While exploring possibilities for your major, it is good to consider how a minor might satisfy some of your interests as well.
Minors and certificates are very similar. Minors require that you complete them with a degree program, while certificates can be completed by students who are not enrolled in a degree program.
Minors
An academic minor is a secondary specialization or field of study incorporated into your undergraduate degree program. While most programs do not require you to have a minor, many students choose to declare a minor along with their major. A minor does not have to directly relate to your major, although it can be helpful to think about how a minor would complement your major field of study.
Certificates
A certificate is a group of courses intended to teach you a specific set of knowledge or professional skills in areas like language, technology, education, and business.
Commonly Asked Questions
Where can I find minors?
At the U of M, there are two types of minors. The first is undergraduate minors related to a major. These are minors that have a corresponding academic major (ex: there is both a Chemistry major and a Chemistry minor).
The second is undergraduate freestanding minors. These minors do not have a corresponding academic major. They typically are more interdisciplinary in nature (such as Social Justice), or include academic departments that do not offer a major (such as Public Health).
You can browse minors through the catalog links above, as well as using our filter on our Major Profiles resource to filter by minor.
How long will it take to complete a minor or certificate?
Minors very in credit total, but the average minor consists of 15-16 credits. Most certificates can be completed in 12-16 credits, but some take considerably longer.
Be sure to consult the undergraduate catalog or department for credit totals for each minor.
Can I declare a minor that is in a college other than the one I am enrolled in?
This depends. Many minors are open to students regardless of the college they are enrolled in. However, there are some exceptions to this, as some minors require students to be enrolled in that college in order to declare the minor.
Be sure to ask your academic advisor if you have questions.