You've declared a computer science major. But what about your minor? A minor adds an interdisciplinary perspective to your degree. Good minors for computer science students can be in STEM, business, the humanities, or the social sciences. Your minor might even help you land a job after graduation.

Why get a minor with a computer science degree?

Computer sciencemajors generally have a tough course load. But adding a minor to your comp-sci degree will give you a well-rounded education. A minor typically requires 15-30 credits in a subject outside your major. Sometimes the same courses count toward your major and minor requirements.

These are the best reasons to get a minor:

• Minors strengthen in-demand skills.Whether you add a humanities minor or double down on STEM, you can strengthen your reasoning, communication, and innovation skills during your minor.
• A minor lets you explore your passions.You're planning to work in tech, but you're passionate about music, art, or theater. Add a minor to learn more about your interests outside of computer science. 
  
• Minors can guide your career search.Your minor shows you're well-rounded. It can also launch your career in fintech, biotech, or another field where coursework outside of CS will help you. 
  

If the minor threatens to interfere with successfully completing a computer science degree, you can always skip it. Most colleges do not require a minor to graduate. 

Minors to earn alongside your computer science degree: Our picks

When evaluating good minors for computer science students, we put together a list that complements CS courses and emphasizes interdisciplinary knowledge. Any of these minors will help you graduate with career-ready skills.

Math

A math minor complements a CS major so well that many CS programs recommend math as a minor. CS majors at many schools only need to take a handful of credits to add on a math minor, which makes it an attractive option. Math also emphasizes the problem-solving and logic skills that benefit tech professionals. 

During a math minor, students take courses in calculus, algebra, differential equations, and statistics. These courses strengthen the analytical abilities that computer science careers require. The coursework tends to include a lot of problem sets, which will feel familiar to CS majors. 

Example courses:

• Differential equations
• Probability and statistics
  
• Complex analysis
  

Business

Business minors strengthen their analytical, leadership, and management skills. If you're a CS major interested in the business side of operations, a business minor can help you reach your goals. Within business, undergrads can specialize in areas like finance, management, or information systems. A finance minor, for example, would benefit CS majors interested in fintech careers.

During a business minor, you'll take core courses in marketing, accounting, finance, and business administration. Depending on the program, you might also take specialized electives in areas like IT management or management information systems. Because the courses do not overlap with CS requirements, a business minor might add time to your degree.

Example courses:

• Leadership development
• Information systems
  
• Financial management
  

Engineering

An engineering minor can help CS majors stand out on the job market, especially if you're interested in careers in software engineering. Many colleges offer engineering minors in computer engineering or electrical engineering. An electrical engineering minor, for example, can help graduates pursue hardware engineering roles. 

The project-based approach in engineering classes will feel familiar to CS majors, and the coursework requirements typically overlap. If you've already taken engineering classes, for example, it might be easy to add an engineering minor to your degree.

Example courses:

• Computer engineering
• Electrical engineering
  
• Software engineering
  

Psychology

Psychology minors examine human behavior. In courses like social psychology and personality development, they learn how humans react in social settings. A psych minor complements a computer science degree by strengthening social science research and analytical skills. 

During psychology courses, undergrads learn experimental methods and complete projects. The field emphasizes quantitative reasoning and writing skills, which balance out the problem-solving and analytical approach of CS. Similar social science minors, like economics or sociology, also help CS majors understand societal-level behavior. Although the coursework typically does not overlap with CS requirements, psychology can be a valuable addition to a CS degree.

Example courses:

• Cognitive psychology
• Experimental psychology
  
• Social psychology
  

Foreign Language

A foreign language can open doors for CS majors. Studying a foreign language can lead you to a more global career search after graduation. During a foreign language minor, undergrads take a mix of language courses and classes focused on linguistics and culture. Both help CS majors broaden their perspectives and gain valuable skills. 

As for which foreign language to study, it depends on your background, interests, and goals. A Spanish minor might stand out to major tech companies, while a less common language like Mandarin or Arabic could lead to unique work opportunities. 

Example courses:

• Language courses
• Linguistics
  
• Advanced literature
  

Communication

Computer science