Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Excellence

Undergraduate Minors

The undergraduate minor is awarded for coursework completed in or coordinated by a single academic department. The minor, once awarded, is noted on a student’s transcript.

Minors recognize successful completion of a minimum of 15 credits of approved non-introductory courses with a grade of C or better. The courses should constitute an academically defensible, focused aspect of the degree program from which they are drawn. A current list of approved minors is available online.

Proposal Outline

1. What are the objectives of the proposed minor? Discuss the need for the program. What kinds of students might be interested in this program?
2. How will the minor be administered? Will resources be required to administer this program? (Note that it is expected that existing courses will be utilized.)
3. What is your projected enrollment? How many students are currently served in the major program? Identify the source of students for the proposed program.
4. What foundation courses and prerequisites are needed for acceptance into the minor (e.g., minimum credits, grade point average, work experience)?
5. How many credits will be required for the minor? (The minimum required credits for minors are 15. The “double-counting” of credits, as elsewhere, is not permitted. )
6. How will the program be organized (e.g., first-semester courses, required or core courses, electives)?
7. Who will have responsibility for tracking, advising and mentoring students (e.g., program director or staff, individual faculty)? Note that the procedures and requirement for the declaration of a minor are the same as those for a major. Identify the person(s) responsible for advising students and compiling data on enrollment and the number of minors conferred.