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What is the best minor to have with Computer Science as a major

While my career choice would be to become a video game programmer, I'm open to suggestions that would benefit other programming fields as well. Also, I would be interested to know what kind of minors that companies have an eye for in programming jobs in general.
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Lisa’s Answer

It depends on your interests and talents. While I majored in Computer Science, I minored in Biology because I had a really strong interest in that subject and liked programming in a bio/tech field. I had the chance to co-op as part of my undergraduate program so that also helped me to learn more about what I liked/didn't like. Many of the skills that I learned/like during that time included creating advertisements for the software company that I co-oped with and technical writing. Writing is a big part of my job these days.

One thing I've learned working with various teams worldwide and watching my kids grow up is that nothing goes exactly as planned and sometimes you need to experience things to help you build skills and expand your interests. While some comp sci majors program throughout their career, many move on to different parts of a company/industry because of those skills and talents that have been built along the way lead them to the next opportunity.
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Keith’s Answer

As a senior manager in software development for over 20 years I have the following input.

Most developers are introverts, but in today's Agile development environment you cannot be a mushroom (eg: expect to sit in the dark and get nourishment off of BS). You will be part of a team and you will have to learn to become extroverted at least to moderate degree.  So I would suggest that you take at least one course in public speaking and another in technical writing.


The world changes and developers can no longer expect to sit and be left alone if they do their work. Agile means you have to interact with others on a daily if not hourly basis. You have to be an advocate for your work and speak up to other team members and managers. In the last position I held I saw many "old school" developers who just did their jobs get laid off because they did not fit into the new Agile team format. If you want to rise in larger companies you might even have to rise to lead an Agile Team, and be it's leader, or scrum master, or product owner.


So don't worry so much about a second major as much as putting a few new tools in your tool box: public speaking, people management, doing presentations etc.
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