At NSU, most students are enthusiastic about their area of study in their respective majors. Minors, however, are an option that some students haven’t explored. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, minors are “of or relating to an academic subject requiring fewer courses than a major,” but it can be argued that minors are more than just a subject with fewer courses. According to Alkin Cadet, an academic advisor at NSU, minors can be a way for students to explore their interests and passions related or unrelated to their degree.
According to the 2020 undergraduate student catalog, NSU offers 76 minor fields of study to its students, which can be combined in a variety of ways with their current degree program. Most of the minors require 15-18 credits to complete, meaning minors generally average five to six courses in a specific subject area. It is generally misunderstood that a student’s minor(s) are displayed along with their major on their diploma when they graduate; however, that is not the case.
“A minor gives your open electives (if you have room for open elective courses) a focus. If you don’t have open elective room, then minors provide another subject area to your learning experience. They are not displayed on your degree when you graduate, but they are displayed on your transcripts which you receive when you graduate NSU and move on to other pursuits,” said Cadet.
Speaking of open electives, it’s important to note that minors are not for every student. Taking a minor or adding one or more to a degree plan is something that should be discussed personally between the student and their assigned academic advisor. Some students come in with transfer credits, meaning they can graduate with just taking core classes for their major, while others will need to take open elective courses to fulfill the 120 credit requirement to graduate from NSU. Open electives provide students the opportunity to explore various academic pursuits across a spectrum of fields. Students are welcome to take courses for fun or even pick random academic pursuits that interests them to fulfill these requirements. But for students who are strategic or goal-focused, it might be best for them to centralize their interests into a minor that can double as an academic exploration and an achievable short-term goal for a new area of expertise.
This can impact a student’s future by centralizing their specific career path, helping them dive into a lifelong passion and helping them find a newfound appreciation for it.
As college students enter the workforce, they hear the term “well-rounded applicant” being thrown around, which is supposed to encourage a diverse set of skills in the workplace and the opportunity for new ideas in all professional settings. Minors are one way that students earn the designation of a “well-rounded” individual. As Cadet explained, an art major with aspirations to own an art gallery may try to minor in business or arts administration. An international studies student with aspirations of impacting world relations might benefit from second language minors or legal-based minors and so on. Exploring these complementary avenues to your major, or even seemingly unrelated avenues, might lead to a future opportunity.
“At the end of the day, you are taking these [classes] and have that knowledge and familiarity with the subject matter you are honing in on. It’s okay to explore while you here at NSU, especially in your undergraduate years. This is the time to figure out what you want to do in your life and your career. If you have a small interest, take a course or add a minor. This is one of the only times in your life you will have the opportunity to explore, take advantage of it,” said Cadet.
For students interested in adding a minor to their degree, reach out to your assigned academic advisor and career development advisors to explore possible paths to reaching your goals. Students are also encouraged to explore the undergraduate majors and minors page on NSU’s website or the undergraduate academic catalog to explore different interests and see if a minor may be the right fit for them.
Thinking of adding a minor? Ask yourself…
- What are you passionate about?
- What does your schedule look like?
- Does it truly interest you?
- Could it potentially supplement your major?
Sourced: S. McCutcheon
