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+--- Thread: clarification on "major / minor" (/Thread-clarification-on-major-minor)
clarification on "major / minor" - CarpeDiem8 - 07-03-2019
Sorry for the n00b question, but I'm curious and the internet doesn't have any info on this.
Those of you that are pursuing BA in X with an Associates in X (like I am considering) would one declare this is as the same as when you say you have a "major in X / minor in X?"
Thanks for clarifying!
D
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - udi - 07-03-2019
You don't tell people what you have a minor in generally.
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - davewill - 07-03-2019
A major the main subject of your degree. Sometimes you can have more than one major. TESU calls that a dual area of study, but it's basically the same thing. I consider it roughly equivalent to getting two degrees.
A minor is a subject added onto a degree. It (usually) has less coursework in the subject than a major would. Sometimes the minor is adding some sort of specialty, for example, a BS in Biology with a minor in Human Genetics. Other times is just an extra, like getting a BS in Computer Science with a minor in Math. In either case, the person took some number of extra classes in the minor subject. In neither case is the minor as good as having a full degree in the subject.
(07-03-2019, 10:57 AM)udi Wrote: You don't tell people what you have a minor in generally.
Certainly you would list the minor on your resume. If you don't tell anyone, what's the point of doing it?
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - udi - 07-03-2019
(07-03-2019, 11:24 AM)davewill Wrote: A major the main subject of your degree. Sometimes you can have more than one major. TESU calls that a dual area of study, but it's basically the same thing. I consider it roughly equivalent to getting two degrees.
A minor is a subject added onto a degree. It (usually) has less coursework in the subject than a major would. Sometimes the minor is adding some sort of specialty, for example, a BS in Biology with a minor in Human Genetics. Other times is just an extra, like getting a BS in Computer Science with a minor in Math. In either case, the person took some number of extra classes in the minor subject. In neither case is the minor as good as having a full degree in the subject.
(07-03-2019, 10:57 AM)udi Wrote: You don't tell people what you have a minor in generally.
Certainly you would list the minor on your resume. If you don't tell anyone, what's the point of doing it?
There are two reasons why I would not. The question was regarding referencing an associate's degree as a minor. Technically, it's different, but depending on the circle, it's more nuanced and people often say their associate's subject is their minor.
A minor doesn't indicate enough experience in the subject to be useful. If someone used their minor to indicate a qualification, during an interview, it would indicate they didn't know much about it. It could actually hurt if they think they know enough about a subject because they minored in it.
Admittedly, in come cases, interviews, etc, it might be useful to indicate interest in a subject.
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - Ideas - 07-03-2019
It seems improper to say you minored in something unless your school actually gave you a minor in that subject. I mean for example, say someone did an associates in early child education somewhere, then later attended business school for a business degree. That new school probably doesn't even offer any classes in ECE. I think that's misleading and strange to act like you majored in business and minored in ECE. Instead I would just say the bachelors degree major and have a separate entry for the associates degree and what it was in.
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - udi - 07-03-2019
(07-03-2019, 12:39 PM)Ideas Wrote: It seems improper to say you minored in something unless your school actually gave you a minor in that subject. I mean for example, say someone did an associates in early child education somewhere, then later attended business school for a business degree. That new school probably doesn't even offer any classes in ECE. I think that's misleading and strange to act like you majored in business and minored in ECE. Instead I would just say the bachelors degree major and have a separate entry for the associates degree and what it was in.
Yes, but people do it all of the time -- innocently. It goes back to -- nobody will ask what your associate's or minor is in for the most part.
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - bjcheung77 - 07-03-2019
Hmm, basically, I would only list that I have a Bachelors in ABC and an Associates in XYZ.
I would keep it concise and simple. Here's the reasoning...
1) A Bachelors minor concentration will contain Upper Level courses, the Associates are all Lower Level.
Associates level degrees do not have majors or minors, I usually name them the area or subject of study.
Majors or Minors are usually associated with Bachelors level degrees.
It depends really on how people in Academia or in different positions see things.
2) A major is usually 30+ credits, a minor concentration is generally 15+ credits.
Think of it as a BSBA, it's a business major, with different options for AOS (area of study) of your choice.
The same goes with a BALS, you have concentrations to select from if you ever wanted.
Each of these examples have a major, and you can select from a different concentration if you wanted.
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - CarpeDiem8 - 07-03-2019
(07-03-2019, 01:04 PM)bjcheung77 Wrote: A Bachelors minor concentration will contain Upper Level courses, the Associates are all Lower Level.
This nails it on the head.
In building my degrees, I noticed that most of what comprised the Comp Sci AOS in the ASNAM is all "Intro to X" coursework. That's hardly much of anything, at the end of the day.
Then I'd love to hear the motivation behind us all getting the additional associates degree when we are pursuing a BA/BS. It is just because it's cheaper to, to avoid fees by graduating together with them, etc, and NOTHING more than that?
Is this leading to a better argument to pursue dual bachelors' degrees at the same time instead?
Thanks,
D
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - udi - 07-03-2019
The associate's degree is usually a step in the process of fulfilling undergraduate requirements and or transferring to another school. Sometimes, your next school will accept more courses if you graduated. We usually dissuade people from trying to get an associate's unnecessarily because it's unlikely to benefit you if you're already getting the bachelor's. There may be some courses in the associate's degree that are useful.
RE: clarification on "major / minor" - dfrecore - 07-03-2019
(07-03-2019, 11:57 AM)udi Wrote: [quote pid='291793' dateline='1562171048']
(07-03-2019, 10:57 AM)udi Wrote: You don't tell people what you have a minor in generally.
Certainly you would list the minor on your resume. If you don't tell anyone, what's the point of doing it?
There are two reasons why I would not. The question was regarding referencing an associate's degree as a minor. Technically, it's different, but depending on the circle, it's more nuanced and people often say their associate's subject is their minor.
[/quote]
I've not actually heard of anyone doing this - ever. Obviously, this is lying.
I worked in HR for many years, and no one has ever said they had a minor, we checked, and they didn't and it was an AA/AS. Never.
I don't think people do this. It's not a thing.