Enhance your computer skills
Do you want to expand your career options by enhancing your computer skills? As an increasing number of professions have become more reliant upon computer systems, a Computer Science minor is an ideal complement to a broad array of academic majors. In UNE鈥檚 Computer Science minor, you will learn computational reasoning and gain an understanding of algorithmic solutions and the principles of database management. With these technical proficiencies, along with interdisciplinary research opportunities and on-the-job experience in internships, your skill set will be in high demand by employers and will enable you to do far more with your major than you ever imagined.
Why UNE
Most jobs in the computer science field are not performed in a vacuum; they are carried out within other fields and industries, from pharmacy and other health sciences to biology, marine science, and business. UNE鈥檚 Computer Science minor is not just a pared-down version of a computer science major. It is its own unique program that is designed to complement majors in a variety of other fields.
- Project-based curriculum
- Promotes interdisciplinary study
- Supports internships with many local partner companies
- Enhances career prospects no matter what your major
With the outlook for computer science job growth at a staggering 15%, a rate faster than the average job growth for all occupations, I truly believe UNE鈥檚 curriculum for the Computer Science minor will set students with a fantastic foundation for rewarding careers in technology.鈥 It did for me! 鈥 Hanna Sihler 鈥18, Software Test Analyst (Idexx)
Academics
Experiential Learning
Whether you鈥檙e providing computational assistance to a faculty member in a medical lab, interning at a marine research institute, or working in class to develop an algorithm for a business鈥 website search engine, hands-on learning allows you to meld computer science with your academic major for real-life experiences that prepare you for careers in your chosen field.
Research
Our students have combined their interest in computer science with other passions to explore a wide variety of research subjects. Past projects have included Twitter mining to examine sentiments surrounding a social issue, developing software to classify breast cancer based on data, designing a Dynamic Programming algorithm with applications for gene sequencing, and examining ocean data to understand Biddeford Pool鈥檚 currents.
Internships
A variety of local businesses offer internships that enhance a wide range of majors while also supporting the computer science minor. These may include:
- Idexx
- Unum
- Martin鈥檚 Point Healthcare
For more information about internships contact the Academic and Career Advising Center.
Examples of Available Courses
In addition to required courses in Discrete Math, Data Structures, and Programming with Python, other coursework in the minor may include:
- Linear Algebra
- Database Design and SQL
- Graph Theory
- Numerical Analysis
- Programming II
Curriculum
A student with a major in another program may minor in Computer Science with the approval of the Academic Director. A minimum of eighteen (18) hours of approved course credit is required.
Students wishing to declare a Computer Science minor should complete a course plan in consultation with a Mathematical Sciences faculty member.
Students may earn a Minor in Computer Science by completing the following:
| Program Required Courses | Credits |
|---|---|
| DSC 225 鈥 Programming I or MAT 225 鈥 Computer Programming with MATLAB | 3 |
| DSC 270 鈥 Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| MAT 212 鈥 Discrete Mathematics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 |
| Select Three (3) of the Following Electives | Credits |
|---|---|
| DSC 301 鈥 Introduction to Database Design/SQL | 3 |
| DSC 325 鈥 Programming II | 3 |
| MAT 220 鈥 Linear Algebra | 3 |
| MAT 340 鈥 Graph Theory with Applications | 3 |
| MAT 405 鈥 Introduction to Numerical Analysis | 3 |
| One (1) 400-level DSC course | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 18 |
|---|
For more information see the Academic Catalog.
Find your career
Through your strong foundation in the principles and methods of computer science and knowledge of your major, as well as your experiences with interdisciplinary study, research projects, and student internships, you will be prepared for many lucrative and in-demand jobs in your field that require a computer science background.
Additionally, a Computer Science minor will position you to grow your career toward more familiar, and much needed, technology roles such as:
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Database administrator
- Web developer/Search engine optimization specialist
- eCommerce consultant
- Systems analyst
- Data scientist
- Cloud computing specialist/Cloud engineer
- UX designer
- Machine learning engineer
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Computer Science Careers by the Numbers
National average salary for computer scientists
Projected job market growth for computer scientists for 2019鈥2029
Contact
Undergraduate Admissions
Contact Undergraduate Admissions at (800) 477-4863 or email admissions@une.edu. You can also stop by our office on the Biddeford Campus Monday鈥揊riday from 8 a.m.鈥4:30 p.m.