I apologize if I placed this thread in the wrong category.
I am starting at Purdue University next fall with a major in Computer Engineering. Because I’ve taken a lot of dual credit classes, I have the opportunity to take some elective courses next year without extending my time to graduation. I’ve been thinking about either Japanese or creative writing, but I don’t know which to choose.
Japanese would fit with the requirements for a global engineering studies minor, which I think would be super cool. And Creative writing is a minor as well.
Would global engineering studies or creative writing be good minors for Computer Engineering? Which one should I choose? Is there another minor that would be more beneficial?
In general, minors in engineering aren’t useful or recommended. They are too rigid in order to get the paper. Use your time to go deeper or broader in tech classes. You could also do like my son did and get a jump on the 4+1 BS/MS.
I would disagree in this sense - if you have an interest and end up taking electives in one area, why not? My son - originally intended to minor in math but he has a love of atmospheric sciences - which is covered in geography at his school - so he’s pushing toward a geography minor. Will it impact his career - no. But is he interested - yes. His GF minors in English - it’s her interest.
Many kids today are also doing business minors or even a BS in engineering with a 5th year MBA (which I don’t support as an MBA needs to come later).
eyemgh is correct - you can focus on a 5 year package if you are using your education purely for professional purporses.
But if you have curiosities or interests that are important to you personally (not professionally), then you should do it.
Let go of the idea of a “minor” being “beneficial”. The people who care most about things like “double major” and “minor” are college students. Or (better) consider it in terms of what is “beneficial” to you. The physics collegekid always had a humanity or art course as electives, b/c they let the other side of her brain stretch while resting the side that was physics/mathed out- which was hugely “beneficial” to her!
CS is CS. That- and your internships- is what will get you hired. If you have fluent Japanese - to a level that an employer will care - it will be on your CV under “languages”, which will matter more than having a “minor” in Japanese.
One “minor” at Purdue that is different is GES, which is in practice more of cross between an internship and a study abroad- but what is important about it is not the name, but the overseas placement- which you will list as it’s own self as part of your CV. The words “minored in GES” will not be what is impressive to most employers.
So: take classes in any/all of the ones in which you have a genuine interest. Follow that interest- for example, consider it when you are looking at internships. @juillet posts are a great model of how following your real interests can take you down surprising and satisfying paths. If you are loving the coursework in any particular elective, then look at finishing the course requirements for the minor. Don’t put the cart before the horse.
Remember: the only decision you need to make for now is which one of these looks like most fun to you. You can add officially add a minor (iirc) as late as the end of 3rd year.
I love this in concept. Unfortunately when employers interview engineers they care about technical coursework, projects and job/coop/internship experience. Many will actually request a transcript to see how the applicant’s preparation aligns with what they need. So, by all means, do what interests you, but know, it comes at a cost. Every class taken for an unrelated piece of paper pushes a tech class out of the way.
That said, my son took an upper level philosophy class about Space, Time and Matter, essentially the philosophy of relativity. He also took a film class. He was able to squeeze these in to fulfill some upper level humanities requirements.
I’m afraid I don’t know much about what employers actually look for when hiring and I definitely welcome your input. Would language experience/ international experience be beneficial at all when it comes to looking for a job?
That completely depends on the job. If you are intent on working in a job that will incorporate that language, then it might be. The thing is, that will narrow your field of candidates. No one cares about the minor paper. For the most part, they care about fluency. You can get that a number of different ways.
If it were me, I’d do what my son did. I’d trace through your curriculum chart linking all the prerequisites and figure out the most direct path to a MS. You will make more money and it will open doors with your higher level of technical background.
Another thing to consider is that being ahead offers something few consider, the luxury of taking FEWER classes. When you get into the upper level courses and start experiencing the hardest courses, you have the ability to take a lighter load.
This presumes you are skipping technical classes and not just gen ed classes. What classes will you test or DE out of? Which math and physics will you start in?
I’m have the Dual credits for pretty much all of the Gen Ed classes (Oral and Written Communication, History, Psych, Gov, Chem, and some Project Lead the Way Engineering classes that count as electives). We didn’t have Dual credit or Ap for Physics and I’m starting out in Calc II.
That’s a little bit of a different story, because you still have to get through the curriculum of the tech stuff without a big head start. I don’t know the prerequisites, but curricula tend to build from Physics up. I’d look at the 4+1 and see what is required. I’d take a class here and there that interests you, but as far as minors go, don’t let it force you into classes you otherwise wouldn’t take.
I’d agree that it depends on you interests/passion, not necessarily initial job/career prospects. There are many options, if you have the openings in your schedule. These are limited in the base curriculum, but with substantial AP/other credits, things can open up.
Fwiw, my daughter pursued the Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and took advantage of a few of the “Tech Electives” that were in the management school. It interested her to the point where she’s already looking a Engineering Management and MBA grad school options.
First your planned courses is for a global engineering experience and yes that can be benificial especially if you want an international job. As I agree that taking in depth engineering classes is benificial so is expanding what your doing. My son’s 2 minors, one in entrepreneurship at Michigan and one in sustainability plus engineering study abroad and international internship spoke loudly to his engineering job that he is starting. The 2 minors spoke to their mission perfectly… He’s going to be 1 year in the United States and 3 years abroad.
So the choices you do make can influence companies hiring. Especially in CS I don’t think your really going to hurt yourself if you go out of the box a bit.
The key point in @Knowsstuff’s post is exactly right: write your own story. Choose the classes that speak to you. You aren’t going to hurt yourself by going out of the box. Japanese is interesting to you? follow it. Creative writing speaks to you? follow it. When you are applying for an internship or job, maybe your language skills will be interesting- and tips you for a placement in Japan- maybe. Or, your creative writing leads you down a the immersive videogame path. Or it doesn’t. You won’t know how all the pieces go together until they do. So choose things b/c you are genuinely interested in them.
Writing and communicating, which you do through writing is a very important skill for an engineer. There’s classes they take just on this subject alone. They emphasized this at Michigan.
Just a short read but if you search the terms together you might get…
Sorry couldn’t find this before but this engineering theory was written and one of the best books of it time and college’s teach this course but… It’s an interesting fun read and extremely useful if going into any engineering discipline…
I skimmed the thread VERY quickly, so apologies for duplication…
Writing skills are in short supply everywhere, and if you have an interest in writing, expanding your ability to express ideas and thoughts in words will ALWAYS pay dividends. I could argue it is even more important in STEM students, and that it will differentiate you in the workplace.
It’s also a great conversation piece on job interviews. I think it shows a curious and active mind away from the rigor of engineering. If you want to do it…you should.
The balancing issue is going to be one of focus for a minor vs. being able to take a few more courses of varying subjects you may like to learn something about. That said, I think a creative minor under a technical major is a great combination. Good luck!
