A Computing Minor allows you to add practical technical skills to your main area of study and learn how to use computing to work more effectively. You will build a foundation in programming, data handling, and computational thinking, giving you the ability to understand how computer systems work and how they can be applied responsibly in real-world settings. Students are trained from the assumption of never having seen any programming or computer science concepts before and the minor is designed to be accessible to students from a wide range of disciplines. Whether you are working in science, business, the arts, or social sciences, you will learn how to use computing to analyze data, automate tasks, and support decision-making. This combination of domain expertise and computing skills is increasingly valuable in a world where automation is becoming a core part of many careers.
A Computer Science Minor is a more theoretically and mathematically demanding minor when compared to the Computing Minor as the former requires students to take major level courses. While there are many major level courses open to Faculty of Mathematics students, students may be required to transfer to Computer Science in order to access major level courses that may be restricted.
Both these minors provide you with the opportunity to explore and learn Computer Science while you are studying for your degree here at UW. However, these minors are not available to students in Computer Science or related programs (including Software Engineering, Computing and Financial Management, etc). Computer Science Majors who wish to have a more focused set of courses should consider adding a Specialization instead.
Adding the Computing or Computer Science Minor
If you want to add the Computing Minor to your program, then you need to complete a Plan Modification Form and then send it to csadvisor@uwaterloo.ca for approval. Please do not contact the Computing and Financial Management advisor as this program is distinctly separate from the Computing Minor.
If you are in Engineering, then we encourage you to look into the Computing Option instead of the Computing Minor.
Plan requirements for the Computing Minor
- Plan requirement checklists: One-page checklist of what is required to earn a Computing Minor
- Calendar plan requirements: Official calendar description of the Computing Minor plan’s requirements
As a reminder, obtaining a Computer Science Minor is difficult if you are not already a Computer Science Major; although students in the Faculty of Mathematics may enrol in select major level courses. If you've completed all the courses required for the Computer Science Minor, then you can add the Computer Science Minor to your degree when you apply to graduate. If you want to confirm your eligibility for a Computer Science Minor then you can contact a CS advisor.
Plan requirements for the Computer Science Minor
- Plan requirement checklists: One-page checklist of what is required to earn a Computer Science Minor
- Calendar plan requirements: Official calendar description of the Computer Science Minor plan requirements
Enrolling into CS courses for the Computing Minor
Computer science is a vast and rapidly evolving field, so you may want to review our detailed course description page to see what fits your interests. Typically, courses with middle digits of 0 to 3 (e.g., CS 230) are open to students pursuing the Computing Minor since they are designed for a broader audience. However, some courses (e.g., CS 370) are open to everyone with the appropriate prerequisites.
Check the specific requirements of the course in the undergraduate calendar page to verify which courses you can take. Enrolment into CS courses are subjected to our course selection and course enrollment policies.