Make a Major Statement with a Minor/Certificate Program

Have you changed your mind while taking courses for your major or have transfer credits from subjects outside your major? Maybe you've grown to like a new subject while taking general education coursework?

Harness the full potential of extra electives by completing smaller programs alongside your major--aka Minors and Certificates (U.D. Certs).

UMBC offers a variety of options for minor programs and certificate programs at the undergraduate level.

NOTE: Not to be confused with graduate certificates, all undergraduate minors and certificates must be done in conjunction with an undergraduate degree program. However, this stipulation presents many advantages to your academic journey at UMBC.

Here are the top reasons why you should consider adding minors and certificates to your undergraduate career:

1. Most minors and certificates contain about 6-8 courses as requirements and may partially overlap with other requirements coinciding with your GEPs or major coursework.

NOTE: Some minors (I.e.,Minor in Social Welfare) are not eligible for students already majoring in the related bachelor's program (I.e.,Social Work, B.A.). Likewise, some programs limit how many courses can double count or come from transfer coursework-- Always ask an academic advisor before making assumptions!

1. Instead of taking on a double major, a minor or certificate could help manage graduation timelines while incorporating multiple academic disciplines.

1. Declaring minors and certificates are great ways to reach upper-level elective minimums and work towards other general graduation requirements tailored to an additional field of interest (e.g.,Intercultural Communication,Media and Communications Studies, etc.)

1. Going beyond your major requirements to complete a minor or certificate is a solid avenue toward expanding your undergraduate academic credentials and diversifying your professional portfolio.

NOTE: Some of our minors and certificates are designed to equip you with foundational knowledge for niche industries (i.e.,Entrepreneurship,Health, Wellness and Aging,Security Studies, etc.)

Discuss adding a minor or certificate at your next academic advising appointment. Enhance your UMBC experience by broadening your network with students and professors you may have never encountered in your major alone. Doing so indicates your successful completion of an "extra credit" program that could be a game-changer for your resume/CV, job interviews, professional/graduate school applications...you name it!