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30.1: Academic Minors
A minor is a structured plan of study requiring 18 to 21 credits; an exception from the Division of Academic Affairs is required for minors over 21 credits. Minors must include at least 9 upper-division credits unless approval from the Division of Academic Affairs is granted.
Declaring a minor is optional unless otherwise stated by a degree program (for instance, the Data Science major requires students to choose a minor). A minor appears on a student’s transcript but is not printed on their diploma.
30.1.2 Requirements and Limitations
1. Undecided students and non-degree-seeking students cannot declare a minor.
2. Students cannot declare a major and minor of the same discipline (for example, a Deaf Studies major cannot be combined with a Deaf Studies minor). Decisions regarding whether a major and minor are in the same discipline are made by the dean.
3. Students follow the minor requirements of the catalog year in which they declare the minor or the catalog year when they will graduate.
4. Students can declare no more than 3 minors. At least 9 credits must be unique to each minor and cannot be counted toward the other minor(s).
5. Course overlap is allowed between minor, major, and/or Core Curriculum requirements. At least 9 credits must be unique to the minor and cannot overlap with major requirements.
6. Students must earn a grade of C- or better in all required courses.
7. A minor cannot be added after a student’s degree has been conferred.
8. If a student decides not to complete a declared minor, they must drop the minor by completing the Change or Add a Minor e-form in the NS portal. Degrees and diplomas cannot be posted or issued until all declared programs are completed.
30.2 Concentrations
Concentrations are groups of courses that differentiate specializations within a program.
Concentrations that are included in the name of a major/degree and submitted for external review and approval as part of the name (such as presentation to the Board of Regents and the accrediting agency) will appear on a student’s diploma. If a concentration is not formally approved as part of the name of a program, it will appear on a student’s transcript but not on their diploma.
30.2.1 Requirements and Limitations
1. Courses may overlap between concentrations within a single program.
2. Students cannot combine a concentration with a major or minor of the same discipline (for example, a Criminal Justice concentration cannot be combined with a Criminal Justice major or minor). Decisions regarding whether a concentration and another academic program are in the same discipline will be made by the dean.
3. Students cannot combine a major with no concentration with a major of the same discipline with a concentration (for example, Biology cannot be combined with Biology with a concentration in Cell and Molecular).
4. Students pursuing Elementary Education majors cannot combine multiple concentrations.
30.3 Teaching Endorsements
While teaching endorsement courses may be taken at NS, endorsements are not issued by the University. They are added to an individual’s teaching license by the Nevada Department of Education.
30.4 Related Information
– Change or Add a Minor Form (in the NS portal)
– Replaces statement on minors in the academic catalog
30.4.1 Revision History
– Revisions approved by Dr. Christine Beaudry on 5/02/2023; Dr. Vickie Shields on 5/23/2023; and President DeRionne Pollard on 9/12/2023.