major/minor in college- do i HAVE to have both?

Question

if i take a minor in college, am i required to take a major too? or can i just take the minor and be done?

Answer 1

A major is 30+ hours in a single subject with significant study at the upper level (junior/senior courses), a minor is 15-18 hours with only about 9-12 hours at upper level. Therefor, while a major can substitute for a minor, the reverse is not also true.

A Bachelor's degree with no specific major would be a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (where Liberal Studies becomes the major) - it still would require upper level coursework but it would be more widely distributed among a variety of fields. Some colleges call this major "interdisciplinary studies" or "general studies".

If you want a degree that has very little direct occupational value (except in the field of elementary education), this would be it. The primary benefit of this type of study is for those who are not looking for an occupational qualification but instead a very well rounded and general education for the sake of the education itself.

Answer 2

I've never heard of any college which does not require a major, but most will let you graduate with a major only and no minor. The minor is intended to be secondary to a major, so you cannot just do that.

Answer 3

You can have a major w/o a minor but you can't have a minor w/o a major.

Answer 4

majors are typically required by the second semester of your soph year, but don;t worry about not being sure what you want to study as soon as you enter college, your interests will come to you as you take the courses. and who knows, maybe college isn't for you, and that's okay too.

Answer 5

there are countless contained for the duration of, some that i understand first hand that are great: U of R (college of Rochester). NYU (huge apple college) Alfred college also, pretty plenty any Ivy League would have each individual.