A student may choose to complete a minor field of study or, where appropriate, a certificate of curricular study in an academic discipline, but doing so is not required for graduation. A certificate recognizes a program of coursework that involves a relatively large proportion of practicum training and requires a capstone project. A certificate is mostly intended to encourage mastery of a particular skill germane to liberal arts study; it is typically more specialized than either a major or minor field of study.

A minor or certificate is designated on the student’s permanent record and transcript in addition to the required major. A student may declare a minor or certificate in the fourth semester, but no later than mid-semester of a student’s last enrolled semester. At the time of declaration, the student must have maintained at least a 2.00 GPA in the courses already taken in that subject. In addition, the student must graduate with at least a 2.00 GPA in the minor or certificate.

Each department or program has the option of requiring or not requiring a comprehensive examination in the minor subject or for the certificate. Should a scheduling conflict between a student’s major and minor comprehensive examinations arise, this is resolved by rescheduling the examination in the minor or certificate.

No more than two courses (eight semester hours) used to satisfy requirements for a minor or certificate of curricular study may be used to fulfill requirements for a major or another minor or certificate of curricular study.

There are forty-five minors/certificates from which to choose. For information on requirements for specific minors/certificates, please refer to Programs A-Z.