In a nutshell, a college major is your primary area of study, and a minor is your secondary specialization. Your major should be the subject you plan to pursue as your professional career. Your minor focuses on another field of study that either complements your major or gives you the opportunity to pursue a personal interest or hobby.
But this explanation just skims the surface — there is so much more to know about a college major and minor.
For starters …
- What are they?
- What’s a double major?
- What does a minor do for you?
- How do you choose the right major and minor to support your goals?
These are questions you’ve probably always wondered about — and we’ve got the answers right here.
What is a college major?
Basically, your major is the foundation of your studies throughout your college experience. This major will appear on your diploma when you graduate — serious stuff!
Undergraduate students choose a major under one of three categories: a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, or a Bachelor of Business Administration.
A Bachelor of Arts (BA) focuses on languages and the humanities. This includes such subjects as …
- Computer science
- Creative writing
- Journalism
- Political science
A Bachelor of Science (BS) focuses on a scientific subject area, such as …
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental sciences
- Statistics
A Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) focuses on knowledge and skills in the field of business and management, such as …
- Accounting
- Economics
- Marketing
- Supply chain management
How does your major affect your studies?
Every major comes with its own set of core classes. These relate directly to your primary field of study and prepare you for your future career.
You’ll also take electives in addition to these core classes. These tend to be the “fun” classes — you know, the no-stress classes everyone enjoys.
Between your core classes and your electives — including general education requirements that all colleges have — you’re looking at around 40 classes to get your bachelor’s degree. This usually means around 120 credit hours.
No lie, it’s a lot of hard work. But stick with it, and you’ll be all about the sweet life you always wanted.
Can you change your major?
Absolutely!
It’s totally normal.
Honestly, it’s part of the whole college experience.
Throughout your academic career, you’ll have many chances to try out new classes and explore new subjects. This sometimes means students find new talents. In fact, many students end up with a different major from the one they started with — so if this is you, you’re not alone.
Some colleges don’t even allow first-year students to declare a major. Instead, they’re encouraged to take a variety of classes, explore their interests, and wait until their second year to choose a major.
What is a double major?
A double major combines two fields of study, each with different degree requirements.
A double major often includes subjects that complement one another.
For instance, some undergraduate students choose a double major in international studies and a foreign language. Others choose to double major in mathematics and economics.
You can totally see how these majors complement one another.
But this isn’t always the case.
Sometimes, it just happens that a student’s interests lead them to major in two very different subjects.
In the end, the college will list both majors on your degree — pretty chill!
Is a double major difficult?
There’s no beating around the bush here — it’s no easy thing.
A double major means a much heavier course load — no surprise since it basically means pursuing two different fields of study at the same time.
So why in the world would someone do this?
Some just have their eye on a career path where they know they’ll need both majors. So they put their nose to the grindstone and get it done.
Others enjoy both subjects so much that the coursework just flies by.
What’s the difference between a double major and a combined degree?
These two degree paths may sound similar, but they are quite different.
In a double major, you are pursuing two separate degrees simultaneously.
But with a combined degree, you combine two fields of study into one undergraduate degree to create a kind of Frankenstein degree of your own making.
What is a college minor?
A college minor is a secondary specialization or concentration of courses in a particular area of study. Some have even nicknamed this the “mini-major” — side note … adorable — since a minor is still an important part of a college degree.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to choosing a minor …
In the first school of thought, you would pick a college minor that supports your major.
For instance, if you choose to major in journalism, you might minor in political science or international relations. You can easily see how this kind of minor provides greater depth to your major.
In this example, a political science minor could tap you for a job at a politically minded newspaper or set you up as a political correspondent for a major network.
In the second school of thought, you would choose a minor based purely on your interests and passions.
You could major in computer science and minor in interior design — a weird flex, for sure. But this can be a great way to show off your creative side and some personality — definite assets in the current job market.
The great thing is … Neither path is right or wrong. It’s completely up to you and how you want to use your time in college.
Are college minors important?
They can be.
Your minor can give your resume a real glow-up as you leave higher education and enter the workplace, showing off your entire skill set. This puts you miles ahead of other job candidates.
Don’t get us wrong — you don’t always have to choose a minor. Not all colleges require them for an undergraduate degree. Heck, some colleges don’t even offer minors.
But declaring a minor can tell future employers a lot about you. For instance, it can tell them you’re mad-focused on your career. It can also show off some key personality traits and interests. And recruiters eat this up!
How do you choose a college major and minor?
Every college seems to have a list of degree programs as long as my arm — so how the heck do you choose which college degree is right for you?
It’s a big decision — and one that’s completely up to you.
Here are a few things to consider as you make your decision:
- Your career goals. Some majors — here’s looking at you, philosophy! — aren’t really career-bound (at least not at the undergraduate level). It’s better to choose a major that will translate into a career after graduation.
- Your interests. You’re going to study this for four years — not to mention make it your life’s career — so you’d better make sure it’s a subject you enjoy. Ask yourself … What classes do I look forward to? Which subjects get me excited? And then see what majors and minors come out of that.
- Your talents. In other words … Are you good at it? You may dream of being pre-med but find that biology and chemistry just aren’t your thing — trust me, no shame there! But, on the other hand, if you’re a born entrepreneur with real business savvy, you may find that business administration is the perfect fit.
- Earning potential. Some of us would love to throw caution to the wind and scream, “Forget money!” But the truth is, we all need it — even if you’re not looking to live like a Kardashian. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) website for salary expectations in your future career. Even if this isn’t super important to you, we want you to go into it with your eyes open.
- Further education. A graduate program helps you to specialize even more in your field of study. If you decide grad school is for you, it can really help you stand out from the crowd. But if grad school isn’t in your future (some of us were just happy to make it through undergrad), you need an undergraduate degree that stands well on its own.
Need help finding the best school for you? Use College Rover
Your major and minor are just one chapter.
From there, you can enter the workforce, pursue another degree program, or get your graduate degree … so many exciting possibilities!
But it all starts now, while you’re still in high school.
To get the most out of your college major, you have to get into the best college. And that just happens to be College Rover’s specialty.
Tap into College Rover’s search engine tool to compare all your college options, see what majors they offer, and find the college that’s right for you.
