Credits for a Minor

[kylieb317]

I was wondering if anyone knew if you could count some classes as credits towards your major AND towards a minor? I’m a microbiology major, and wish to add a biotechnology minor. Most of the minor required classes are also major-required courses for me, and the additional minor elective credits needed can also be more than fulfilled by courses I’m planning on using towards major-required electives.

I cannot find anything on any official cal poly page, or from past students, preventing courses being double-counted like this. As is, I would not have to add any courses (except a 2 unit “into to biotech” course) at all to fulfill this minor, as all the choices I’d already like to make (I understand major-electives need “advisor approval” first, but still) are already also approved for the minor.

Any evidenced insight to this would be very appreciated, as this minor was a big draw for me to attend CP at all, but I can only add it if I don’t have to add many credits, like I wouldn’t (as far as my understanding is) now- I am trying to graduate in 3 years and am an OOS student, thus am paying per unit. Thanks.

[Gumbymom]

What does your advisor say regarding this issue? My experience (in the dark ages) was that if your major and minor courses overlapped, they could fulfill both.

[AMCdad]

Like @gumbymom, I went to school in the dark ages. Chico State wasn’t too keen on this kind of thing, but Sonoma State was super flexible with double-dipping because it was (and is) half the size.

This is probably a case by case basis with schools because some simply don’t have as many class offerings as others. It might even be case by case within a university because of the different sizes in departments. That’s probably why it isn’t written down anywhere. They don’t want a general rule because sometimes one size does not fit all. Not to sound like a broken record, but your adviser is probably the only one who can answer this.

[kylieb317]

Thanks all, I will meet with my advisor after break.