Pursuing a Comp Sci minor can be a fantastic way to enhance your undergraduate degree. Most universities require a minimum of 18-20 credits in computer science courses to complete the minor.
You can usually declare the Comp Sci minor during your sophomore or junior year, but it's best to check with your university's department for specific requirements. Some universities may have additional requirements, such as a thesis or capstone project.
To complete the minor, you'll typically need to take a combination of core and elective courses. The core courses usually include data structures, algorithms, computer systems, and software engineering.
Take a look at this: Comp Sci Major Requirements
Declaring
Declaring the Computer Science Minor is a straightforward process, but it's essential to meet the deadlines to ensure timely approval.
You can submit the Computer Science Minor Interest Form by March 1 for the spring requirement term, June 1 for summer, or October 1 for fall. This will allow the CSCI minor advising team to verify your prerequisites and forward your information to the Dean's Office.
Students must have completed the prerequisites before submitting the form, and please allow up to a week for the minor to be added to your record.
You can declare the minor at any point, from enrolling in your first computer science course through completion of all requirements.
University Requirements
To pursue a computer science minor, you typically need to complete a set of core and elective courses.
The core courses usually include data structures, algorithms, computer systems, and software engineering.
These courses provide a solid foundation in computer science concepts and principles.
Data structures and algorithms are fundamental to computer science, and understanding them is crucial for writing efficient code.
You'll also need to take elective courses in computer science, which can include topics like computer networks, databases, and artificial intelligence.
Elective courses allow you to specialize in areas that interest you and complement your major.
Coursework
The computer science minor requires a solid foundation in computer science coursework. Students need to take at least three core courses, which provide a foundation in computer science, including Gateway Computing: JAVA, Gateway Computing: Python, or Gateway Computing: Matlab.
These core courses are worth 3 credits each, for a total of 9 credits. Students can choose one of these courses, and then take two more core courses, such as Intermediate Programming and Data Structures.
The minor coursework teaches students analytical problem-solving and computational thinking skills, as well as fundamental programming concepts, practical knowledge of computer programming languages, data structures, and algorithm development techniques that are essential to modern computing.
Here is a list of the required core courses:
- EN.500.112: Gateway Computing: JAVA (3 credits)
- EN.500.113: Gateway Computing: Python (3 credits)
- EN.500.114: Gateway Computing: Matlab (3 credits)
- EN.601.220: Intermediate Programming (4 credits)
- EN.601.226: Data Structures (4 credits)
In addition to the core courses, students need to take three upper-level CS courses (300-level and above) to allow them to pursue an advanced area in depth.
Course Sequences/Emphasis Suggestions
You can use the "tracks" developed for the B.S. major as potential pathways for an emphasis within the computer science minor.
These tracks are suggestions, not requirements, and won't appear on your academic transcript. However, they can provide guidance on how to structure your coursework.
All courses for the minor must come from the CSCI department or EE cross-listed courses, such as EE 4363 and EE 5364. INET courses are not eligible for this minor.
If you've completed MATH 2373, MATH 2243, or MATH 2574H, you can't use these courses as a substitution for CSCI 2033 in the minor.
Broaden your view: Comp Sci Math
Core Courses
Core Courses are a crucial part of the computer science minor. Students must take three core courses to provide a foundation in computer science.
The Gateway Computing course is a required core course, and it comes in three flavors: JAVA, Python, and Matlab. Each course is 3 credits. Students who are approved to skip Gateway Computing without AP exam credit can substitute a Bootcamp course (1 credit) for this requirement, but they'll need an additional 2 credits of CS electives to meet the 23 credit requirement.
The Intermediate Programming course (EN.601.220) and the Data Structures course (EN.601.226) are also required core courses, each worth 4 credits. These courses provide a solid foundation in programming and data structures.
Here is a list of the required core courses:
Electrical Engineering Students
As an Electrical Engineering student, you have a unique opportunity to pursue a Computer Science minor, which can enhance your skills and knowledge in computing and computer science.
EE 1301 can substitute for the CS I requirement in the computer science minor curriculum, but not in the computer science majors.
If you're a computer science major who has completed EE 1301, you might be able to substitute a CSCI 4000-5000 level course for the CSCI requirement, but this will require approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Computer Engineering students, on the other hand, are not eligible to pursue a Computer Science minor.
Whiting School of Engineering
The Whiting School of Engineering offers a computer science minor program that provides students with foundational knowledge and the opportunity to explore subareas of computer science. Students can use the same courses to satisfy the requirements of their primary major and the computer science minor where applicable.
The requirements for the computer science minor are comprised of core, upper-level, and elective computer science courses. This allows students to advance their computing skills and discover applications to their major field of interest.
To fulfill the requirements for a computer science minor, students must submit an online declaration request form before senior year through SIS.
Course Details
To pursue a Computer Science minor, you'll need to take 9 credits of upper-level courses. These courses can be chosen from a list of applications, reasoning, software, systems, or theory courses.
You can choose any three upper-level CS courses with codes starting in EN.601.3xx or EN.601.4xx, or select from specific courses with POS tags CSCI-APPL, CSCI-RSNG, CSCI-SOFT, CSCI-SYST, or CSCI-THRY.
Some upper-level courses may require Calculus III, Probability/Statistics, or Linear Algebra as prerequisites, so be sure to plan ahead.
You can substitute a 3-credit CS course in customized academic learning (CAL, EN.601.5xx) for one of the upper-level courses, but you can't count both the CAL credits and the upper-level course credits towards your minor.
Here are the classification areas for the upper-level courses:
- Applications - POS Tag CSCI-APPL
- Reasoning - POS Tag CSCI-RSNG
- Software - POS Tag CSCI-SOFT
- Systems - POS Tag CSCI-SYST
- Theory - POS Tag CSCI-THRY
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a minor in comp sci hard?
A minor in computer science requires a significant amount of time and effort, but the difficulty of courses can vary depending on individual abilities. If you're considering a computer science minor, be prepared to put in the work, but it can be a rewarding challenge.
What should a comp sci major minor in?
Consider minoring in a field that complements computer science, such as STEM, business, humanities, or social sciences, to enhance your degree and career prospects
Can a minor in computer science get you a job?
While a minor in computer science may not be the most common requirement, it can still be sufficient for some employers. However, having a minor in computer science may not guarantee a job, and other factors like experience and skills may also be considered.
Is it good to minor in computer science?
Minoring in computer science can provide valuable coding skills, even if your career path doesn't require extensive coding. This foundation can help you tackle occasional coding tasks with confidence.
Which minor is best for CSE?
For CS majors, a natural science minor like biology, chemistry, or physics can enhance STEM credentials and analytical skills, with biology coursework often overlapping with CS requirements. Consider adding a minor that complements your CS major for a stronger tech career foundation.
Sources
- Computer Science Minor (colorado.edu)
- Computer science minor | College of Science and Engineering (umn.edu)
- Minor in Computer Science (mit.edu)
- Computer Science, Minor (jhu.edu)
- Minor in Computer Science - UCSD CSE (ucsd.edu)
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