Minors offer you a way to explore a department or interdisciplinary theme with less commitment of time than a major. Where a major requires at least 50 credits, most minors require only 25 to 35 credits.
Because the courses in your minor can also count toward general education requirements, if you plan carefully you may be able to complete one or two minors within the 180 credits required for your degree.
Minors are optional. You may complete as many as three minors per degree, or none at all.
What should I minor in?
You may choose to complete a minor related to your major. For example, if you major in chemistry you will already have a head start on a math minor, because the chemistry degree requires a lot of math.
Altermatively, you might choose to minor in an area that, combined with your major, gives you insight into an area you'd like to explore further in your career or in graduate or professional school. For example, you might major in environmental studies and minor in political science, then plan to go to law school and later specialize in environmental law. Or you might major in psychology and minor in music, then go on for further training in music therapy.
Or you might choose to minor in a subject completely unrelated to your major; this is completely legitimate, too. For example, if you major in mechanical engineering but are fascinated by the theatre, you might decide to minor in drama.
How good does a minor look on my transcript?
The value of a minor is difficult to quantify. Minors will not necessarily make you more attractive to graduate or professional programs or employers. You may find that many employers are not particularly interested in your major, much less your minor. Although you may complete a minor related to the career you hope to pursue after graduation, minors are mainly opportunities for you to explore in depth some of the vast resources of the University.
What are the admission requirements for minors?
Any undergraduate student with at least junior standing (90 credits completed) may declare a minor, even a student who has not yet declared a major. There are no departmental admission requirements for minors at UW-Seattle.
How do I declare a minor?
To declare a minor, just visit the Gateway Center, any other advising office, or the Registration Office (225 Schmitz Hall). You'll fill out and turn in a form. It takes about 30 seconds, and an adviser's signature is not required.
There are no deadlines for declaring minors, except that you cannot declare a minor after the deadline for applying to graduate. In other words, you cannot declare a minor after the third week of the quarter in which you intend to graduate.
