Minors provide students with a solid introduction to the central concepts and methods of a discipline outside of their major. Beginning with the class of 2013 (students who joined CMU in Fall 2009) Computer Science majors must complete a minor as part of their graduation requirements.
Minors typically consist of 6 classes, at least 5 of which must be courses that students are not using to meet core major requirements. There is no limit on double counting between general education and minor courses.
The requirements for minors are identical with the same minor on the main campus, with some course substitutions. In addition to scheduled classes, students may petition the Office of Academic Affairs to have a minor requirement met by a Carnegie Mellon course not listed or by a course transferred from another school.
Course offerings are subject to the availability of faculty. Therefore, it is not possible to guarantee that any particular course listed will be offered in a particular academic year. If failure to offer a course in a student’s approved minor will delay their graduation they should consult with their advisor to consider available options. Students may have additional options for minors if they can take courses on the Pittsburgh campus. In addition, students may propose a Student Defined Minor by petitioning the Office of Academic Affairs.
When should I do so?
As early as the Spring of your sophomore year. If you are undecided, you may however do so up to the last semester before graduation (by then you will need to have completed most requirements, however).
Tips
It is best to concentrate on completing breadth and general education requirements in the first two years as interest in minors may change you take classes in different disciplines and changing minors after taking some of the courses may delay graduation.
