Minor Degrees in Computer Science

Beginning with the class that matriculated at Duke in 2019, the requirements below define the CS minor.

To add, drop, or change a major, minor, certificate, or concentration, please complete the form on this page.

Minor in Computer Science

The Minor in Computer Science consists of five courses in Computer Science.

Prerequisites:

  • One of the following introductory CompSci courses or equivalent:
    • COMPSCI 101L (Introduction to Computer Science)
    • COMPSCI 116 (Foundations of Data Science)

NOTE: COMPSCI 101 -- Only this course can be taken S/U and count towards degree requirements for CompSci majors and minors. For other majors and minors you plan to have, you need to check if they will also allow this course to count if taken S/U.

Requirements:

  • COMPSCI 201 (Data Structures and Algorithms)
  • COMPSCI 210D (Introduction to Computer Systems) or COMPSCI 250D (Computer Architecture)
  • Three additional COMPSCI courses, at least two of which must be at the 200-level or above. One CS course taken to fulfill the prerequisite can be counted towards the three courses.
    • Note: Only one course in the Social Analysis of CS category may count toward the elective requirement. The Social Analysis of CS category includes the courses COMPSCI 240, COMPSCI 342, and Intro to Cyber Policy (cross PUBPOL 290).

All CompSci courses at 200-level or above can be counted; EGR 103 is not a COMPSCI course and does not count towards the five courses. If COMPSCI 101 is used as one of the required 5 courses, then Independent Study courses cannot count toward the additional courses. Only one Independent Study can count and it must be a COMPSCI Independent Study.

For students matriculating in Fall 2022 or later: All five courses in the Minor must be 200-level or above.

Minor in Computational Biology and Bioinformatics

Prerequisites:

  • MATH 111
  • One of MATH 112, MATH 122, STA 101 or higher, OR BIO 204

Requirements:

Five courses at the 200-level or above (not including the prerequisites):

  • Three of the five courses are from Computer Science:
    • COMPSCI 201 (Data Structures and Algorithms)
    • COMPSCI 260 (Introduction to Computational Genomics)
    • One of COMPSCI 216, 220, 224, 316, 370, or any 500-level course, or as approved by the Director of Undergraduate studies in Computer Science, e.g., an independent study in an area related to Bioinformatics or Computational Biology
  • Two of the five courses are from Biology:
    • BIO 201L or BIO 203
    • One of BIO 218, 220, 223, 251L, 311, 315 (renumbered from 215) 325, 326S, 414LS, 415S,  416L, 418, 424S, 425, 427S, 432S, 450S, 452S, 556L, 557L, or any 500-level or above non-independent study CBB course (except CBB 510S and CBB 511 do NOT count), or as approved by the DUS in Computer Science in consultation with the DUS in Biology

Course Substitutions

Possible course substitutions pre-approved by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.