Declaring your major in college is an important part of making sure you get the education you need for a career in your chosen field. You also have the option to choose a minor, but do minors really matter? A minor is a set of classes some college students choose as a way to enhance their education overall. While it isn’t required, having a major/minor can actually provide you with some excellent benefits. These are some of the top reasons to consider choosing both a major and a minor.
Your major provides you with the skills you need to start your career. A minor gives you a chance to learn a new skill or skills that are outside your major. You might choose a minor that complements your major in some way or declare a minor based on your own personal interests in a certain field of study. No matter which one you choose, a minor can help you develop new skills that could improve your employment opportunities.
Having a minor and a major listed on your resume helps it stand out from the competition. A minor shows employers that you’re willing to go above and beyond in terms of your education. Employers could see this as a willingness to apply the same effort at your job. Having a minor on your resume also shows that you’ve learned more skills compared to only having a major. This diverse range of skills can easily make your resume more appealing to potential employers.
When you’re busy studying for your major, you might not think too much about your own personal interests. Choosing a minor gives you an opportunity to explore a topic or subject that you find interesting. This subject doesn’t have to relate to your major. Instead, you can choose a minor that allows you to learn more about an unrelated topic that fascinates you. This can give your brain a break from focusing solely on your major during college.
When you choose a minor that relates to your major in some way, this can provide you with more in-depth knowledge needed for your career path. For example, you might choose a minor in cybersecurity while pursuing a major in computer science. This minor can give you the specialized knowledge and skills needed to advance in your computer science career. Having this knowledge can also make it easier to decide on a career path, since it helps narrow down your options.
One of the benefits of having a major and a minor as a college student is the ability to build a backup plan. Your top career choice might not work out for any number of reasons, including limited job opportunities. You might even find that you’re unsatisfied with your initial career choice. When you have a minor, you’re keeping your career options open. Knowing that you have a backup plan in place for your career can provide you with peace of mind.
Choosing a minor and a major could end up providing you with networking opportunities. These opportunities are an important part of getting your career off to a good start in your field. With both a major and minor, you’ll be getting to know more professors and other faculty members. You might also be able to contact alumni from both programs and have access to events and other opportunities to meet with professionals in both areas.
Since your minor doesn’t have to be related to your major, you can use it as a way to exercise your creative skills. For example, you might be pursuing a major in biology or math, but you can choose a minor in music or art. This type of minor can give you a creative outlet while allowing you to shift your focus away from your major from time to time. Choosing a creative minor can also teach you skills that might come in handy in your career, such as writing.
Studying a major and minor in college can help you gain a competitive edge over other job applicants when you start looking for employment. A minor and major can show that you’re able to handle classes in two areas of study or that you’re capable of mastering specialized knowledge in your field. This can help you get ahead of the competition as you begin looking for job opportunities and submitting applications.
Being able to speak and understand another language is a highly impressive and useful skill. You might be able to put this skill to use in your chosen field, such as if you plan to work for an international company. When you’re exploring options for a college minor, consider choosing a language, such as Spanish. You’ll be developing a new skill set that impresses employers while also allowing you to challenge yourself and learn more about another culture.
Having a major/minor combination in college isn’t just about improving your career outlook. You might also make new friends who share similar interests as you. If you have a certain interest that you want to choose as a minor, you’ll have opportunities to take classes with like-minded students. You might end up forming friendships with these students that last well beyond college.
If you’re ready to explore college degree programs, please contact Geneva College. Our Christian college with a vocational focus has over 145 majors and programs available, so you’ll have a wide range to choose from for your major and minor.
Opinions expressed in the Geneva Blog are those of its contributors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or official position of the College. The Geneva Blog is a place for faculty and contributing writers to express points of view, academic insights, and contribute to national conversations to spark thought, conversation, and the pursuit of truth, in line with our philosophy as a Christian, liberal arts institution.
May 14, 2021
One might argue that there’s no room for a Christian perspective within a business, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Students that study business will graduate with an abundance of marketable skills and an overwhelming variety of career options ahead of them. Read more to learn about possible career paths for business majors.
Are you considering pursuing a master’s in counseling? Here are some reasons why getting a master’s in counseling might be right for you.
Learning and Transition (L&T) is a unique course at Geneva required by all incoming students. But why is it required?
The Geneva College core curriculum establishes a framework for education, encouraging each student to develop their skills and attitudes while also pushing them to think critically about various topics.
Geneva College faculty members understand and effectively teach their disciplines with academic excellence in combination with a consistent biblical worldview. In addition to serving students on campus, Geneva professors approach the larger world as thought leaders in the integration of faith and learning. Here are some recent examples.
I am here to tell you that you do not need to be a superhuman to get through college. To survive and thrive all four years of your time in college, or however long it takes, here are some things NOT to do while in college.
Writing is one of the best choices as a college major because of the flexibility it gives you in so many different jobs and in your overall vocation. With a writing major, you can be a journalist, teacher, work in any number of public relations offices, write as a freelancer, become a blogger and have a skill that's useful in many other ways.
The answer to many problems boils down to structure and management. Students need to be able to manage their time in an efficient manner. Let’s look at areas that require some planning to help students succeed in their academic pursuits: study time, the use of email, social media, and downtime.
© Geneva College | All rights reserved
