What is the difference between a Major and a Minor at Franklin University Switzerland?

Are you a high-school student looking for an undergraduate program? You started the search for a Major and a Minor for your Bachelor’s studies, but you are still not sure about the similarities and differences. In order to choose the best option for your academic career, we will discuss the two academic programs, their characteristics and applications.

Undergraduate Major vs. Minor: What's the Difference?

In a Bachelor's Degree, the Major is the main focus of your studies and the Minor is a secondary specialization. Your Major should be the field of study in which you wish to pursue a professional career, while the Minor can be either a complementary subject to that goal or a further exploration of a hobby or interest. For example, you can do a Major in International Economics with an Applied Mathematics Minor or a Major in Environmental Sciences and Studies with a Film Studies Minor.

What is a Major?

Majors are the academic subject area the student commits to during their undergraduate studies. Students are expected to complete both core courses and electives with the purpose of gaining in-depth knowledge of the subject. This does not mean that you are preparing for a specific job title, but that you are acquiring holistic knowledge of an area of studies.  This can later be further explored in practice, like an internship, or through a Graduate Programme.

What are Minors good for?

While Majors seek to achieve a career goal, Minors seek to compliment it. Although not mandatory, Minors give you an extra competitive advantage for the future. Minors are displayed next to your Major in the Bachelor's diploma and can help illustrate your career goals and/or your personal interests.

For instance, you could complete a Major in Communication and Media Studies with a Minor in Marketing, or a Major in International Relations with a Minor in Environmental Science.

Will a minor help me find a job?

Minors are an opportunity to get the most out of your higher education. An in depth exploration of one of your interests not only can help you find your ideal career but it can also make a resume stand out. It can complement your major or be a completely different field of study. Either way, Minors are a way to show recruiters what you are passionate about both at the professional and personal level.

Majors at Franklin University Switzerland

Undergraduate students at Franklin can choose one of the following different Major fields of study, spanning a wide range of disciplines including history, international relations, economics, politics, environmental studies, international management, literature and the arts.

Most of our major curriculums are flexible enough to allow students to partially design their own study plans. See the full list here.

Minors at Franklin University Switzerland

In addition to a major field of study, students may select courses within one discipline to form a Minor. Undergraduate students can choose one or two fields of study, spanning a wide range of disciplines including math, film studies, communication, gender studies, marketing, studio art, and economics. See the full list here.

In order to acquire a minor, all students must submit an official declaration to the Registrar after obtaining the signatures of both your Academic Advisor and Department Head of the field of interest. Throughout your studies you must maintain a 2.0 average in the minor to stay in the program.

Choosing a Major and a Minor

In a liberal arts education you don’t need to choose your major right away. You have the chance to take different courses and explore your options until the second year of university (Sophomore Year) before declaring your major. If you are equally interested in two subject areas you can even consider doing a Combined Degree Program.

How to choose your major and minor during your undergraduate studies?

Choose a major and a minor that you are motivated to study. What subjects did you enjoy the most during high school? What subject did you excel at? These can be an indication of your interest.

You can search for the most popular majors and minors, but in the end the choice is about what future career YOU want to follow. Ask yourself, where do I wanna be in five, ten, twenty years? Pick a path that would most likely help you get there.

Can’t pick between two fields of study?

Consider completing a Combined Degree Program or a Double Major if you equally like two subject areas. Franklin University Switzerland grants students with the choice of following the academic path that best fits their professional goals.

If you have never heard of Double or Combined Majors you are in luck! Let’s explore together the requirements and advantages of this type of Bachelor’s Degrees.

Double Major vs Combined Degree Program: What’s the difference?

Double Majors and Combined Degrees allow students to go beyond one field of study during their Bachelor’s Degree. The main difference between the two is the workload. A Double Major requires you to complete two degrees separately, fullfing all the subjects and electives needed for both majors simultaneously.

What is a Double Major? Is it hard?

A Double Major is a bachelor’s degree that integrates two sets of degree requirements from your two picks for majors. The diploma you earn at the end of the four years will list both majors as completed. Some choose to major in two related fields that support one another, for example, International Relations and Political Science. Others take a different route, selecting two unrelated fields such as Comparative Literature and Finance.

Sometimes specializing with a Minor just won’t do. Some students want to have the ability to explore two subjects at length. In this situation it makes sense to register for a double major. This means you will have a greater workload, but you will have the certainty that you are exploring both fields of study with the same depth and attention.

Combined Degree Program, is it worth it?

Combined degree programs give students the option of creating their own path of study. If you’re passionate about two fields that can complement your professional career in the future, you can choose to complete a Combined Degree to attend the lessons that cover all your interests.

Any two of the following may be combined to complete a “Combined Major” toward the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree: Art History, Communication and Media Studies, Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies, Economics, Environmental Science, French, History, Italian Studies, Management, Political Science and Psychology.

At the end of the courses, where a thesis is required, it will normally take the form of either an interdisciplinary project or a requirement to be satisfied in a single discipline. Students must consult with Department Chairs of both disciplines. Credit will be awarded in one of the two fields.

Summary

Major vs Minor: Definitions and Examples

If you are interested in joining Franklin University Switzerland next fall check out our undergraduate programs and find the best combination of Majors and Minors for your career goals:

• Majors: The primary field of study in a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Combined Majors: An undergraduate degree focusing on two complementary subjects.
• Minors: A secondary specialization in a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Honors Program: An opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research and scholarship with expert faculty and other highly qualified peers.
• Combined Major: One Bachelor’s Degree that includes two complementary fields of study.
• Double Major: Two Bachelor's Degrees completed simultaneously.

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