What Does “Minor in sth” Mean?
“Minor in sth” means to choose a secondary subject or field of study at college or university, alongside your main subject or major.
Introduction
The phrase “Minor in sth” is commonly used in academic settings to describe a student’s secondary focus of study. While a major is the primary subject a student studies, a minor is a smaller, secondary specialization that complements the major. For example, a student might major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. Understanding the “Minor in sth” meaning helps students plan their education and career goals more effectively. This phrase is also useful when discussing academic achievements or explaining your educational background in conversations and resumes.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: Minor in sth (minor in something)
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To choose a secondary subject to study at college or university
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Minor in sth” is a transitive phrasal verb phrase. It is inseparable because “in” is a preposition linked to the object.
Structure patterns:
- Subject + minor + in + [subject/field]
- Example: She minors in psychology.
- Negative: He does not minor in economics.
- Question: Do you minor in computer science?
How to Use “Minor in sth”?
Use “minor in sth” when talking about your secondary academic focus. It is used mostly in education contexts. You can use it to describe what you study or have studied apart from your major. It helps explain your skills and knowledge in more than one area.
For example, when discussing your degree, you can say, “I minor in graphic design” or “She minors in history.”
Examples
Here are some natural sentences using “minor in sth in a sentence”:
- John minors in Spanish while majoring in International Business.
- She decided to minor in environmental science to complement her biology major.
- Many students choose to minor in a foreign language to improve their job prospects.
- He minors in philosophy because he finds it interesting, even though his major is engineering.
- During college, I minored in economics to gain a better understanding of finance.
Common Mistakes
Sometimes, learners confuse “minor in sth” with other phrases or use incorrect prepositions.
- Incorrect: She minors on psychology.
Correct: She minors in psychology. - Incorrect: I minor at history.
Correct: I minor in history. - Incorrect: He minor in math.
Correct: He minors in math.
Remember, always use “minor in” + the subject, and use the correct verb form.
Differences / Synonyms
While “minor in sth” refers specifically to academic study, similar phrases like “specialize in” or “focus on” are broader.
- Minor in sth: Secondary academic subject choice at university.
- Major in sth: Primary academic subject.
- Specialize in sth: To focus deeply on a specific field, usually professionally or academically.
- Concentrate on sth: Similar to specialize but more general.
For example, you might say, “I major in biology but minor in chemistry,” but “I specialize in molecular biology” means you focus deeply on that field.
Common Collocations
Here are common subjects used with “minor in” and their meanings:
- Minor in Psychology – Study of the mind and behavior
- Minor in Business – Study of commerce and management
- Minor in Computer Science – Study of computers and programming
- Minor in History – Study of past events
- Minor in Environmental Science – Study of the environment and ecology
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “minor in sth”:
Amy: What do you major in?
Ben: I major in Marketing. I also minor in Graphic Design.
Amy: That’s cool! Does the minor help with your major?
Ben: Yes, it helps me create better ads and visuals.
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
She _______ in anthropology while studying sociology.
- a) minors on
- b) minors in
- c) minor at
- d) minor on
Answer: b) minors in
FAQs
- What does it mean to minor in something? It means to choose a secondary subject to study in college or university.
- Can you minor in any subject? Usually, yes, but it depends on your school’s program options.
- Is a minor as important as a major? No, a major is your primary focus; a minor is secondary but still valuable.
- How do you say “minor in” in a sentence? For example, “She minors in French.”
- Do all universities offer minors? Many do, but not all. Check your school’s curriculum.
