Explaining Academic Majors and Minors + What to Choose in College
Majors are the core of your education, while minors build on additional skills and interests.
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The options for students choosing a path in college can be very wide-ranging, not to mention there are concepts of college majors and minors. But which is which for you and how can you ensure that you will like studying them in the long run? Here's a breakdown of their differences:
College Major vs Minor
Simply put, a college major is the core focus of a student's degree.
Bay Atlantic University explained that it represents the field in which you choose to specialize and determines the main courses you'll take while attending college. Majors are usually longer and require greater mastery of a subject, like engineering, business, biology, or psychology.
Choosing a major often can be a daunting task, since the fields are so different and varied. The best advice is to consider the passion, strengths, and the long-term career goals. Some students will already know exactly what they wish to do, such as being a doctor or a teacher, while others will have time to explore different fields.
Moving over, a college minor is a lesser field of study that usually complements your major. Bay Atlantic Univeristy stated that while a major usually takes more courses and a larger commitment, a minor requires fewer courses and is generally less intensive. Minors enable students to build expertise in another subject area without the full commitment needed for a major.
Most students select minors to advance their knowledge pool or better their majors. The business student can minor in marketing. Or, the computer science graduate can decide to take a graphic design course to enhance his creativity.
Choosing the Right College Major and Minor
The choice of major or minor is very personal and should come from your interests, as well as your career aspirations, and academic strengths. To make the right choice, try to first assess your interests. The University of Kansas recommends that you reflect on what excites you the most and what you're passionate about first. Or better yet, reflect on what kind of career you want as some require a specific major, such as medicine or law. Others might allow for more flexibility, like communications.
If you are still unsure at this stage, take introductory courses in different subjects first before committing to a major. Some universities offer general education courses so you can grasp them without committing too much.
Now, if you find yourself still undecided, you can talk to academic advisors and career counselors for guidance. They can provide insights into the requirements for different majors and minors and help you understand the workload.
In a nutshell, your major is the core of your higher education and future career, but a minor is what builds on your abilities and helps pursue other interests. So no matter whether you choose to combine your major with a minor or focus strictly on your major, the choice really should be personal interest, possible career choice, and whatever academic ability you may hold.
