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Choosing and Declaring a Minor

Besides the obvious reason to declare a minor... that your major may require you to have one...
There are many advantages to graduating from college with a minor! Use it as an opportunity to enjoy college more, enhance your resume, get an area of expertise, or get ready for graduate school.  You’ll be glad you did!

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Here are a few other benefits of having a minor:

Click here for a list of minors at CCSU.

Click here for a link to the form you need to give to the Registrar to declare a minor.

To explore
something new

       Having a minor allows you to explore a subject you find interesting but may not necessarily pertain to your major. For instance, say you loved theatre in high school but you decided not to major in it. You can enjoy 18 credits of theatre classes by declaring it as your minor!  This gives you the opportunity to get involved in campus productions while fulfilling your academic requirements at the same time.

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       Our former Peer Advisor Kelly, an English major, decided to declare her minor in Creative Writing, a subject she enjoyed in high school.  Not only did she discover she loved writing, but the writing classes gave her valuable skills she was able to use in her English major, as well as in her on-campus jobs at the Marketing and Communications Office, in the Writing Center, and even here in ASAP!

To complement 
your major

       Sometimes declaring a minor helps in more practical ways than just pursuing your interests, by actually complementing your major and teaching you skills pertaining to it. For example, a Psychological Science major with an Art minor could lend itself to pursuing an Art Therapy credential. Many Criminology majors find that minoring in a second language gives them a needed edge when applying for law enforcement jobs in diverse communities.  Communication majors who are focusing in organizational communication often find that a minor in Business gives them more “tools in their toolbox” when preparing to work in companies and firms.  If you know what you want to do, be strategic about your choice of a minor and choose something that will enhance your marketability.

To set
yourself apart
To prepare for
graduate school

       The subject of your minor can be a conversation-starter in job interviews. If your minor choice is wide open to you, consider exploring something that is less conventional!  This can often set you apart from the crowd right off the bat, and give you a chance to talk about a subject that most people can’t.  For example, did you know that CCSU offers minors in Community Engagement, Gerontology, Archaeology, and Social Justice?  An unusual minor could make the difference in whether you get called for that interview or not. 

       For many students, that undergraduate degree is just the first step toward an educational path that includes a masters’ or even doctorate degree.  If you know that you want to continue on to grad school, start doing some research now on your intended program and see if there are prerequisite courses you will need to take on your own.  Occasionally, the subject you plan to pursue in grad school can be a good guide in choosing your minor, as it can give you some of the preparatory courses you would need for graduate study in that area. 
For example, perhaps you are currently a Journalism major, and know that you want to get a Master’s degree in Photojournalism.  Perhaps an Art minor would be a good choice for you, as you would be able to take the photography courses needed to build a portfolio
needed for entry to that graduate program.

So... How do I officially declare a minor?

  1. Choose a minor!

  2. Fill out your portion of the Change of Major form 
    (Part 1 - all, 2 - "Change Minor to", 3 - Major and minor summary, 5 - Signature)

  3. Send the form to your minor's contact person - They're listed here!

  4. They may want to meet and have a discussion with you about the minor and course requirements

  5. Send the form (signed by the contact person) to the Registrar's Office so they can enter it into your degree plan
    - via email regstaff@ccsu.edu
    - or in person Willard-DiLoreto D202 

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