Let’s talk about those unsung heroes of the academic world, the ones that often get short shrift, and have the diminutive name – MINORS. Everywhere a college student goes, they are asked, “What’s your major?” Have you ever even once had someone ask you, “What’s your minor?” No one seems to pay much mind to minors; they are like little brothers who tag along with the older, more mature siblings, the majors. As this post will explain, however, minors can be a valuable part of a high quality education.

Taking on a minor, or two, is one way to gain verifiable qualifications in an area that either complements your major or expands your skills beyond your major. You might have a marketing major, but a potential employer is looking for someone who also has writing expertise. It’d be great to have a writing minor to complement the marketing degree. On the other hand, say you are pursuing a biology degree; a philosophy or political science minor could open up a whole new set of employment opportunities for you. And not only that, but adding a liberal arts subject as a minor can give you the intellectual agility to move into positions of leadership over time. As more and more employers look for people who can think, a minor in one of the liberal arts subjects can be a great way to show you have what they want.

If you wanted to major in liberal arts, picking up a minor in a more vocationally oriented subject could be a good option. In competitive fields like Accounting, a minor could set you apart from other candidates. Your college can help you find minors that might work with your major or your interests.

Geneva College offers the following minors:

• Accounting
• Actuarial Science Minor
• Biblical Studies
• Biology
• Business
• Chemistry
• Christian School Teaching
• Communication
• Communication Disorders
• Community Development
• Computer Science Minor for Non-Computer Science Majors
• Criminal Justice
• Cybersecurity Minor
• Data Science Minor
• Engineering
• English
• Environmental Science
• Finance/Economics
• History
• Human Services
• Mathematics
• Missions
• Music
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Pre-Law Studies
• Pre-Seminary
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Software Development Minor for Non-Computer Science Majors
• Spanish
• Sport Coaching
• Sport Management
• Student Ministry
• Teaching of English as a Second Language
• Web and Mobile Technology Minor
• Writing

Not every situation calls for a minor. If adding a minor makes your schedule too busy, don’t do it. If it will cost significantly more and/or takes you more than a semester extra to graduate, you might rethink it. If it is just a class or two away but you have no goal or purpose for getting it, best to pass on the minor.

A minor is not for everyone, but it can certainly hold its own as far as value goes for those who want an additional credential and the skills and expertise that come with it.

To learn more about majors (and minors) at Christ-centered Geneva College, contact Admissions at 800.847.8255 or admissions @geneva.edu.