What is a minor?

An undergraduate minor at AUA is a coherent set of thematically related courses intended to broaden, complement, or deepen a student’s undergraduate education and academic experience, particularly in a subfield of study.

Minors are optional. Undergraduate students may complete one or more minors if they choose to do so; however, there is no requirement to complete a minor.

In cases where completion of a minor requires additional credits and/or additional time at AUA, the relevant procedures and policies will apply. Students should be aware that pursuing a minor may result in additional financial obligations.

Criteria for Completion of a Minor

No more than six credits may overlap between the requirements for a student’s major and minor.

Credits used to satisfy General Education requirements, or courses officially designed as General Education equivalents, may also be applied toward a minor and shall not be included in the calculation of the six-credit overlap limit between the major and the minor. 

Courses transferred from another institution may not be applied toward completion of an AUA minor.

A minor will be documented on a student’s transcript, but will not appear on the diploma.

Procedure – Declaring Intent to Pursue a Minor

Students declare their intent to pursue a minor through the Registrar’s Office, and must identify the minor when completing the Petition to Graduate form. 

Procedures for Proposing Minors

1. Origination

        a. Minors are anchored within an academic Program or College.

        b. Proposals may be initiated by individual faculty members or groups of faculty; however, early consultation with the relevant Program Chair and/or College Dean is required.

        c. Each minor must have a clearly designated home unit (program or college) responsible for oversight.

        d. Proposers must demonstrate alignment with College and AUA academic strategy.

2. Pre-Approval and Portfolio Considerations

        a. Prior to submission, proposers must obtain the Dean’s approval.

        b. Deans must evaluate whether the proposed minor:

            - contributes meaningfully to the College’s academic portfolio;

            - avoids duplication or unnecessary competition with existing minors.

       c. Colleges are expected to exercise restraint to avoid:

            - oversaturation of offerings;

            - fragmentation of student enrollment;

            - weak or duplicative minors.

        d. The Provost may limit, consolidate, or redirect proposals based on institutional priorities and capacity.

3. Proposal Requirements

        All proposals must include:

        a. Evidence-based justification, including:

           - relevant institutional assessment data regarding student interest in minors, where available;

           - demonstrated student demand and enrollment projections;

           - academic relevance in relation to AUA’s mission and the Armenian context;

           - distinctiveness and interdisciplinary value.

        b. Program design elements, including:

           - description and rationale;

           - Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs);

           - list of required and elective courses;

           - sustainability plan, including three- to five-year enrollment projections;

           - statement of fit within AUA’s existing academic offerings.

        c. Curricular guidelines:

           - minors consist of 15–18 credits;

           - interdisciplinary minors must define governance and advising responsibility.

4. Review and Approval Process

       a. Program- and/or College-level review and endorsement.

       b. Submission by the Dean to the Curriculum Committee.

       c. Curriculum Committee review focusing on:

           - academic rigor and coherence;

           - duplication and overlap;

           - resource feasibility.

       d. Final administrative review and approval by the Executive Team, including budgetary review where appropriate, prior to advertisement or implementation.

5. Post-Approval Review and Continuation

       a. All minors undergo periodic review every three to five years assessing:

          - enrollment trends;

          - student outcomes;

          - alignment with institutional priorities.

       b. Based on review, minors may be:

          - continued;

          - revised;

          - suspended or sunsetted.