How does college and UNI work?

At American college/uni, how does choosing subjects work...? Thanks. =)?

• On YA, i've heard Americans at college saying they're studying like 3 or 4 subjects for their degree, and talking about minoring and majoring... How does this work exactly? ...show more

• Answer:

  This is usually how it works: 1. There is a set of "general education" requirements or "distribution" requirements or "basic skill" requirements that the student must meet. For example a course in math, a course in writing, courses in humanities, courses in social studies, etc. Each college sets it own requirements. 2. There is also a requirement for a major. The student must have to take a certain number of courses in this subject for a major. The student may also have to take some courses in related subject. Sometimes there are specific courses required for the major. Sometimes students can have more than one major. 3. There are also requirements for minors. The requirements for minors are less than those for majors. Minors are usually optional and students may be permitted to have more than one minor.