In order to graduate from college, you need to declare major, complete core requirements for it, complete general education requirements and complete a minimum number of credit hours. You will also need to maintain an acceptable GPA and remain in good standing as a student in a number of different ways.

Similar to a major, a minor is an area of concentrated study. But, as the name implies, it involves taking fewer classes related to the field of study in question than a major does. However, in most cases, declaring a minor is not a requirement. It is optional. It is something you can choose to do if you wish.

Taking a few extra classes in an area that you’re passionate about could provide more opportunities within and beyond college than you could imagine. In addition to supplementing your academic experience with an area you love, minoring could provide specialization in your career and knowledge that could open doors for the rest of your life.

Here are a few reasons why you should pick up a minor in college.

1. EXPLORE AN INTEREST

Minors can allow you to explore interests in an academic manner and setting. Few periods of life like college exist in which students can educate themselves on anything that they find interesting. If you consider yourself a huge museum buff, maybe your match is a minor in Art History. If you’ve always been amazing at crunching numbers, a Math minor might be for you. Minors definitely allow you to explore the more intricate interests that you have, target smaller fields of studies that majors almost never touch on.

2. PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A POTENTIAL CAREER PATH AND GAIN A SKILL

If your major reflects the overall field you wish to go into, your minor could provide specialization within this industry. For example, you could be pursuing a major in Economics but you could take up an English minor that could provide you with analytic reading and specific writing skills, or an Entrepreneurship minor that could teach you to be an innovative leader. The courses that correspond to the minor are extremely interesting and applicable to what you want to possibly work in the future. If you see a perfect spot for you in industry, consider pursuing a minor to tailor yourself as a candidate. A minor basically allows you to add to your ‘career toolkit.’ Taking on a minor could provide you with further information and experience, which could possibly expand your career path.

3. NARROW YOUR MAJOR

The list of minors that a college offers is at times more extensive than the majors offered. If you feel as though the education you’re getting with your bachelor’s degree is almost too all-encompassing, a minor could greatly supplement that. A minor may be able to fill that void that may be missing from a major. This could impact student’s life positively as they’re able to explore additional interest during their time in college. For example, someone majoring in chemistry or biology could obtain many different minors, depending on what their further goals are. Students who wish to work in the health industry may want a public health minor, someone interested in environmental policy may go for Sustainability minor, or students who wish to pursue research may obtain a minor that specializes in STEM technology. Your major and minor could fit together like puzzle pieces in the grand scheme of your education.

4. LEARN A LANGUAGE

If you take enough corresponding language and culture classes, you could learn a language or refine your knowledge of a language through a minor. Studying a language for your minor also provides study abroad opportunities—another great way to supplement your college experience.

5. A BUILT-IN BACKUP PLAN

Many have heard people say that careers don’t always correspond to majors. If your career happens to stray from the expected, a minor could open doors toward other potential jobs. Hopefully, your minor provides you with enough knowledge to make you feel qualified and prepared to apply to jobs that correspond to it.

6. FIND YOUR NICHE

Specialized classes, such as those for a minor, comprise fewer students than general education classes. For this reason, students can create stronger bonds with professors and classmates. Classes for your minor provide you with the potential for making friends, networking and finding extracurricular opportunities in that narrow field.

7. INCREASE EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL

Diversity helps create a productive and enriching workspace, and this diversity can extend to academic background. If all job applicants to a particular position share the same, or a similar major, a particular minor could set you apart. For any applicant in this highly competitive job market, the more well-rounded and diversified your skill set, knowledge and experience just further makes you more desirable, marketable and valuable to your employer as well as meeting your future career aspirations.

8. ADD INTRIGUE TO YOUR RESUME OR PORTFOLIO

Minors could pique conversations with potential employers and coworkers. Showcasing a minor on your resume shows qualifications as a candidate with a distinct academic background and rigour. A minor may give a student additional transferable skills which could be shared with an employer on a resume, cover letter and/or during an interview. Whether through a common interest or curiosity, minors can help personify portfolios and make candidates more appealing.