College Major vs Minor: What is the difference?

In the context of the US university system, the word 'major' refers to the main academic area in which a student will specialise in their final two years of study. Your major is likely to be in the field in which you intend to pursue your career and, as such, is a fundamental component of your academic and professional development.

The word 'minor' refers to the secondary subject area that you will study in addition to your major. You will attend significantly fewer classes dedicated to your minor, but this doesn't mean that minors are unimportant. Making a sage choice of minor can allow you the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills that will enable you to excel in your major and thus form the basis of your future professional success: a minor in Mathematics, say, might be a useful complement for a major in Computer Science. Alternatively, you might choose a minor from a wholly unrelated field which you happen to find fascinating.

What is a college major?

As noted, your major is the academic subject that forms the central focus of your academic studies while at college.

US universities offer a wide range of majors so it's important that you take time to study the list of available options to gauge which one best matches your interests and career ambitions.

When you're making your application, check when your chosen university requires you to declare your choice of major. Most universities don't expect you to do this until your second year, however, so you are likely to have time on your side as you weigh up your options.

As you may know, US universities require students to accumulate a certain number of 'credits' in order to graduate. (A credit is a standardised unit of work that students are obliged to complete both within the lecture-hall and beyond as part of an academic course). For example, Harvard expects its students to take sixteen credits each term in order to accrue the 128 credits necessary to graduate.

Majors normally require students to accumulate a significant number of credits in their chosen discipline. For example, if you want to major in History at Stanford, you are obliged to complete a minimum of thirteen courses worth 63 credits (or 'units' as they are known there). 

Credit requirements do, however, vary from college to college so it's worth devoting some time to determining exactly how many credits you need to accrue as you study for your major and looking in detail at the precise requirements of the courses that you will be obliged to take.

Currently, there is a huge demand for graduates with majors in specific subjects with those who have majored in Business Management, Education and Nursing among the most sought-after. We recommend researching the salaries that you can command in certain professional sectors if you have a particular major. Equally, if you're interested in pursuing a future in academia, it's worth investigating if you need a specific major to enrol on your preferred master's degree.

What is a college minor?

As already discussed, a college minor is a secondary subject which you'll study in addition to your major.

As its name implies, you won't sit as many courses for your minor. Typically, minors consist of between 18 and 30 credits, but these figures vary across colleges so please check the details of what each course involves.

You might reasonably choose a minor as a complement to your major: a student majoring in Political Science could choose to minor in History. However, one of the advantages of the wide-ranging academic base offered by the US college system is that you are not obliged to choose a complementary pairing. A student majoring in Mechanical Engineering might well pursue her passion for Music for her minor.

It may be the case that you choose a major with a more academic focus (History or Social Sciences) and choose a minor with more obvious vocational utility (Accounting or Computer Science), enabling you to keep a range of future career options open.

It's worth noting that most colleges do not oblige you to choose a minor. When you graduate, your degree certificate will feature your name and that of your major. However, your academic transcript – the official list of your marks and grades for each module you have completed – will feature a detailed breakdown of the subject(s) in which you have minored, a record that provides valuable evidence of your skills and achievements for future employers.

Also bear in mind that some colleges allow you to take more than one minor, affording you a greater choice in what you study and, potentially, a more enriching academic experience.

Key differences between a major and a minor

Studying for your major will be your principal focus of the second half of your time at college. You will be devoting a significant majority of your time to it, in terms of both attending lectures and completing written assignments.

In future job interviews, potential employers will definitely ask detailed questions about the course in which you majored; they are much less likely to ask you about your minor. Nevertheless, by taking a minor, you will have honed particular skills, proved your commitment to a discipline and expanded your intellectual horizons, all valuable assets in any workplace.

Should I get a minor?

The choice is yours. A minor that is intellectually stimulating or vocationally useful can be a valuable complement to your choice of major. However, no student is obliged to take a minor and the demands that your major will make on your time and energy will be intense. Weighing up the potential benefits of taking a minor is a matter of personal choice.

Conclusion

Your choice of major and/ or minor needs to be the product of research and careful thought. Making the right decision will shape your professional future so, as well as being guided by your academic enthusiasms, think precisely about the future that lies beyond your college years.

This can prove a difficult decision and the process may seem daunting, but A-List's University Consulting Package will give you the opportunity to discuss your choice with an expert admissions advisor, offer a helpful session that will aid you in navigating this process and making the personal decision that is best for you.