How much does getting a minor in something help?

[InverseOfNeo]

I am currently an Engineering Technology major (its pretty much an applied computer engineering degree thats less theory). I was looking at what classes I have left and when they are offered. It looks like I will have enough time and room in my schedule to pick up a minor in something without it delaying graduation. I was flipping through the catalog and saw a minor in management information systems. The course I would have to take do interest me quite a bit, however some of them seem to over lap with the courses I have already taken. I could still get the minor without having that much overlap, I think. Would getting the minor help me in getting a job that much more than if I didnt get it? Is it worth it?

If it is not worth it for me to get it a minor in MIS...I could get one in Marketing or Entrepreneurship, though they dont interest me as much and I am not sure if I woud really want to do something that relates to them.

 

[xanis]

It helps a good deal I would imagine, looks good on resumes and would help in case you decide to change your work field.

 

[bigdog1218]

If you're interested in learning the material it's good to take the classes and get the minor, but it's not going to be anything in terms of getting a job.

 

[UncleWai]

Yeah a minor is pretty useless. Double major on two completely different majors are pretty useless too. I would just get a bachelor degree fast and go for graduate school.

 

[minendo]

Pointless.

 

[Eeezee]

Get out of college and into grad school, it'll help you a lot more than a minor.

If you can pick up a minor with 2-4 additional courses and it won't delay your graduation, then you may as well do it if the subject material is interesting. Don't go out of your way to get a minor though.

 

[InverseOfNeo]

So pretty much even though I can get one, and it wont delay graduation or anything, I shouldn't get one because it wont help at all?

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Get out of college and into grad school, it'll help you a lot more than a minor.

If you can pick up a minor with 2-4 additional courses and it won't delay your graduation, then you may as well do it if the subject material is interesting. Don't go out of your way to get a minor though.

Well its actually 7 more, but since a few of them are pretty much the same subject that I learned in my major, theres a chance I could get them double counted. I am trying to schedule an appointment with the chair of the mis department. But even if it were 7 more, 3 of them would be very easy for me. On top of that, right now I am taking 3 classes with more than enough room to take on one or two more, and in the fall I only have two classes for my major that I need to take. But there is one other class next spring I would have to take. So I can take 2 or 3 classes for the minor in the fall and the other 3 or 4 next spring.

 

[UncleWai]

Originally posted by: InverseOfNeo

Originally posted by: Eeezee
Get out of college and into grad school, it'll help you a lot more than a minor.

If you can pick up a minor with 2-4 additional courses and it won't delay your graduation, then you may as well do it if the subject material is interesting. Don't go out of your way to get a minor though.

Well its actually 7 more, but since a few of them are pretty much the same subject that I learned in my major, theres a chance I could get them double counted. I am trying to schedule an appointment with the chair of the mis department. But even if it were 7 more, 3 of them would be very easy for me. On top of that, right now I am taking 3 classes with more than enough room to take on one or two more, and in the fall I only have two classes for my major that I need to take. But there is one other class next spring I would have to take. So I can take 2 or 3 classes for the minor in the fall and the other 3 or 4 next spring.

You should take some more electives classes within your major. I've seen a lot of people in my major (economics) get the degree with the bare minimum, pretty much they don't know jack about economics. My philosophy is that it's better to master in one subject than be average in two. For serious learning, I would move on with graduate school.

 

[InverseOfNeo]

Originally posted by: UncleWai

You should take some more electives classes within your major. I've seen a lot of people in my major (economics) get the degree with the bare minimum, pretty much they don't know jack about economics. My philosophy is that it's better to master in one subject than be average in two. For serious learning, I would move on with graduate school.

I would but theres a reason I am only taking 3 classes this semester and not 4 or 5 like I usualy do....theres nothing else to take that they are offering. Even 2 of the 3 classes I am taking are for a different option yet for one reason or another I have to substitute for the classes that are required for my option.

 

[DVK916]

Originally posted by: UncleWai
Yeah a minor is pretty useless. Double major on two completely different majors are pretty useless too. I would just get a bachelor degree fast and go for graduate school.

I disagree, I am doing a double major in two completely different areas. I feel they will help compliment each other.

 

[Insomnium]

Originally posted by: InverseOfNeo
So pretty much even though I can get one, and it wont delay graduation or anything, I shouldn't get one because it wont help at all?

That's pure B.S. (no pun intended)! A minor will help a ton, depending on what you want to do, of course. If you are thinking of working after graduation, then a minor will certainly come in handy and will look attractive on the resume. If you, for example, plan on pursuing a career in finance right after school, then minoring in Finance, Econ, or Accounting would be extremely helpful. Minoring in English would likewise be a useful way to develop advanced writing skills that will be crucial later on. Even if you are hoping to pursue graduate studies, minors will help you out as well. A minor in Math or Physics would be pretty useful, and if you plan on going to grad school for math, then a minor in German would be useful as well.

If I were you, I would definitely consider minoring in something instead of just taking random classes. A minor will provide some structure and discipline to the coursework you pursue out of your major, and taking random classes, however cool, will not.

Above all, however, if you absolutely love International Relations (for example) more than the other "useful" minors, then by all means, take International Relations classes. Feel free to study what you love and enjoy - you're college experience will improve mightily if you do, so don't be afraid to take classes just for the fun of learning and exploring your interests, because that is, after all, what college is all about.

 

[Drakkon]

a minor worked out to my favor. I was a mathematics major but got a minor in Computer Science. This caught the attention of a LOT of companies cause usually CS majors dont have a pure math background that places like JPL, lockheed, etc are in need of. If you can find a minor that plays off your major in some way it can be a great benefit i think

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Drakkon
a minor worked out to my favor. I was a mathematics major but got a minor in Computer Science. This caught the attention of a LOT of companies cause usually CS majors dont have a pure math background that places like JPL, lockheed, etc are in need of. If you can find a minor that plays off your major in some way it can be a great benefit i think

Exactly. A CS major with math minor would also have an edge applying places like that since they would be more likely to be able to work on projects using heavy math than a typical CS major who runs and hides from the upper-level math classes.

It depends on the major, the minor, and the jobs you are applying for but it can help.

 

[Injury]

Don't get a minor just because it requires a few extra classes for a degree you had no intention of getting. That's two extra quarters that you're paying for.

Get a minor because you know the exact type of job you want will be able to use that.

A minor is not a replacement for a bachelors in a field and will not get you a job because of it... it can really only assist your major.