Computational Science minor

General information and requirements

A minor consisting of 24 credit hours is available in Computational Science. The new discipline of computational science has emerged primarily over the past decade as a third methodology for carrying out scientific investigations, alongside the traditional approaches of theory and experiment.

Computational science combines the application of numerical methods, mathematical models, and computer algorithms, with knowledge in a particular discipline to study problems that are intractable or difficult to study using conventional approaches. Examples include the study of stock market collapses, the evolution of interstellar galaxies, and the molecular-level properties of nanomaterials.

Computational science seeks to gain insight through the development and implementation of mathematical models of phenomena by means of their computer simulation. Visualization of the results of such simulations is a key ingredient in the methodology. This minor may be combined with any of the university’s science degree programs. Students with this minor can expect to enhance their opportunities in the marketplace. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in the following courses is required to successfully complete this minor program.

Course requirements:

• CSCI 1030U – Introduction to Computer Science
• CSCI 2000U – Scientific Data Analysis
• CSCI 2010U – Data Structures
• CSCI 3010U – Simulation and Modelling
• CSCI 3090U – Computer Graphics and Visualization
• MATH 2072U – Computational Science I
• MATH 4020U – Computational Science II

• One of:

• CSCI 2110U – Discrete Mathematics for Computer Scientists or
• MATH 2080U – Discrete Mathematics