Is it possible to minor at community college before transferring?

I'm a high schooler thinking about starting at a community college and then transferring. Can you complete a minor at a community college that will count when you transfer to a four-year university? How does that usually work?

While community colleges do offer a broad catalog of academic courses that you can take based on your interests outside your main focus, they typically don't offer formal "minors" in the same way four-year colleges do. At a community college, a student primarily focuses on completing general education requirements or prerequisites for their intended majors at the four-year institution, culminating in an associate degree.

However, that doesn't mean you can't build a foundation in the field you're interested in. You can strategically select your coursework at the community college level to explore the topic you're considering for a minor. For example, if you think you might want to minor in business, you can select relevant courses at a community college and have them count as electives or prerequisites at the four-year institution. You can usually find this information on the four-year college's website or by talking with their admissions office.

Once you transfer to a four-year college or university, you can then officially declare your minor and complete the rest of the required coursework. Admission representatives at your desired transfer institution should be able to provide more specific guidance based on your chosen major and potential minor. It's also a good idea to talk to your academic advisor at your community college about your plans, as they may have recommendations that best align with your academic goals.