Included are two units of thematically related course work, of which only one unit (three classes) may be from the department required courses. This unit can involve up to three courses from the sufficiency and/or one third of a unit from an IQP, but not from an MQP.
A minor is available to all students except in the case where "a minor overlaps with a major to such an extent that it is not sufficiently distinct from that major." Such a case would be a chemical engineer minoring in chemistry.
There also is a need for some capstone activity, a project or a course which demonstrates the mastery of the studies for the minor. The faculty made it clear that the exact definition of capstone activities would be kept open, to not preclude "any interesting things that might happen."
The minor program is slightly different from minor programs at other schools, where a minor can come entirely from degree requirements. There also is a need for a more thematically oriented program, rather than just a bunch of loosely related courses.
Consideration was given to calling the program a "proficiency" rather than a minor, but there was serious concern regarding such a title. These ranged from a feeling that the word "proficient" implies an aptitude that might not be gained in only six courses to the added difficulty of explaining another program to prospective students and prospective employers of students.
There was also some concern that some of the students who have more requirements than the Committee on Academic Policy's expected 14 units, might not be able to participate in the program. The faculty decided that because this is an optional program, there is no need to relax the requirements, feeling that a minor is something that willing students should pursue, not just stumble upon. There is no reason to ensure that a minor program is something in which every student should participate.
In the end, the program passed and it is hoped that the minor will expand and be accepted, with the feeling that name carries more or less the right implications with the general public.