Second Major and Minor in Computing (Sciences)

There is broad consensus and recognition – from Singapore’s various Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in the United States and the World Economic Forum – of computing technologies as a catalyst for scientific discovery and innovation.  

Students reading a primary major in the Faculty of Science who wish to complement their Science education with some proficiency in computing and computing technologies can benefit from a contextualised second major or minor programme that not only imparts fundamental knowledge in computing and computing technologies but also allows them to integrate the knowledge with applications in their respective scientific disciplines.

The Second Major and Minor programmes in Computing (Sciences) will therefore enhance students’ technical skills, improve their career prospects and help them to stay ahead of the curve.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand fundamental computing concepts and the underlying components that are required for the operation of computing systems.
2. Analyse complex problems and use computing-based tools and techniques to find solutions to these problems.
3. Apply cross-disciplinary tools and techniques to the analysis and design of practical strategies for computer-assisted discovery and innovation.
4. Evaluate emerging computing technologies and their potential impact on society and industry.
5. Gain critical thinking, perspective-sharing and team-working skills.

Eligibility Criteria

• Open only to students admitted from Academic Year 2024/2025 onwards reading a primary major offered by the Faculty of Science (FoS)
• Students who are not reading a FoS primary major or FoS students taking a Second Major or Minor in Computer Science are precluded from these programmes.
• Students who attain minimum B+ grade for either CS1010S (or its equivalent) or CS2040/CS2040HS (or its equivalent) may apply for the Minor/ Second Major [pending University’s approval]
• Students may transfer from the Minor to the Second Major and from the Second Major to the Minor.

Programme Requirements

1. To be awarded the Second Major in Computing (Sciences), students must earn a minimum of 40 Units of approved courses during their undergraduate candidature. The programme structure is divided into a 24-Unit core with 16 additional Units of electives. [Notes 1, 2]

2. To be awarded the Minor in Computing (Sciences), students must earn a minimum of 20 Units of approved courses during their undergraduate candidature. The programme structure is divided into a 12-Unit core with 8 additional Units of electives. [Notes 1, 2]

Notes:

1. Double counting will follow NUS policy, which currently allows: (i) up to 16 Units to be double counted between a second major and another requirement; (ii) up to 8 Units to be double counted between a minor and another requirement.
2. Should a student be unable to complete this second major/minor due to one or more core courses violating the prevailing double-counting rule, the programme host may allow the student to read additional electives in fulfilment of the missing core course(s), provided the core courses have been completed.
3. While we expect most students to read CS1010S, any variant of CS1010 can be used to satisfy this core requirement.
4. Students who have passed any other variant of CS2030, CS2040, CS2100, or CS2109S may use that course in place of the corresponding HS-variant to fulfil the Second Major requirements.
5. Note that students may fulfil the Artificial Intelligence pillar of the CHS common curriculum using CS2109HS or IT1244, subject to Notes 1 and 2.
6. In line with NUS’ rules on second majors, at least 12 Units must be taken at Level 3000 or above and no more than 8 Units may be taken at Level 5000 or above.
7. In line with NUS’ rules on minors, no more than 4 Units may be taken at Level 5000 or above.

Application Process

The  Minor/Second major are restricted programmes which students must apply during the prescribed application window specified by the Faculty via EduRec. Students will not be able to declare themselves in the Academic Plan Declaration Exercise (APAD) before CourseReg begins for each semester. APAD is only for open minors/second majors which do not require special approval from the host department to approve.

To apply for the minor/second major programme, students must submit their application to the Faculty of Science by the 4th semester of study, for enrolment at the start of their 5th semester of study.

Please take note that the application date will typically be from the Friday (9:00 AM) before reading week of each regular semester until the end of the first week of examinations on Sunday (11:59 PM), based on the NUS academic calendar here. Kindly refer here for more information on the application procedure for restricted programmes.