At which campus can I study this program?
Requirements for a minor may be completed at any campus location offering the specified courses for the minor. Students may not change from a campus that offers their major to a campus that does not offer their major for the purpose of completing a minor.
Program Description
Computing has become an essential component of many disciplines, and it is driving innovation in fields far beyond computer science. The minor in Computer Science at Penn State Harrisburg provides basic proficiency in computer science, with an emphasis on building both a theoretical framework for computer science and providing practical skills needed to apply computer science to other fields of study. The knowledge and skills gained in the minor expands opportunities for students seeking careers in the growing number of fields that require a strong foundation in computer science. In addition, for students seeking to pursue graduate study, the minor provides background knowledge for the computing intensive aspects of their chosen discipline.
The minor begins with the second-level course in computer programming (CMPSC 122), a course in object-oriented programming with web applications (CMPSC 221), a course in discrete math for computer science (CMPSC 360), and a course in data structures (CMPSC 462). These twelve credits are followed with an additional six credits of 400-level work in computer science (CMPSC).
What is Computer Science?
Computer science is the study of computational methods, including their principles and foundations, their efficient implementation, their analyses, and their practical application in wide-ranging areas. It includes the foundations of software development, computational problem solving, the principles of system software, and the fundamental principles and limits of computing. It is much more than just programming. It includes the mathematical foundations that support analyzing, evaluating, and proving the correctness of computational solutions. It includes specializations such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, data mining, high-performance computing, computer networks, computer graphics, computer vision, quantum computing, and others. It is continually evolving with the development of new and faster forms of computation and with the identification of new problems that require computational solutions.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| CMPSC 122 | Intermediate Programming 1 | 3 |
| CMPSC 221 | Object Oriented Programming with Web-Based Applications | 3 |
| CMPSC 360 | Discrete Mathematics for Computer Science | 3 |
| CMPSC 462 | Data Structures | 3 |
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas | ||
| Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| Select 6 credits of 400-level CMPSC courses from the department list of approved Additional Courses | 6 | |
| 1 |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Harrisburg
Thang Bui, Ph.D.
Program Chair
Olmsted Building, W255a
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6088
flv@psu.edu
Contact
Harrisburg
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY
Olmsted Building, W255
Middletown, PA 17057
717-948-6081
jmb84@psu.edu