By Brennan, B.S. Engineering · Published · Updated
A minor in college is a smaller set of classes in a second subject that you take on top of your major. It's usually optional and often takes about five to seven classes. It shows up on your transcript, but not on your diploma.
I earned two minors, in mathematics and chemistry. Like a lot of my chemical engineering classmates, I got them mostly because my major already required so many math and chemistry classes.
What is a major?
A major is the main subject you study for your bachelor's degree. It's the biggest set of required classes you take, and every student completes one. At Alabama State University, for example, students must pick one by the time they finish 32 credit hours. If you're still deciding on yours, start with our guide on how to choose a college major.
Major vs. minor: what's the difference?
A major is your main field and is required. A minor is a smaller, optional add-on in a second subject.
| Major | Minor | |
|---|---|---|
| Required? | Yes, every student completes one | Usually optional |
| Size | The largest part of your degree | Smaller, often about 15 to 21 credits |
| On your diploma? | Often, yes | No, it's listed on your transcript |
| Purpose | Your main field of study | Depth in a second interest |
Examples: Alabama State University (major requirement, minor credits), Penn State (minor credits), UConn and George Mason University (diploma and transcript). Rules differ at every college, so check your catalog.
How many credits is a minor?
Often about 15 to 21 credits, which is roughly five to seven classes, but every college sets its own number. Alabama State's 2025-2027 catalog says a minor generally needs at least 15 hours, with at least 9 of them at the upper-division level. Penn State requires at least 18 credits and generally caps minors at 18 to 21.
Some colleges also limit how many classes can count toward both your major and your minor. Penn State, for example, requires at least six credits of a minor to be different from the classes your major requires. Where overlap is allowed, a minor can come almost free. Because my chemical engineering classes already covered so much chemistry and math, many of my classmates and I earned those minors with few or no extra classes.
Is a minor a degree?
No. There's no separate minor degree. A minor is part of your bachelor's degree, and it's recorded on your official transcript. George Mason University puts it plainly: minors "will not appear on your Mason diploma but will appear on your official academic transcript." UConn says the same: majors appear on the diploma, and minors appear only on the transcript.
Is a minor as good as a major?
No, and it isn't meant to be. A minor is a much smaller set of classes, so it won't stand in for a major when a job asks for a specific degree. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says chemical engineers typically need a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering or a related field. A chemistry minor on its own wouldn't meet that.
In my experience, minors never came up in interviews.
Should you get a minor?
Only if you want one. I don't think you need a minor, and in my experience it isn't a requirement for internships or jobs. It can fill out a resume, though it never came up in my interviews, and it gives you extra exposure to a subject you care about.
I'd add a minor if you're genuinely interested in the extra classes, or if your major's required classes already cover most of it. Don't add one just because you think you're supposed to.
- A minor makes sense when you love a second subject, it overlaps with classes you already need, or it supports the career you want.
- Think twice when it would add extra semesters or cost, or crowd a schedule that's already full.
How do you pick a minor?
Start with overlap. Look at your major's required classes and find a subject that already makes up a good share of them. Among my engineering classmates, the most common minors were chemistry and math, with some business. Most of us got them because so many of the required classes overlapped.
Then check two things in your college's catalog: how many credits the minor needs, and whether there's a limit on classes counting for both your major and your minor.
Minor vs. double major: which is better?
For most students, a minor is the better pick. It's often 15 to 21 credits, while a double major means meeting every requirement for two full majors. Alabama State's catalog, for example, says "all requirements must be met for each major," and it allows two majors only if the coursework fits within 140 credit hours. (A double major is different from earning two separate degrees; see double major vs. dual degree.)
I saw people double major in engineering, and it's very, very difficult. I wouldn't recommend it unless you absolutely want to. If you do, pick majors whose classes overlap. In my opinion, electrical and mechanical engineering make a lot more sense together than chemical and civil engineering.
Minor vs. concentration
A concentration is a focus inside your major. A minor is a second subject, mostly outside it.
The University of Texas at Austin defines a concentration as a group of courses "within a major" that lets you "focus in a particular area of that major." Some schools call it an emphasis, option or track. At UT Austin, a minor shows up on your transcript, but a concentration doesn't, and it isn't counted as a separate credential from the major.
More about minors
Do you have to have a minor?
Usually not. Every student completes a major, but a minor is typically an option you can add. Check your college's catalog to be sure.
Can you have two minors?
Often, yes. Alabama State's catalog, for example, allows up to two minors, and I earned two myself. Some colleges set different limits, so check yours.
When do you declare a minor?
It depends on the college. Some minors have entrance requirements, such as prerequisite courses, portfolios or auditions, so talk with an advisor early if you have one in mind.
Not sure what to major in yet?
The free college major quiz asks about your interests, confidence and career goals, then shows your best matches among 86 majors. Your second or third match can be a good place to look for a minor.
More in this series: best majors for undecided students and BA vs. BS degrees.
Sources
The minor rules below come from each college's catalog or policy pages, and the job requirement is from the BLS. Each one was checked against the original, but they're only examples, so look up your own catalog before you plan around them.
- Alabama State University. Declaring a Major, Minor or Second Degree, 2025-2027 Undergraduate Catalog. alasu.smartcatalogiq.com
- Penn State University Faculty Senate. Policy 59-00: Minors and Certificates. senate.psu.edu
- George Mason University, Office of the University Registrar. Diploma for minors or certificates. registrar.gmu.edu
- University of Connecticut. Graduation FAQ. seniors.uconn.edu
- The University of Texas at Austin, Office of the Registrar. Glossary of Catalog Terminology. registrar.utexas.edu
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Chemical Engineers. bls.gov