A minor is an academic program that supplements a major. While a student pursues a baccalaureate degree, the addition of a minor can expand the educational experience.
How many credits is a minor?
Minors at Penn State require a minimum of 18 credits and typically no more than 21 credits with at least 6 but ordinarily not more than half of the credits at the 400 level. A minor program may consist of course work in a single area or from several disciplines.
Minor Requirements
- A minor is an academic program of at least 18 credits, and all courses for a minor must be completed with a grade of "C" or above.
- At least six (6) credits of the minor must be completed in courses offered by the University or in cooperative degree programs that have been established by formal agreement and approved by the University Faculty Senate
- At least six (6) credits of the minor must be unique from the Prescribed Courses required by the student’s major program(s).
Prerequisite for Minors
Minors often will have minimal prerequisite preparation required to begin the minor. However, entrance to some minors may require the completion of a number of prerequisites including courses, portfolios, auditions, or other forms of documentation that are not included in the total requirements for the minor.
Penn State Scranton offers courses in support of the following minors:
- Art Minor
- Biology Minor
- Business Minor
- Child Maltreatment and Advocacy Studies Minor
- Corporate Communication Minor
- English Minor
- Longevity, Aging and Generational Studies Minor
- Global and International Studies Minor
- Human Development and Family Studies Minor
- Information Sciences and Technology Minor
- Project and Supply Chain Management Minor
- Psychology Minor
- Security and Risk Analysis Minor
How to Declare /Apply for a Minor
Intent to pursue a minor may be declared after the student has achieved at least third semester classification or has been accepted into his/her major, but prior to the end of the late drop period of the student's final semester.
A student may not declare a minor that is the same as his/her major (e.g., a student majoring in History may not also declare a History minor).
In those instances where a minor requires an entry fee or entrance requirement, the student must declare before the end of the regular add/drop period of their final semester. The fee will be applied to the student's semester bill at the time the intent is submitted.
Declaring a minor does not guarantee that the required courses will be available or that you will be able to complete the minor.
There are two procedures for entering a minor:
- Minors that do not have entrance requirements can be declared on eLion.
- Minors that have special entrance criteria require an application.
Declaring a Minor: If a minor does not have entrance requirements (see Special Considerations listed by minor in MinorQuest, use the eLion Minor Declaration application. After declaring your minor, notify the person/department responsible for the minor and ask that you be included on the departmental/minor email listserv.
Applying for a Minor: If a minor has entrance requirements, you must contact the department offering the minor to apply.
Deadline: A minor can be declared any time after you have been accepted in a major and attained 60 credits. Typically, to graduate with a minor, you must be accepted into the minor before the late drop deadline of your last semester.