Advisor Kayla Dasta introduces you to Minors.
A minor is a recognized concentration of study in a subject area outside of the major, consisting of at least 15 credits of appropriate course work. The minor affords a traditional, well-accepted way to recognize that a student has completed a significant body of work outside the major.
Guidelines
- A minor may not inherently overlap with the student’s major (e.g., a History major may not pursue a History minor).
- Students must complete a minimum of 6 credits of coursework exclusive to the minor that will not count toward the major or other minors. Review this list of majors/minors that will not be approved due to overlap.
- Students may not complete a minor and certificate in the same area (East-Central European Studies, European Union Studies, Latin American Studies, or Teaching English as a Second Language).
Minors available at UF
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LS) offers 50 minors. There are over 130 minors available to residential students at UF.
Eligibility – Students must
- have an established UF GPA of 2.0 or higher.
- be on-track for their major.
- have 45 hours earned.
- be able to complete the minor in a timely fashion.
- complete a minimum of 6 credits exclusive to the minor (credits that will not count toward major(s) or other minors).
Some minors have additional requirements for approval, (e.g., a higher UF GPA, etc.). Be sure to review the Catalog information for the minor in your Catalog year.
Considering a Minor
- Take introductory courses in the area before applying.
- When selecting General Education or elective courses, take courses in disciplines that are unfamiliar – you might discover an area of interest this way.
- To find out more about a minor, read course descriptions, search the UF website for syllabi, and contact the department that offers the minor.
- Often, a minor will complement your major, and/or provide for a more well-rounded experience. Try to branch out. If you are majoring in a Humanities discipline, such as English or History, consider pursuing a minor in another area (such as a Social & Behavioral Science, or a math/science-related minor).
How to Apply
Request to Add or Remove a Minor
Students can request to add a minor on their ONE.UF account by clicking the link above. The request will be sent to the student’s major college and the requested minor college for approval.
Minor Requirements
CLAS minors require:
- All minor courses must be completed with a minimum grade of a C.
- At least three, three-credit courses must be at the 3000 level or above (none of the three courses can be individual work).
- Of the total credits for the minor, no more than three may be individual work.
- Requirements for individual minors are available in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many minors am I allowed to pursue?
You are allowed to pursue up to three minors.
How will the minor appear on my records?
Once you are approved to pursue the minor, it should show as one of your Academic Programs in ONE.UF. The college/department offering the minor will certify whether you complete it in the term you graduate. The minor will be noted on your official transcript.
Will courses for the minor satisfy the CLAS 3000-level elective requirement?
If the courses for the minor are at the 3000-level or above, the courses will also go towards the elective requirement, unless they are also counting toward your major. Some majors/minors limit overlap, check the Undergraduate Catalog for your specific programs.
Are there certain restrictions on minors I’m eligible to pursue, depending on my major?
Yes; CLAS does not permit certain major/minor combinations that have an extensive amount of overlap, since the purpose of a minor is to pursue an outside concentration. You can view the chart below for restrictions and meet with an advisor if you have questions.
Can I cancel a minor after I’ve been approved?
You may cancel a minor on your ONE.UF account under the “Request to Add or Remove a Minor” tab. No approvals are needed to cancel a minor.
Major/Minor Overlap List
Below are commonly requested Major/Minor combinations that are not permitted (this list is not all-inclusive, consult with an AAC advisor to verify that your intended major/minor combination is acceptable).
| MINOR | MAJORS THAT WILL NOT BE APPROVED WITH THAT MINOR |
|---|---|
| American Indian & Indigenous Studies | Anthropology: Anthropology majors must complete 1 minor elective with a prefix other than ANT before being approved for this minor. |
| East Asian Languages - Chinese | Foreign Languages and Literatures – Chinese |
| East Asian Language - Japanese | Foreign Languages and Literatures – Japanese |
| Botany | Biology, Entomology, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation |
| Chemistry | Biotechnology track in Biology Botany Chemical Engineering |
| Entomology and Nematology | Prior to applying for the minor, BA Biology majors must either complete 6 credits Entomology courses that are NOT on the BA Elective list, or 6-10 credits of BA Electives that are NOT Entomology minor courses. Prior to applying for the minor, BS Biology Preprofessional majors must either complete 6 credits of Entomology courses that are NOT on the BIOPRO Elective list, or 3 credits of BIOPRO Electives that are NOT Entomology minor courses. |
| Geography | Environmental Geosciences track in Geography or Geology |
| Geology | Environmental Geosciences track in Geography or Geology |
| Hebrew | Foreign Languages and Literatures - Hebrew; Jewish Studies |
| Physics | Astronomy and Astrophysics – Students pursuing an astronomy or astrophysics major must complete six credits of physics coursework beyond what is required for the major before they will be approved for the physics minor. |
| Sociology of Social Justice and Policy | Sociology |
| Statistics | Data Science |
| Theories and Policies of Sexuality | Women’s Studies |
| Zoology | Biology, Entomology and Nematology, Nutritional Sciences, Natural Resource Conservation, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation |