Techies interested in computer science – but not enough to major in it – can now pick up a minor in the computer science department.

Shashi Gadia, associate professor of computer science, said the minor allows students who have the desire but lack the time for a major in computer science to develop and expand their expertise in the field.

“We are very happy to be able to do this now,” Gadia said. “It had to be on the back burner for a while.”

He said the minor had not been offered until now because enrollment in computer science was so high and the faculty count was so low that a minor could not be accommodated.

Gloria Cain, academic adviser for the computer science department, said she works with another part-time faculty adviser and feels good about the minor being created.

She said the computer science department requires minor students to take Math 165, Calculus; and Math 166, Calculus II; as well as Computer Science 227, a programming course; Computer Science 228, a data structure course; and Computer Science 229.

The minor also requires students to take three computer science classes at the 300 or 400 level, Cain said.

Joseph Moses, senior in psychology, just added the computer science minor.

He said he was interested in writing story lines for video games and feels the computer science minor, in conjunction with the psychology major, will work really well for him.

Moses said he might focus on sensory and perception in psychology, which will help him figure out motives for his characters’ storylines.

One drawback to the new minor will be the calculus classes required, Moses said. He said, however, he realizes the reasoning behind making the classes requirements.

“The calculus might not so much be about the math as much as the logic behind it,” he said.

Gadia said the minor will benefit all students in the program.

“This minor gives students more in-depth understanding in computer science and gives them serious tools for developing systems,” Gadia said.

The benefit for students would be getting an education in computer programming, he said, and the enjoyment of it looking impressive on a resume. The minor will also help students appear more savvy in the workplace.