Minor in Quantum Science and Engineering

About the Minor

The minor in Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) is an interdisciplinary program offered by the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Materials Science and Engineering.  Students in the minor will develop fundamentals in math and physics needed for studying quantum systems.  They will also be introduced to different aspects of quantum, such as quantum computing technologies, algorithms for quantum computers, characteristics of quantum materials, and sensing and noise in quantum systems.  Besides theory courses, students will be given hands-on laboratory experience, either in building quantum hardware or in programming quantum computers.  
 

 

Minor Requirements & Courses

The QSE minor requires between 15-16 credits of coursework.

1.  MATH141 Calculus II

  • Grade of B- or higher required
  • Course prerequisite: MATH140

2.  A cumulative GPA of a 3.0 at UMD

In order to complete the minor, students must complete all 15-16 required credits with a minimum GPA of a 2.0 in all minor courses.  Each course must be completed with a minimum grade of a "C-". A maximum of six credits applied to the minor may double-count for the student’s major.

The QSE minor requires students to take one course from each of the following categories: Math, Introduction to Quantum, Core, Laboratory, and Elective.

 

Math Category (Choose 1)

MATH 240 – Introduction to Linear Algebra (4)

MATH 461 – Linear Algebra for Scientists and Engineers (3)

ENEE 290 – Introduction to Differential Equations and Linear Algebra for Engineers (4)

Introduction to Quantum Category (Choose 1)

PHYS 401 – Quantum Physics I (4)

ENEE 491 – Quantum Phenomena in Electrical Engineering (3)

PHYS 360 – Introduction to Quantum Mechanics: A Linear Algebra Approach (3)

Core Category (Choose 1)

ENEE 489B (492) / PHYS 467 – Introduction to Quantum Technology (3)

ENMA 436 – Introduction to Quantum Materials and Devices (3)

ENME 434 – Engineering Quantum Systems and Sensors (3)

PHYS 457 / CMSC 457 – Introduction to Quantum Computing (3)

Laboratory Category (Choose 1)

ENEE 493 – Quantum Hardware Laboratory (3)

CMSC 437 – Introduction to Quantum Software Laboratory (3)

Elective Category (Choose 1)

ENEE 489C– Quantum Information Processing (3)

ENEE 489W – Incubating Quantum Leaps (3)

ENMA 481 – Introduction to Electronic and Optical Materials (3)

Another course from the Core or Laboratory categories          

For details on which semesters a specific course will be offered and any prequisities, you can find them here.

Below you can find some sample pathways for students in related majors. This is not a comprehensive list and there are many viable paths for students in other majors.

  Math Intro to Quantum Core Lab Elective Total Credits
Electrical Engineering ENEE290(4) ENEE491(3) ENEE492(3) ENEE493(3) ENEE489C(3) 16
Computer Engineering ENEE290(4) PHYS360(3) CMSC457(3) CMSC437(3) ENEE489W(3) 16
Mechanical Engineering MATH461(3) PHYS360(3) ENME434(3) ENEE493(3) ENEE489W(3) 15
Materials Science & Engineering MATH461(3) ENMA434(3) ENMA436(3) ENEE493(3) ENMA481(3) 15
Physics PHYS274(3) PHYS401(4) PHYS467(3) ENEE493(3) ENEE489W(3) 16
Computer Science MATH461(3) PHYS360(3) CMSC457(3) CMSC437(3) ENEE489W(3) 15

 

Application Process

Students interested in applying to the minor must have completed at least 30 semester credits, satisfied all prerequisite course/grade requirements, and have a minimum grade point average of a 3.0 at UMD for admissions consideration. Students must apply no later than 1 year prior to their anticipated graduation semester. The program will review applications holistically and will be looking for applicants with a strong academic performance. The minor will accept applications for both fall and spring semesters.

Restriction: Students in the Computer Science major Quantum Information specialization (0701G) may not enroll in the Quantum Science and Engineering minor.

Applying to the Program

The application for the Quantum Science and Engineering minor will open online on October 28th, 2024 for the Spring 2025 semester. The deadline to apply is December 6th, 2024.

Applicants should include a copy of their completed PDF iconQSE Minor Advising Worksheet in their application.

Applicants who meet the criteria will be notified before the end of the semester. Applicants with a pending grade in MATH141 will be reviewed after final grades are posted.

Additional Minor Information

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering oversees the Quantum Science and Engineering minor. Students with questions about the minor can email eceadvise@umd.edu.


Top