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Are you considering earning a degree from a college or university? Whether you plan to take classes in person or want to enroll in an online program, it’s important to understand the terminology used most in higher education. Few concepts are more important than your college major and college minor, which often define academic experiences and help shape career pathways for those pursuing work in particular disciplines.
It's important for prospective students to understand the differences between a college major and a minor. Knowing these distinctions will help you choose the right degree program for your associate's or bachelor's degree. While the concepts of majors and minors are most relevant for undergraduate students, as graduate programs typically use concentrations instead, your choices should align with your long-term personal and career goals.
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What is a College Major?
A college major is a structured course of study in a specific subject area, such as business, biology, or political science, that provides in-depth knowledge to prepare students for graduate school or a career. With hundreds of options available, students can tailor their major to align with their career goals.
Most programs require at least one-third to one-half of courses to be related to the major, typically around 30 credit hours. The remaining courses are usually general education requirements, which provide a broad knowledge base applicable to many professions.
Students generally need to choose a major before graduation, though many schools recommend waiting until sophomore year to allow time for exploration. It’s also common for students to switch majors as their interests evolve. Some schools offer the option of double majoring, often in related fields. However, this can require more coursework and may extend the time needed to graduate.
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What is a College Minor?
Academic minor degrees are secondary fields of study. While majors are more significant and dictate more coursework, minors can also be important. Minors allow students to take classes and train in other disciplines that they may otherwise have little to no involvement with. This can be particularly beneficial for those with many different interests or who want to explore potential backup career options. It’s important to realize that minors are ultimately subordinate to majors, making the latter much more significant.
Unlike designating a major, earning a minor is not required by colleges or universities. Students should still be very intentional regarding this decision, however, as it can impact future career prospects and will likely expand how they think about their careers and life in general.
As with major selections, colleges have set frameworks of required courses that must be completed to earn minors. The amount of choice given to students tends to vary significantly from institution to institution, with some only providing a broader explanation of the types of courses necessary instead of an explicit list. Those interested in designating a minor should always review expectations thoroughly and consider how any additional classwork may impact graduation timelines.
class="tile-title">Is Earning a Minor Worth It?
Ultimately, earning colleges minor can be worth it for students who want to gain knowledge and training in secondary subjects related to their majors. Minors can play a significant role in finding employment after graduation. Unsurprisingly, many students choose minors that supplement their primary fields. This allows them to gain specialization in complementary areas that may set them apart from other job candidates. In fact, earning a minor is one great way to make yourself more attractive to potential employers and gain employment faster after graduating.
Some of the most worthwhile minors related to career prospects include:
- Cyber Security
- Marketing
- Business Administration
- Business Management
- Multimedia Journalism
- Urban Studies
- Creative Writing
- Environmental Science
- Information Technology
- Mathematics
- Accounting
- Economics
- Finance
- Statistics
- Data Science
- Psychology
- Foreign Language
While minors often complement majors, they don’t have to. Students can also use minors to learn more about the things they are interested in. This is particularly relevant for individuals who enjoy pursing various hobbies. A theatre minor, for example, is an excellent choice for people who plan to participate in community theater productions after graduation, though it may have nothing to do with your primary area of learning.
A minor can also serve as a great way to attain skills that may prove useful in daily life. Someone with a deaf uncle, for example, may personally benefit from minoring in American Sign Language. It’s also worth mentioning that some colleges and universities may offer certain disciplines as minors only. This often means that the institution does not have enough courses for a student to major in the given subject. In these cases, minors serve as ways for students to learn something about a subject without having to transfer to different schools.
Will Earning a Minor Affect Your Career?
Earning a minor can impact your career, depending on your field. Minors, particularly complementary ones, can be valuable in certain industries, while in others, they may have little effect. Nursing, accounting, and engineering students, for example, must dedicate a lot of time and effort to mastering very specific skills. While useful in their respective areas, this knowledge may not be as applicable to other fields. However, having a minor shows you’ve gone beyond the minimum requirements for graduation, which can impress employers if the skills are applicable to the job.
Minors in fields like cyber security or business are especially beneficial, as many industries rely on these areas. Graduates with minors in these subjects may advance more quickly in their careers. The value of a minor also depends on the employer and industry. Minors related to your major or the job you're applying for are more likely to be seen as assets. For example, a high school English teacher with a minor in counseling may stand out due to the complementary skills.
Selecting a major is not the same as choosing a job, however. While some majors direct learning toward a specific trade, others provide broader learning opportunities that can lead to several different positions and professions after graduation. A biology major, for example, can pursue employment as a biological technician, health communications specialist, pharmaceutical sales representative, or biology teacher. Most majors also provide strong foundations for more specialized training after graduation. And this is when a minor can backfire. Employers may view an unrelated minor or multiple minors as a sign of indecision, which could raise concerns about your reliability and commitment. Focused minors that align with your career goals are generally more effective than spreading yourself too thin.
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Easiest Options
College minors will vary in difficulty. Every option will require work and attention, but some may suit certain students better than others. Factors that may impact how simple minors are include number of required courses, average GPA of enrolled students, and the amount weekly study hours needed to pass.
Some of the easiest minors are:
- Business Administration
Business administration programs tend to how low weekly workloads and high average GPAs among enrolled students. Notably, they also traditionally have great return on investment. - Psychology
Psychology programs often require a relatively reasonable amount of homework, but student GPAs are quite good when compared to other minor subjects. - Education
Education programs frequently call for quite a bit of busywork, but enrolled students tend to have very high GPAs. This minor does not, however, have a particularly good return on investment. - Public Relations & Advertising
Public relations and advertising programs do not necessarily have high GPAs among students, but the return on investment is significant. Students learn skills that are highly coveted by most industries. - Journalism
Journalism programs tend to require less study time than other minors. Additionally, student GPAs are relatively high.
It’s also important to realize that simplicity is relative. What is effortless for you may be almost impossible for another. For this reason, it’s imperative that you consider your personal strengths and habits before selecting a minor. The subjects you are likely to find easiest are those you have significant interest and natural talent in.
Best Options
The overall value of college minors also varies from subject to subject. Every option will provide opportunities to learn helpful knowledge and skills, but some are likely to help in the professional world more than others. Factors that may impact how beneficial a minor is includes prevalence of easily transferrable skills and potential return on investment.
Some of the best minors, in light of these qualities, are:
- Business
Business programs help students achieve a strong foundation in the field, as well as develop complementary skills applicable to almost every other industry. - Multimedia Journalism
Multimedia journalism programs help students hone skills related to information and new technologies. Prospective employers are also likely to appreciate how adaptable graduates in this field are. - Computer Science
Computer science programs help students develop skills in cyber security and information technology. Knowledge in these areas is in high demand among companies and organizations of every size. - Management
Management programs help students hone their communication, leadership, and managerial skills, all of which can be applied to almost any job. This minor is particularly useful when paired with accounting, finance, and marketing majors. - Creative Writing
Creative writing programs help students develop good writing skills, which are essential in many different professional fields, from education to law.
It’s also important to realize that not all minors are ideal for all students. Your selection should correspond with your personal interests or career goals, which will be different than your peers. Take care deciding which subject(s) will suit your personal and professional needs best.
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Should You Earn a Minor or a Double Major?
Many schools allow students to pursue two majors simultaneously, known as double majoring. Deciding between a double major or a minor depends on factors like your graduation timeline, career goals, academic interests, and professional competition.
Typically, earning a bachelor’s degree takes about four years for one major. Adding a second major won’t double this time but will require more coursework, especially if the majors don’t overlap much. Double majors often take longer than minors, but if the majors share many courses, it can be worth the effort, particularly for students with significant college credits from high school.
Double majors can also make your resume stand out more than minors, which can help in competitive job markets or graduate school applications. However, your personal interests matter too—if you're passionate about a second field, double majoring can be a good choice, while a minor might be better for exploring a subject without fully committing. If you're considering switching majors, it might be more efficient to add a second major rather than delay your graduation plan.
Ultimately, your decision should align with your long-term career and personal goals. Double majoring is a big commitment, so it’s important to carefully weigh the options with guidance from an academic advisor.
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