What is a “minor”?
A minor is a cluster of courses constituting a coherent program of study requiring depth in the subject, but not as extensive a program as the major. Minors enable students to supplement their work in their departmental concentrations with focused study in another field. Most minors include required courses and elective courses within concentrated menus. Because of the rigorous requirements, students should identify their interest in a minor early in their academic careers.
What is the relationship of the minor to the major?
For some students, minor programs provide an opportunity to pursue a special area of interest that closely complements their departmental concentration. Two examples: a student concentrating in architecture pursues a minor in interior design; a student majoring in writing pursues a minor in philosophy. For other students, minor programs provide an opportunity to pursue intellectual passions unrelated (or seemingly unrelated) to the departmental concentration. Two more examples: a student majoring in industrial design pursues a minor in photography; a student majoring in fine arts pursues a minor in sustainability.
What is a “Customized Minor”?
The Customized Minor is a student-driven program that provides opportunities for students to pursue an area of interest in the form of a minor that is not provided by the established curriculum. A Customized Minor is a minimum 15-credit set of courses that coherently proposes a field of study that is adequately covered with the proposed courses. A select number of students may apply to do a Customized Minor.
Who can do a Customized Minor?
Customized Minors are transcripted and restricted to matriculated students. A student seeking to do a customized minor must have a 3.0 GPA and be in good standing. The degree and the minor must be awarded simultaneously.
How do I go about proposing a Customized Minor?
You may already have an idea for a minor you would like to create, or you may just be interested in learning more, and might think of one as you go. Either way, a student wishing to propose a customized minor must consult with their adviser. The student must also attend a Customized Minor Orientation. The interested student then must submit the proposal, including the Customized Minor Form AND all relevant documents, to the Customized Minor director, Amir Parsa, \(Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary and Integrative Learning |Founding Director, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies | Curator, Individualized Learning). The deadline for submission of the Customized Minor proposal is the last day of Add/Drop in a given semester. There will be NO extensions allowed for the Customized Minor. A limited number of proposals will be accepted. Students may be contacted to provide more information or material. About eight to ten weeks after the end of add/drop, students will be notified of the status of their Customized Minor.
How many credits make up a Customized Minor? How many classes do I have to take?
The undergraduate minor should consist of at least 15 credits and no more than 21 credits. Generally, 100-level courses may not be used toward the minor. However, given the necessity of acquiring certain foundational technical skills for particular minors, a minor proposal may argue for the inclusion of up to 3 credits at the 100 level. The rationale for this inclusion must be made in the final minor application form and attached documents. Also, at least 40% of the credits in the minor must be at the 300 level or higher.
Can courses I have already completed count towards my Customized Minor?
Yes, up to 3 courses (9 Credits)
Can an Independent Study count towards my Customized Minor?
Independent Study can be used for a Customized Minor only if it has already been taken OR it has already been fully approved. A maximum of 3 credits of Independent Study—and only one (1) Independent Study—course work can be used for the Customized Minor. It must be relevant to the subject matter of the minor!
Still have questions?
Please read the customized minor guidelines and examine the form closely. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us in the Office of the Provost, North Hall 205, Brooklyn campus.
Amir Parsa
Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary and Integrative Learning
Founding Director, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
Curator, Individualized Learning
aparsa@pratt.edu
Renae Govinda
Program Manager, The Center for Interdisciplinary Studies
Project Manager, MSCHE Self-Study and Accreditation
rgovinda@pratt.edu