Minors – Online

No, they are different. An associate's degree is typically awarded by a community college, junior college or a technical college. A minor, however, signifies an additional field of study on top of your undergraduate major in a specific area, and it includes upper-level college courses within that area.

You must be a current, degree-seeking Oregon State University student to add a minor. This includes undergraduate students, graduate students and postbaccalaureate students. Minors must be earned concurrently with your degree, whether you complete it online or on campus.

If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program, you do not need to submit an additional application for a minor. Contact the department offering the minor to let them know of your interest. You’ll meet with an advisor from that department who will then submit a Change of Major form to add the minor to your student record.

If you are currently enrolled in a graduate degree program, you can add a minor in two ways:

• Add the minor to your degree program when you submit a change of degree/major/certificate form as early as the second term of enrollment, or as late as the second-to-last term of enrollment. Once the request has been processed, you’ll need to update your program of study to reflect your newly added minor’s curriculum.

To earn a minor, you would need to pursue another degree and while doing that, you can earn a minor concurrently.