Enhance your major
Our department provides numerous opportunities for you to earn a minor or certificate in addition to your major. This means you can expand your horizons beyond your discipline-specific curriculum and enhance your studies with quantitative and/or computational skills. A minor in mathematics, computer science or data science can furnish you with a robust foundation in these disciplines, and valuable for those interested in careers in fields such as software engineering, finance, data analytics, artificial intelligence and beyond.
Benefits of Choosing a Minor
Choosing a minor in college can offer several benefits and perks!
Computer science is one of the most in-demand fields, with a growing need for professionals skilled in programming, software development, data structures, algorithms and computer systems. Having a minor in computer science can significantly enhance your employability and open up diverse career opportunities in technology, finance, healthcare and beyond.
A minor in data science can offer significant benefits. By pursuing this minor, you'll develop practical skills in data analysis, data visualization, machine learning and statistical modeling. These skills complement a variety of majors, including computer science, mathematics, business, economics and social sciences.
An Actuarial Science Certificate can provide a solid foundation of quantitative skills, specialized knowledge in risk management, and professional development opportunities that can enhance your readiness for further graduate studies in related fields. Whether you're interested in pursuing advanced degrees in finance, economics, mathematics or related disciplines, the skills and experiences gained through an actuarial science certificate can be invaluable for your academic and career advancement.
Minors and Certificates
General Overview
Actuarial Science Certificate Requirements
Courses required for the certificate in actuarial science will position you for successful completion of two actuarial exams before graduation, while simultaneously giving you at least four courses that count toward the Validation by Educational Experience (VEE) requirements as stipulated by the Society of Actuaries.
Required Courses
- ECON 201 Principles of Microeconomics
- ECON 202 Principles of Macroeconomics
- MATH 301 Introduction to Probability and Statistics I
- MATH 302W Introduction to Probability and Statistics
- FINC 313 Business Finance
- FINC 338 Derivatives
Prerequisite Courses for the Certificate in Actuarial Science
- ACCT 214 Financial Accounting
- ACCT 215 Managerial Accounting
- MATH 115 Calculus I
- MATH 116 Calculus II
Computer Science Minor Requirements
The computer science minor requires the fulfillment of 15 credits of Computer Science coursework and 3 credits of mathematics coursework.
Required coursework:
- MATH 135 Discrete Mathematics
- COSC 160 Computer Programming: Java and COSC 215 Data Structures in Java OR COSC 170 Computer Programming: Python and COSC 216 Data Structures in Python
- 6 credits of Computer Science at the 200 level or higher
- 3 credits of Computer Science and the 300 level or higher
Cybersecurity Studies Minor Requirements
The Cybersecurity Studies minor requires the fulfillment of 15 credits.
Required courses:
Students are required to take four of the following courses.
- IR 404 Introduction to Information Awareness
- IR 432 Network Situational Awareness
- IR 462 Applied Threat Systems
- IR 470 Cybersecurity Leadership and Strategy
- COSC 160 Computer Programming: Java
- COSC 215 Data Structures in Java
- MATH 135 Discrete Math
In addition, students are required to take one of the following courses:
- COSC 300 Algorithms
- IR 405 Transnational Organized Crime
- IR 406 Homeland Security
- IR 407 Terrorism
- IR 422W American Defense Policy
- IR 423W Comparative Intelligence Agencies
Data Science Minor Requirements
The Data Science minor requires five courses beyond the pre-requisite Computer Science requirement.
Pre-requisite course:
- COSC 170 Computer Programming in Python (Can be waived with appropriate experience.)
Required courses:
- DTSC 110 Introduction to Data Science
- DTSC 220 Data Exploration and Visualization
- DTSC 330 Big Data Analysis
One of the following two statistics sequences:
Non-Calculus statistics sequence:
- MATH 225 Intro to Biostatistics l
- MATH 335 Intro to Biostatistics II
Calculus-based statistics sequence:
- MATH 301 Intro to Probability and Statistics I
- MATH 302W Intro to Probability and Statistics II
Mathematics Minor Requirements
To mathematics minor requires the completion of 17 credits of mathematics course work.
Required courses
- MATH 115 Calculus I
- MATH 116 Calculus II
- 6 credits of mathematics coursework at the 200 level or above
- 3 credits of mathematics coursework at the 300 level or above
