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The College Minor

By Rebecca Martelotti
Assistant Features Editor

College students spend so much time deciding on a major that they often overlook whether or not a minor would complement their degree. The debate about whether the minor truly matters has always existed. Students are not sure whether the extra work is worth it.

“A minor just doesn’t seem like a big deal to me,” said Ryan Kelly, a senior Business Administration major. “I think it matters more where you went to school or interned, and what you actually studied for four years. A minor is only a few courses; it doesn’t mean you know everything about that field.”

LIU Post offers many different minors ranging from Chemistry to Film.

Currently, there are about 300 undergraduate students with declared minors, according to Beth Wilkow, registrar. The most popular minor is Business Administration, with 56 students declared. The others are 30 students minoring in Chemistry, 30 in Psychology, 18 in Criminal Justice, and 15 in Sociology. Adding a minor would not increase the price of tuition and could possibly add more school time depending on the student’s plan of courses and credits to be received.

In order to receive a minor in Business Administration, students must complete 18 credits: 9 credits of required Business core courses, and 9 credits of Business elective courses. Students would pick one of the four Business Administration areas of concentration, which are Finance, International Business, Management, and Marketing.

“I hope to run my own art gallery one day, so I think a Business minor adds something to my degree,” said Kelly Riley, a sophomore Arts Management major and Business Administration minor. “If art doesn’t work out well for me, I can always try to go to business school and work from there.”

Psychology minors require students to complete a minimum of 24 credits in Psychology courses. Courses would include two
general Psychology courses, Principles of Psychology, and at least five additional Psychology courses, which might include one special Topics in Psychology course.

“Psychology and Political Science have a lot to do with each other. It helps me understand the way that people think,” said John Gordon, a junior Political Science major and Psychology minor. “I think I want to go to law school when I graduate, and being a lawyer is all about understanding the situation and using tactics to win the case.”

A college major is much more important than your minor, but some employers may like a potential candidate who has knowledge in multiple fields. A minor could be a potential tiebreaker between you and another job candidate being considered.

Minors help to broaden your skills in a field other than the degree you are receiving. Whether you are looking to explore a personal interest or make your resume stand out, minors can be a smart choice to add to your degree.

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