Choosing a college minor is optional, unlike declaring a college major, and many students do not take advantage of this opportunity. Completing a minor degree program in college, however, can serve a variety of purposes.
First, the minor can broaden the scope of the major’s territory. When college majors can be very specific these days, a minor can focus on a closely related area. A student with a major in biology and a concentration in cellular and molecular biology, for example, might consider minoring in computational neuroscience. A student who studies Classical literature as a major might consider minoring in philosophy.
A well-chosen minor can complement a college major in addition to expanding it. A minor in mathematics can be added to any science major, a minor in philosophy can be added to almost any humanities major, and a minor in sociology can be added to any social science major.
A college minor in writing or journalism can be beneficial to almost any field, as it can help the content area specialist with public presentation of his or her work or provide the writer or journalist with specialized knowledge to inform his or her publications. A minor in computer science may be useful if you want to give a public presentation online.
A college minor in a foreign language may increase a student’s ability to study or work with international colleagues or broaden their employment opportunities. When publications from other countries can be read in their original language, research opportunities expand. Similarly, students who plan to produce a product or service for the market or work in business management may benefit from a minor in business.
A college minor can be an opportunity for a student with diverse talents or who is not completely fulfilled by their major to engage in a completely different type of thought and exploration. Science majors can use the college minor to further their understanding of literature, while humanities majors can look into zoology or psychology. The minor can also be used to continue a hobby, such as playing an instrument, acting, or singing, that began as an extracurricular activity.