A minor is a coherent program of study requiring some depth in the subject, but not as extensive of a program as the major. Most minors will be comprehensive study in the discipline, rather than focusing on a narrow subfield of study. In general, minors consist of at least 16 and no more than 21 hours of coursework. Except for remedial offerings, prerequisite courses within the sponsoring unit count toward this total; prerequisite courses outside the sponsoring unit ordinarily do not count toward this total. At least six hours of coursework for the minor should be advanced (300-level or 400-level courses) and must be distinct from credit earned for the student’s major or another minor.
All new and revised undergraduate minors must receive Senate approval in order to be officially recognized by the campus and listed on the transcript. Any degree-granting unit with the approval of its college may initiate a proposal for a campus-wide undergraduate minor. Sponsoring degree-granting units have the right to restrict enrollment in the minor, if educationally necessary, and are not required to give priority for course registration. The unit sponsoring the minor may set educationally necessary prerequisites for eligibility for the minor.
Undergraduate students enrolled in a degree program at Illinois are not required to complete a minor for degree certification. However, many find this a desirable opportunity to study at some depth in a subject matter of additional interest to their major field of study. To officially pursue a minor on this campus, students must be aware of the information and follow the procedures outlined below.