The purpose of a minor is to officially recognize a student who takes a prescribed set of courses in a discipline outside their major.  To receive a minor, students must be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at Michigan Tech, have indicated that they are pursuing the minor by submitting a Curriculum Add/Drop form, and have completed all requirements for the minor.  The award will be noted on the official transcript.

A student must add the minor to their record no later than the time when the student submits their application for graduation.  A student cannot be awarded a minor that has the same title as their major or major concentration.  Students who wish to pursue a certificate in the same academic discipline or subject area as a minor must receive permission from the academic department.

In addition to meeting the requirements specified by the academic unit offering the minor, a student must:

·      Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 for courses completed as part of the minor.

·      Take at least 6 credit hours of 3000-level or higher minor-required courses that are not required as part of their major (except as free electives).  If more than one minor is being pursued, the 6 credit hours of 3000-level or higher minor-required courses that are not required as part of their major (except as free electives) must be unique to each minor.

·      At least 6 credit hours of the 3000-level or higher minor-required courses must be taken at Michigan Tech.  Courses that meet the “at Michigan Tech” requirement are defined as courses listed in the course catalog and taught by a Michigan Tech instructor either on campus, at field locations, or through distance learning.

Faculty Endorsement and University Approval of a New Minor
Minors may be proposed by any department, school, or multidisciplinary program recognized by the University. The specifics of each Minor are determined by the faculty within that unit. Independent study, project, research, and pass/fail courses may be used in Minors as appropriate. Minors may be designed for students majoring within the initiating academic unit, for students majoring in other academic units, or both. To assist students in making decisions about Minors, prerequisite courses must be either included in the Minor program, or listed as a footnote in the proposal. Prerequisites listed as a footnote need not have their credits counted in the Minor total. Tracks, or focus areas, are not allowed in minors with the exception of the three minors with tracks that currently exist (Biological Sciences, Music, and Polymer Science and Engineering).

Minors will be submitted to the Senate by the Provost after administrative review.

Proposal 16-97:
Adopted 3 February 1999
Approved: 3 August 1999

Proposal 17-03:
Adopted by Senate: 30 April 2003
Approved by Administration: 19 May 2003

Proposal 22-04:
Adopted by Senate: 25 February 2004
Approved by President: 3 March 2004

Proposal 21-07:
Adopted by Senate: 21 March 2007
Approved by Administration: 2 April 2007

Proposal 22-10:
Adopted by Senate: 14 April 2010
Approved by Administration: 21 April 2010