<p>I am just wondering what the purpose of a minor is... Can it actually serve as a gateway into an alternate field, or is it something people just study because of interest? I was curious because I am considering a double major and the thought of substituting a minor occured.</p>
<p>This is an excellent question, and one not often discussed. </p>
<p>I think that minors are different things to different students. For some, it's a way of complimenting study in a a major with work in an "adjacent" field - say a sociology minor with a political science or psychology major. For others, it's a way of hedging your bet on a major - showing a second area of serious interest that may be quite different than the major, like a math minor for a history major. This follows your idea of another "gateway."</p>
<p>And as you suggest, other students may just study something because of interest, but feel the need to take a more common or career-oriented subject for a major, like a philosophy minor with a business major.</p>
<p>Finally, at many schools, particularly those LACs and unis that require significant senior/capstone projects, a double-major is pretty tough, requiring two big projects and two programs of supporting independent study. A minor can be a good strategy at this type of school. Not only would it be a bit easier, it would also allow a student to take individual courses in a broader range of subjects, some of which would be impossible to schedule given the course requirements for two majors.</p>