Unlocking Your Potential: The Value of Certificates and Minors at UGA
by Charlotte Madden
In a world of endless possibilities, why limit yourself to one skill? The certificate programs offered through Grady, as well as the abundance of minors available at UGA, are great ways to expand your toolkit. I spoke with a few students about how their certificates and minors have helped them in their major studies and why having them might be a good idea for future career endeavors.
Jillian Botch, Senior PR Major & General Business Minor
Jillian Botch, General Business Minor
Jillian Botch is a senior studying public relations and working toward a general business minor. She is also the current vice president of PRSSA.
What minor or certificate do you currently have, and how has that aided your major studies?
“I am a public relations major working toward a general business minor. I added this to help diversify my coursework and better understand how businesses operate. I’ve also found my minor has helped make me more well-rounded and given me a greater edge in real-world situations. Understanding businesses and their finances can also be crucial in making PR decisions.”
How will this minor help you in your future endeavors?
“I recommend completing any minor that sparks your interest, but if it relates to your major, it will likely be more beneficial. When interviewing for jobs, employers love to hear that you have a well-rounded background, and I think these experiences benefited me.”
Ellie Hamrick, Senior PR Major & English Minor
Ellie Hamrick, English Minor
Ellie Hamrick is a senior studying public relations and working toward an English minor. Last year, Hamrick served as one of the content committee heads for PRSSA and is currently on the executive board for AdPR Connection.
What is your minor and how has it helped you with your major studies?
“I am currently working toward an English minor, and I chose it because I really like writing essays, oddly enough. I think this specific minor is perfect for those in Grady, especially those studying PR, because it helps with writing, and PR is a writing-focused major. My minor has also helped me become a better critical thinker and analyst.”
Do you think having a broad certificate or minor is better than having a more niche one, like sports management or fashion merchandising?
“I think it doesn’t make a huge difference, but it depends if you want to do something niche with your Grady major. For example, I knew I wanted to go into general PR and not be tailored to one sector, but for those wanting to go into the sports field, having a sports management minor makes sense.”
What minor or certificate program would you suggest to those in Grady?
“I obviously suggest an English minor, but if not English, I would recommend a business minor. I think it can be appealing to most jobs while also allowing for more critical thinking. A business minor can also be helpful because it deals with numbers. I’m not a numbers person by any means, but for my internship right now, I’m having to make calculations often, and having a business minor would have been helpful for that.”
