Cornell University Registrar

Program Description

The Computer Science minor equips students with essential computing skills that enhance their primary field of study. This versatile program provides theoretical foundations in information and computation, preparing students for diverse academic and professional paths. 

The minor is open to all undergraduates except students majoring in Computer Science or Information Science, Systems and Technology.

Completion of the Computer Science minor, with a well-selected set of classes, can serve as strong preparation for further study in computer science, including through Cornell Bowers’ two-semester Master of Engineering in Computer Science or our four-semester Master of Science in Computer Science programs.

Academic Standards

Program Policies

• No course substitutions are allowed.

• Cross-listed courses cannot be applied to the minor unless taken under the CS rubric, with the exceptions of ECE 2400 Computer Systems Programming and ECE 3140 Embedded Systems and CS courses also listed as ENGRD.

Grade Requirements

All qualifying courses must be taken at Cornell for a letter grade. Grades of S/U or SX/UX will not be accepted.

Each course for the minor must be completed with a grade of C or better. Grades of C- will not be accepted.

Minor Declaration Information 

Complete the Computer Science Minor application form once you are enrolled in the final courses you need for the minor.

Submission Deadlines

If graduating in May or August, the form is due by May 31. If graduating in December, the form is due by December 31. Late submissions will not be accepted.

 

Program Information

• Minimum Credits for Minor: 18

Minor Requirements

At least six courses chosen as follows:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Courses
Select one of the following:		4
CS 2110	Object-Oriented Programming and Data Structures
CS 2112	Object-Oriented Design and Data Structures - Honors
ENGRD 2140	Computer Systems Programming
Select one of the following:		4
CS 3110	Functional Programming and Data Structures
CS 3410	Computer System Organization and Programming
CS 3420	Embedded Systems

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Additional Courses
Select four of the following:
CS 2800	Mathematical Foundations of Computing	4
CS 2802	Mathematical Foundations of Computing - Honors	3
CS non-seminar courses at a 3000-level or higher 1		4 Courses

¹

CS 4090, CS 4997, CS 4998, and CS 4999 cannot be used toward the minor.

Graduation Requirements for Engineering Minor Degree Programs

Requirements

Students may pursue minors in any department in any college that offers them, subject to limitations placed by the department offering the minor or by the students' major. Completed minors will appear on the student's transcript. Not all departments offer minors. Additional information on specific minors can be found above, in the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook, in the undergraduate major office of the department or school offering the minor, and in Engineering Advising.

An engineering minor recognizes formal study of a particular subject area in engineering normally outside the major. Students undertaking a minor are expected to complete the requirements during the time of their continuous undergraduate enrollment at Cornell. Completing the requirements for an engineering minor (along with a major) may require more than the traditional eight semesters at Cornell. However, courses that fulfill minor requirements may also satisfy other degree requirements (e.g., distribution courses, advisor-approved, or major-approved electives), and completion within eight semesters is possible.

An engineering minor requires:

• successful completion of all requirements for an undergraduate degree.
• enrollment in a major that approves participation in the minor.
• satisfactory completion of six courses (at least 18 credits) in a college-approved minor.

Students may apply for certification of a minor at any time after the required course work has been completed in accordance with published standards. An official notation of certification of a minor appears on the Cornell transcript following graduation.