On October 30th, students and teachers alike came together in the Hub Fireplace Lounge to discuss and determine something that could possibly aid students in the future; minors. Some students were there to determine which classes they needed to enroll in to fulfill their current minor, and others wanted to find more information on the minors that interested them. Nevertheless, what purpose does a minor serve for students?
“There are two great reasons to have a minor,” said Dr. Robin DeRosa, a professor and advisor. “The first is to develop a passion. If something doesn’t fit in your program you can still follow your interests. The second is marketability. By acquiring more skill in contact areas in a competitive job market, you set yourself apart from the others.” De Rosa’s accomplice, Dr. Ann McClellan, also said “It gives students a focus on their electives. People think that electives are just a waste of time, but minoring counteracts that thought process.”
The first of the aforementioned reasons to obtain a minor is the most straightforward reason to do so, as it dictates your interests. A student in Communications for example, may decide to declare a minor in English because he not only finds writing and rhetoric interesting, but recognizes that knowledge of grammar and other forms of rhetoric are amplifiers in the communications field. Although a student may not have a clear goal of what he or she wants to do with the minor, it will nonetheless allow the person that is going to be hiring the student to see the diverse interests that the student has.
To employers, having a minor shows that the student has spent extra time and effort studying a topic other than their major. Even if the minor has nothing to do with the job that he may be applying for, it nonetheless shows more character depth, as opposed to having none at all.
On the other end of the spectrum, if a graduate is searching for a specific job or company, minoring in a specific field would not only be beneficial, but essential. A minor could give you that extra boost in an applicant pool. “It gives you more opportunities in the job world,” says Alanna Driscoll, a PSU psychology student who is considering minoring in English. “The more you know, the more you get to do.”
The most important component of a minor is simply choosing the right one for you. While many would advise you to minor in a topic that in some aspect compliments your major, always follow your passion
A minor is something important for both the student and the employer, as it allows the student to stand out, and gives the employer the ability to place potential employees in a position within their scope of studies, giving the prospect experience in their field and subsequently leaving doors open for the future jobs.