Value of a Minor in an undergrad program

Data10
Sat, 19 Apr 2025 23:47:31 +0000

SamKumar:

From those who have gone through this journey, does minor really make a difference when it comes to career opportunities? Minor is usually 15 to 20 credits. Wondering how much value it would really add.

In general, having a non-CS minor means very little to CS employers. Learning the material could have various indirect benefits in both your life, career, and interview; but employers generally are not going to impressed by your resume listing a minor.

SamKumar:

Should we rather plan for getting a masters in a field to show that specialization?

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. However, if you mean a masters in a field that is not closely related to CS, it is likely to have a much smaller impact on hiring decisions for a position closely related to CS, such as software engineer.