Minors & Certificates
The College of Engineering and Applied Science has numerous minor and certificate options for engineering students. You can find out about all of your options by visiting the .
You may also be interested in minors and certificates offered outside of the College of Engineering and Applied Science such as Applied Math, Astrophysics, Economics, World Languages, and more. You can find information about all available minors at CU Boulder through our .
How to Structure Your Classes
Considering a minor or certificate but wondering how it might impact your course schedule? Most minor and certificate classes can also be used to fulfill requirements of your mechanical engineering degree. The charts below outline how to best structure your classes to overlap with your major for the most common minor, certificate, and option programs. Use the web links above each chart to view the official, current requirements for each program.
Please note: some minor programs require an application/ prerequisites/ minimum GPA. Please contact your academic advisor with questions regarding minors/certificates and their potential impact on your degree plan.
Minors
Visit the Applied Math Minor website
| Applied Math Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
APPM 2350 Calculus 3 for Engineers | Calculus 3 |
APPM 2360 Diff Eq w/Linear Algebra | APPM 2360 |
APPM 3310 Matrix Methods | |
One area of emphasis (see below) |
Choose One Emphasis:
General Emphasis
Choose two of the following three courses
| APPM 4600 Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing | MCEN 3030 |
| APPM 4350 Fourier Series & Boundary Value Problems | General Technical Elective |
| APPM 4360 Complex Variable and Applications | General Technical Elective |
and
| One upper-division APPM or STAT Course (3000/4000 Level) | General Technical Elective |
Scientific Computation Emphasis
APPM 3050 Scientific Computing Matlab | General Technical Elective |
| APPM 4600 Numerical Methods and Scientific Computing | MCEN 3030 |
| APPM 4610 Numerical Differential Equations | General Technical Elective |
Probability & Statistics Emphasis
| APPM 3570 Applied Probability | General Technical Elective |
and one of the following sequences
STAT 4000 Statistical Methods and Applications I | |
APPM 4560 Markov Processes, Queues, and Monte Carlo Simulations |
Visit the Astronomy Minor website
| Astronomy Minor Requirements (6 courses min.) | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
Elementary ASTR Coursework (max of 3) Recommended: ASTR 2000 Ancient Astronomies | Lower-Division Humanities/Social Sciences Elective |
Advanced ASTR Coursework: 2 courses from one upper-level course sequence-- Planetary Sequence: Astrophysics Sequence: |
|
1 upper-level course from their pre-approved list | General Technical Elective |
Visit the Biomedical Minor website
| Biomedical Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
BMEN 2000: Biomed Gateway | Cannot apply towards any major requirements |
Biomed Elective | |
Biomed Elective (must be 3000+) | |
Biomed Elective (must be 3000+) | |
Biomed Elective (must be 3000+) | |
Biomed Elective (must be 3000+) |
| Business Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
BUSM 2010 & 2011: Marketing & Management | Free Elective |
BUSM 2020 & 2021: Finance & Accounting | Free Elective |
Track Elective | |
BUSM 4010: Business Plan Development |
Visit the Computer Science Minor website
Computer Science Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
CSCI 1300/ ECEN 1310/ ASEN 1320 Computer Science 1 | MCEN 1030 |
CSCI 2270 Data Structures | Free Elective |
CSCI 2824 Discrete Structures (Optional but recommended) Both CSCI 3104 (Algorithms) and CSCI 3155 (Principles of Programming Languages) require a discrete mathematics course as a prerequisite. Students who want to take either of these courses as their Core option will need to plan to take an approved discrete mathematics prerequisite course in addition to the course requirements for the minor. | Free Elective |
CSCI 2400 Computer Systems | Free Elective |
One Core Option: |
|
Computer Science Elective: | MCEN 3030 |
| Computer Science Elective |
Visit the Creative Technology and Design Minor website
| CDT Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
ATLS 1100 Design Foundations | Free Elective |
ATLS 1300 Computation Foundations | MCEN 1030 or Free Elective |
| ATLS 2000 The Meaning of Information Technology | Lower-Division Humanities/Social Sciences Elective |
ATLS 2100 Image | Free Elective |
ATLS 2200 Web | Free Elective |
ATLS 2300 Text | Free Elective |
Upper-Division Focus Elective or Critical Perspectives in Technology Elective (MCEN 3017 and MCEN 4026 qualify) | MCEN 3017 or MCEN 4026 |
| Electrical Engineering Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
MCEN 3017 Circuits & Electronics | MCEN 3017 |
ECEN 2260 Circuits as Systems | * |
ECEN 2270 Electronics Design Lab | * |
Electrical Engineering Elective | |
Electrical Engineering Elective | |
Electrical Engineering Elective | Free Elective |
* ECEN 2260 and ECEN 2270 combined will satisfy ME's Math/Science Foundation requirement.
| Energy Engineering Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
Fundamentals-based course: | MCEN 3032 |
Energy policy/environment-based course: |
|
Energy Elective | |
Energy Elective | |
Energy Elective: MCEN 3022 Heat Transfer | MCEN 3022 |
Energy Elective: MCEN 3017 Circuits and Electronics | MCEN 3017 |
Visit the Engineering Management Minor website
| Engineering Management Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
EMEN 4030 Project Management | |
EMEN 4100 Engineering Economics | |
EMEN Elective | MCEN 3047 |
EMEN Elective | Free Elective |
EMEN Elective | Free Elective |
Vist the Engineering Entrepreneurship Minor website
| Engineering Entrepeneurship Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
EMEN 4820 Entrepreneurial Product Development | |
EMEN 4800 Technology Ventures and Marketing | |
Engineering Entrepreneurship Elective |
|
Engineering Entrepreneurship Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
Engineering Entrepreneurship Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
Visit the Global Engineering Minor website
| Global Engineering Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
ENES 2360/3360 Global State of Mind | |
Language Coursework | |
Regional, Global, and Technical Perspective Course | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Regional, Global, and Technical Perspective Course (3000+ level) | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Regional, Global, and Technical Perspective Course (3000+ level) | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Regional, Global, and Technical Perspective Course (3000+ level) | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Global Experience | n/a |
Visit the Leadership Minor website
| Leadership Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
LEAD 1000 Become a Leader | Free elective |
Leadership Foundaions Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Leadership Application Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
Leadership in Context Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
LEAD 4000 Capstone | Free Elective |
| Math Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
MATH 1300 Calculus 1, or | APPM 1350 |
MATH 2300 Calculus 2, or | APPM 1360 |
MATH 2400 Calculus 3, or | APPM 2350 |
MATH 2001 Intro to Discrete Math, or | Free Elective |
MATH 2130 Intro to Linear Algebra | APPM 2360 & * |
MATH Elective (3000+ level) | APPM 2360 & * |
| MATH Elective (3000+ level) | General Technical Elective |
| MATH Elective (4000+ level) | General Technical Elective |
* MATH 2130 & MATH 3430 combined will satisfy both APPM 2360 & ME's Math/Science Foundation requirement.
| Music Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
MUEL 1081 Basic Music Theory* | Free Elective |
EMUS 1xx7 or 3xx7 Music Ensemble** | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Creating Music Electives | Free Elective |
Creating Music Electives | Free Elective |
Thinking Music Electives | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Thinking Music Electives | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Creative/Thinking Music Electives | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
* Students with appropriate background and instructor approval may substitute MUSC 1101 and MUSC 1121 for MUEL 1081.
** Ensembles requiring no audition include Golden Buffalo Marching Band (auditions for drumline and color guard only), Concert Band, Festival Chorus, Japanese Ensemble, Latin American Ensemble, African Ensemble, Gamelan Ensemble, and World Vocal Ensemble. Ensembles requiring an audition include Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, University Singers, University Choir, Women’s Chorus, Jazz ensembles (Big Bands 1-3 and combos 1-7), Symphony Orchestra, and Campus Orchestra.
| Physics Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
PHYS 1110 Physics 1 | PHYS 1110 |
PHYS 1120 Physics 2 | PHYS 1120 |
PHYS 1140 Experimental Physics 1 | PHYS 1140 |
| PHYS 2130 Intro to Quantum Mechanics, or PHYS 2170 Foundations of Modern Physics | |
PHYS 2150 Experimental Physics 2 | Free Elective |
PHYS 2210: Classical Mechanics | Free Elective |
Physics Elective | |
Physics Elective | |
Physics Elective | Free Elective |
| Space Minor Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
ASEN 1969 Pathway to Space | Free Elective |
Space Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
Space Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
Space Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
Space Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or |
*There are a lot of options for each elective, that could count for a variety of requirements. Please check with your Advisor for details.
Certificates
Visit the Engineering, Ethics, & Society Certificate website
| Engineering, Ethics, & Society Certificate Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
Great Books Seminar course | |
STEM & H&SS Intersection course | |
Additional Herbst or EHON (Engineering Honors) course | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
Course in Humanities or Social Science from the College of Arts & Sciences linked to EES (Engineering, Ethics & Society) themes* | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or Free Elective |
*Students must confer with the EES Certificate Director to determine the suitability of a particular course.
Visit the Social Innovation Certificate website
| Social Innovation Certificate Requirements | ME Equivalent |
|---|---|
SOCY 4160 Designing Social Innovations | |
SOCY 4161 Executing Social Innovations* | |
Social Innovation Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or General Technical Elective |
Social Innovation Elective | Humanities/Social Sciences Elective or General Technical Elective |
Social Innovation Elective | MCEN 4045 |
| Social Innovation Elective MCEN 4085 Senior Design 2 (ESI Section) | MCEN 4085 |