How to Add a Minor

Posted on by Michelle Glitzer '20, marketing and communications intern
Courtesy: Delaware Valley University Declaring a minor in a field like media and communication is a great way to enhance your degree.

A minor is a great way to differentiate yourself from other graduates in your field. Getting a minor can enhance your degree if there is another field that correlates with your studies.

Declaring a minor is much easier than many people think. You only need to take 15 credits in your minor’s department (five courses). These credits will replace your general elective credits. Therefore, if your major already requires you to take 12 credits of general electives, you can take all of those credits in one department, and then you will only need one more course to obtain your minor. For your minor, nine of the 15 credits must be taken at DelVal. 

Follow these simple steps to declare your minor:

  • Print out the “Declaration of Minor” form on DelVal’s website (you can use the search box on the home page).  
     
  • Fill out the form with your information and get signatures from your major department’s Chair and your declared minor department’s Chair.  
     
  • List the courses you want to take for your minor on the form. If you decide to take different courses other than the ones you list on the form, that’s fine – just fill out a course substitution form.  
     
  • Take your form to the Registrar’s office in Lasker Hall.

As long as you take the necessary credits for your minor, you can declare your minor before or after you take the courses. Once your form is processed, you will be able to see your progress in Student Self-Service.

Some common minors include business administration, English, and media and communication. However, the combinations of majors and minors are endless. As a business administration major, I decided to minor in media and communication. I enjoy photography and graphic design, and I would like to work in marketing or advertising. Knowing how to visually tell stories and communicate with different audiences are important skills to have in marketing, so my minor fits perfectly with my major.

Make sure to schedule a meeting with your advisor to figure out if a minor is right for you. Professors in your minor’s department will be able to guide you and give you advice about which courses you may want to take to get the most out of your minor.