your major.

For example, if you plan on majoring in communication and are especially interested in the writing aspect of your major, an English minor could give you some additional knowledge in effective writing tactics.

Similar to exploring a related area of disciplines, minors also provide you with the opportunity to learn more about a particular area related to your hobbies or interests. For example, If you are a biology major with a passion for theater, you could pursue a theater minor.

Since minors typically include five courses, this makes it relatively easy for you to complete a minor while also taking your required major courses. You can take one each semester so that you also have more than enough time to fulfill your other classes. Minors are also excellent for introducing you to other areas of study you would not have otherwise considered. For example, a fine arts major decides to pursue a minor in business and realizes that they enjoy the courses related to entrepreneurship and accounting.

A minor is an excellent way for you to present yourself as a well-educated professional. Not only does it demonstrate your expertise in another field, but it also shows employers that you can handle multiple workloads at the same time. Selecting a college minor is almost as important as choosing your major. That is why you need to know how to choose a minor that is right for you.

Here is a step-by-step guide for you to follow to identify which minor you should choose:. Think about your major and consider which courses or specialty areas have gained your attention.

You can also think about your interests outside of your major. Think about a particular academic subject, industry or activity that fascinates you. Example: You are a business major. You enjoy your international business courses along with global finance and business communications courses.

Aside from your major classes, you enjoy learning about history, and you have always had an interest in foreign languages. Consider the opposite of your interests by looking at areas you want to strengthen. You could use a minor as a way to challenge yourself to conquer a subject or idea of which you have a limited understanding. Example: You are an accounting major but you've always wanted to increase your creative-thinking skills. For this reason, you might want to consider a fine arts minor.

Once you have identified your interests and areas for improvement, go to your school's website to figure out what minors are available to you in different subjects. This could help you narrow down your choices. Example: As an elementary education major, you identify possible minors as English composition, creative writing or Spanish.

You do not see a creative writing minor, and the English minor courses do not offer the types of writing-related skills you want to develop, so you consider declaring a Spanish minor. This tactic generally is most feasible for students who choose a minor similar to their major. A student majoring in French may be able to minor in, say, European Studies or Translation Studies, simply by taking an additional class or two beyond what is required for the major.

Another consideration is money. You must figure out if you can afford what may amount to an extra semester of work. Most minors require five or six classes, or about 15 to 18 credit hours, devoted to that area of study. If your major and minor course requirements do not overlap at all and you do not have AP, IB, or community college credits, you will have to be very wise about structuring your elective classes. Otherwise, you almost certainly will spend extra time in college.

Make sure you know exactly how to do that. Every college or university has a different process for declaring a minor. You may have to meet with your advisor or the head of the program. You might even have to officially apply for the program, similar to the way you may have applied for your major in the first place. No matter what, you will almost certainly have to fill out paperwork to make your minor official—but this investment of your time, money, effort and brainpower can make a huge difference in your academic career and professional life.

Next, learn more about this college major such as Philosophy and get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Stand Out With Business Cards. College Majors and Minors What is a Minor? Now Reading: What is a Minor? What is a Minor? Next article.