The purpose of the minor in Computer Science is not only to give students a strong foundation in and understanding of algorithmic reasoning, problem solving methods involving computers and computation, and a solid base to help students adapt to future changes in technology, but to complement and enhance any student’s major program of study.

Participation in the minor will allow students to register for classes at the same time as majors currently enrolled in the Computer Science and Computer Engineering programs.

The minor in Computer Science consists of 15-24 credits; all courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. MATH140 is a pre-requisite for entrance into the curriculum for the minor.

Requirements:

  1. CMSC132: Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
    (or acceptable score on the CMSC exemption exam)
  2. CMSC212: Introduction to Low Level Programming Concepts
    (or acceptable score on the CMSC exemption exam)
  3. CMSC250: Discrete Structures
    (or acceptable score on the CMSC exemption exam)
  4. CMSC330: Organization of Programming Languages
  5. One of (CMSC311: Computer Organization or CMSC351: Algorithms)
  6. Two of (CMSC411: Computer Systems Architecture, CMSC412: Operating Systems, CMSC414: Computer and Network Security, CMSC417: Computer Networks, CMSC420: Data Structures, CMSC421: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, CMSC424: Database Design, CMSC426: Image Processing, CMSC427: Computer Graphics, CMSC430: Theory of Language Translation, CMSC433: Programming Language Technologies and Paradigms, CMSC434: Introduction to Human Computer Interaction, CMSC435: Software Engineering, CMSC451: Design and Analysis of Computer Algorithms, CMSC452: Elementary Theory of Computation, CMSC456: Cryptology, CMSC460: Computational Methods, CMSC466: Introduction to Numerical Analysis) (Note, some of these classes variously have MATH141, MATH240, MATH241 or PSYC100 as prerequisites.)
  • Note, MATH141 is a co-requisite for CMSC132. MATH140 is a co-requisite for CMSC131, which in turn is a pre-requisite for CMSC132.
  • Students who satisfy all three of 132, 212 and 250 by exemption exam shall take one additional 400 level class from the approved list. This obligation is in addition to all other minor requirements.
  • With prior permission of the Undergraduate Director, and at his/her discretion, at most one section (3 credits) of CMSC498, Independent Study, may substitute for one of the two core CS classes in #6 above. This provision is intended to allow students to pursue unexpected opportunities for study of interdisciplinary topics having a substantial computational component complementing the major.
  • Course combinations:
    • Students may not use more than one of CMSC460 or CMSC466 toward the minor.
    • Students may not use more than one of CMSC421, CMSC424, CMSC426 or CMSC427 toward the minor.
    • Students may not use more than one of CMSC452 or CMSC456 toward the minor.