Majors, Minors and More

College Majors

Learning to How to Manage Majors, Minors, Specializations, and Certificates

Have you ever wondered what's the difference between a major and a minor degree? Have you ever wondered whether or not you should pursue a degree or just get a certificate? Knowing what these terms mean is the first step in determining which degree path is right for you.

Major: A major is the focus of your studies. Major means important or large.  Your major is what your diploma will name.  For example, you might get your Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Education or your Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physics.  You will have a series of courses that you must take and other courses that you must choose from.  All of these are connected strongly to your major and will give you the education that your employer expects you to have based on your BA or BS.

Minor: A minor is a smaller focus of study.  Minor means less important or small.  A minor is not a degree and your diploma usually will not mention it.  This group of courses might be in something that goes well with your major or it could be an interest that you have.  For example, someone may major in Education and minor in Spanish.  This might help the person get a job more quickly.  Or a person might major in marketing and minor in creative writing because a marketer needs to be a good communicator.  Alternatively, a person who loves to draw might major in business but minor in art because they love it.

Specializations: A specialization is a focused area of study within a major. It has specific course requirements that are in addition to the major requirements.  Business majors often have a number of possible specializations  available such as marketing or project management.

Certificates There are also certificate programs.  These are not degrees.  They are a small group of courses that focus on specific areas of knowledge that are needed in a job.  They often help people who already have degrees to learn something new in their field.  For example, a person can get a certificate in cyber security or food studies or sports communication.  A certificate can be taken at the same time as getting a bachelor’s degree.

A person must be very organized and cautious when adding minors, specializations and certificates to their major coursework.  Be sure you talk with your academic advisor every semester.