Pursuing an Undergraduate Minor

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.

See more information about Specific Minors (Academic Catalog).

How to “Declare” a 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.

  • The completion of the minor is an optional degree requirement to the baccalaureate program. Exceptions are the programs in the teaching of chemistry, physics, German, Latin, and Russian and the Minor in Secondary School Teaching.
  • The sponsoring department of the minor is responsible for informing students of the approved requirements for the minor and for any advising associated with the minor.
  • Students’ enrollment periods will not be extended for the purpose of completing a minor.
  • No priority on class registration will be given for courses required in the minor.
  • Minor(s) will not be added retroactively to a student’s record after graduation.

The student is responsible for notifying her/his college of the desire to pursue a minor by completing and appropriately filing the Statement of Intent to Pursue a Campus-Approved Minor. In the event of an Intercollegiate Transfer (ICT), the student is responsible for notifying her/his new college of intent to pursue a minor by providing the original or a photo copy of the Statement of Intent Form.

  • The Statement of Intent to Pursue a Campus-Approved Minor must be submitted to the student’s college of enrollment prior to the last day to add a class in the semester in which the student intends to graduate to assure timely processing.
  • Any variance from courses required in the minor must be approved on the Modification of Minor form by the unit sponsoring the minor, that unit’s college and submitted to the student’s college office for final processing.
  • The student is responsible for notifying her/his college of cancellation of the minor by use of the Cancellation of of Minor Form.