Minor subject
How important is my choice of minor subject for my career?
When it matters
Do you dream about a specific Master that you don’t have direct access to? Then your choice of minor subject might be your way in.
You can use your minor subject to take certain courses that you need to fulfil the admission requirements. See which minor subjects you can take at SDU and which Master’s degrees the different combinations give you access to. If you want to take a Master that is not on the list, you need to go to the study webpage and read about the admission requirements. You can also talk to the Admissions department about your opportunities.
Do you want to get a certain type of job when you graduate? You might study Biology and really want to work with communication on social media and webpages. Then it might be a good idea to minor in Web Communication. Do you feel like to need some competences or is there something that you would like to become even better at? You can use that as a guideline.
Do you dream about becoming an upper secondary school teacher? Then it might be a good idea to choose a minor that is taught in upper secondary school that you think is interesting and could see yourself teach. If you do a bachelor’s degree in a upper secondary school subject, a minor in another upper secondary school subject and then do a two-subject Master’s degree, you will be qualified to teach in both subjects in Danish upper secondary schools.
When it's not that important
If you don’t have a specific dream or job in mind that demand specific skills, then your choice of minor subject might not matter much for your career. All minors will give you access to various knowledge and subject specific competences, but separate studies could still lead you in the same direction.
More of the same or new challenges?
If different studies can lead you down the same path, then why choose one above the other? That is a good question.
Consider this:
- What do you want to get out of your minor? What do you want to add to your backpack of knowledge and skills?
- Do you want to become more specialized and enjoy more of the interesting subjects?
- Do you want to dive into something new and gain as many different competences and knowledge as possible?
- Which elements are most important to you in a study? Methods? A wide range of options in elective elements? Number of lessons per week? What has worked for you so far?
Many minors look alike in structure. You will typically be able to make your own profile through your elective elements along the way. That could be electives, internships, and projects. There will be opportunities to challenge yourself, try new things, and get vocational experience.
No matter what you choose, it will take you somewhere good.
Master
One Master can lead in various directions
There are many different Master’s degree at SDU and in Denmark. Your bachelor’s degree will often give you access to several Master’s, not just at SDU. Across all Danish universities, you have access to even more.
When there are so many, you would think that they all lead to specific jobs. But that is rarely the case. Your study will qualify you for many various positions and types of jobs. Your subject specific knowledge about the subjects you have had during your studies specialize you within that area. But you are also qualified for a whole range of other and more general positions, just because you have an academic degree. For a lot of these general positions, it’s not that important what you have studied, but the fact that you have studied at university. That fact that you have a university degree qualifies you, not the subject of the degree.
There are some degrees that point in a certain direction, though. If you have a specific job or work area in mind, it would be a good idea to choose a Master that will lead you in that direction.
More of the same or new challenges?
If various Master’s degrees can take you in the same direction, how do you choose one above the other? That’s a good question.
Consider:
- What do you want to get out of your Master? What do you want it to add to your backpack of knowledge and skills?
- Do you want to become more specialized and enjoy more of the interesting subjects? Or do you want to dive into something new and gain as many different competences and knowledge as possible?
- Which elements are most important to you in a study? Methods? Social environment? A wide range of options in elective elements? Number of lessons per week? What has worked for you so far?
- What should the study entail? What would you like to experience in your 2 final years of study?
Many Masters look alike in structure. You will typically be able to make your own profile through your elective elements along the way. That could be electives, internships, and projects. There will be opportunities to challenge yourself, try new things, and get vocational experience.
No matter what you choose, it will take you somewhere good. Do you need to talk to someone about your thoughts? See how you can get in contact with us.