Computational Science Graduate Minor
University Park
Program details
STUDENTS MUST APPLY FOR THIS MINOR EARLY!
Timing: Official requests to add a masters minor to a student’s academic record must be submitted to Graduate Enrollment Services at least one semester prior to the semester the student intends to graduate. Official requests to add a minor to a doctoral candidate’s academic record must be submitted to Graduate Enrollment Services prior to establishing the Ph.D. committee and prior to scheduling the comprehensive examination.
If you have additional questions, please contact Dr. Stewart (email: sstewart).
WHAT IS THE COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE GRADUATE MINOR?
The minor in Computational Science provides an opportunity for graduate students in all colleges and majors to pursue a focused set of courses emphasizing the theory and application of computational science. Computational science involves the use of computers and data to both the analysis and design of systems and also the real-time execution of systems that, through onboard computation, can adapt and regulate their behavior. This Minor can be a valuable program for almost any engineering graduate student at Penn State.
The Aerospace Engineering Department administers this interdisciplinary minor. Each student's program is planned by the student and a designated computational science adviser, in consultation with the graduate adviser in the student's major field. The minor offers an opportunity for students in all colleges and majors to pursue a focused set of courses that emphasize computational science.
In accordance with policy GCAC-641 Minor - Research Masters, this masters minor requires a total of 9 credits, with at least 50% of credits at the 500-level. Six of the 9 credits must be in addition to the credits applied towards the major Masters program and these 6 credits must also not be offered by the major department.
In accordance with policy GCAC-611 Minor - Research Doctorate (updated as of 8/15/2022), this doctoral minor requires a minimum of 15 credits at the 400, 500, or 800-level. At least 50% of the credits must be at the 500-level. These 15 credits may be counted toward the graduate major degree requirements. All credits must be approved by the graduate major program and graduate minor program heads, who ensure that the courses planned/taken for the minor are in an area distinct from the student’s primary academic/research focus.
Ph.D. students pursuing the Minor also need to have a CSCI faculty member on their Ph.D. committee.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MINOR
WHAT COURSES DO STUDENTS NEED TO TAKE?
COMPUTING
3 credits: One 400 level or above course must be taken that clearly develops a solid basis in computing. The following courses automatically fulfill this requirement. If you would like to petition for a different course to count for this requirement, please contact the program director.
APPLIED MATH
3 credits: One 400 level or above course must be taken in applied math that supports computational methods. The following courses automatically fulfill this requirement. If you would like to petition for a different course to count for this requirement, please
ELECTIVES
3 (MS) or 9 (PhD) credits: Select additional credits from a list of approved courses maintained by the graduate minor program, noting requirements for the number of credits at the 500-level and for the number of credits earned outside the home department.
TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED:
9 (MS) or 15 (PhD)
HOW DOES A STUDENT APPLY FOR THE MINOR?
To apply for the minor, you will need to complete two forms, one for department records and one which will go on to the graduate school.
Masters Minor:
The graduate school form can be found here:
https://gradschool.psu.edu/forms-and-documents/ges-owned-forms-and-documents/addgrminorpdf/
Please also complete this form for our internal records.
Doctoral Minor:
The graduate school form can be found here:
Please also complete this form for our internal records.
On the forms you must list the courses which you plan to take to complete the minor as per the instructions on the previous page.If you have questions about specific courses, please contact the program director. Once you apply and are accepted into the minor, if you make any changes to your course plans, you must submit updated forms before your final semester begins.
Upon completion of filling out the form, please sign it and have your graduate program director or department head sign the form, confirming that the courses which would be used to meet the minor are in an area distinct from the your primary academic/research focus, before returning it to the address listed below.
*Official requests to add a masters minor to a student’s academic record must be submitted to Graduate Enrollment Services at least one full semester prior to the semester the student intends to graduate.
**“Official requests to add a minor to a doctoral candidate's academic record must be submitted to Graduate Enrollment Services prior to establishing the Ph.D. committee and prior to scheduling the comprehensive examination.”
Send or deliver the completed form (with dept head/grad officer signatures) to:
Dr. Susan W. Stewart, Associate Teaching Professor, Aerospace Engineering
233E Hammond Bldg., Penn State, Univ. Park, PA 16802
sstewart (at) psu.edu
WHAT OTHER COURSES CAN BE USED FOR THE MINOR?
See the list on the following page: https://sites.psu.edu/csci/minor-approved-courses/