Value of a Minor in an undergrad program

ChoatieMom
Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:55:15 +0000

SamKumar:

we have been talking about specializing in some area on top of general CS. One idea is to add a minor in cyber security or math

CS, cyber security, and math have a lot in common and complement each other nicely but, as mentioned several times above, a minor isn’t necessary out of undergrad, and a master’s program is the place for specialization. However, if credits toward one of these complementary areas can fit easily into your daughter’s program, I believe cyber and math could strengthen her overall CS profile. Business not as much, but it depends on her career goals which she has time to formulate.

Our son went in to the academy intending to study CS with an eye toward a cyber career, but he had a strong, mostly self-taught CS background out of HS so the Army felt it would be more valuable (to them) for him to study EE with a concentration in robotics (the academy’s equivalent of a minor) and save CS for his master’s, so that’s the route he took. He is now making a career in cyber, and each of his areas of study have enriched his skillset and value to the Army. (A bit off-topic, but the level of cyber security his team works at requires a deep understanding of systems at the bare bones hardware level, thus the value of EE.)

Data10:

A masters in CS is completely different than a minor and could have a major influence in evaluating resumes and hiring decisions, as well as starting level/compensation. A significant portion of positions will say that MS is preferred/required, opening the door to some new opportunities that may be more rewarding, such as a greater focus on research/theory/design

Concur. Even the Army requires an MS for both career and rank advancement in most branches.