Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I sign up for the ACBSS minor?

  • To sign up for the minor, download and fill out the ACBSS minor form, [pdf] then email it to either Dr. Farshid Marbouti (farshid.marbouti@sjsu.edu) or Dr. Valerie Carr (valerie.carr@sjsu.edu), the co-advisors for the minor. Before submitting your paperwork, they will need to confirm that you're able to complete all minor courses before graduating. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either one of them!

• How many courses are in the ACBSS minor, and what order should I take them in?

  • There are four courses in the minor; please see the About page for more details about each one:

        ENGR 120 (offered fall and spring)

        ENGR 121 (offered fall only)

        ENGR 122 (offered spring only)

        ENGR 195E (offered spring only)

    Below, we provide several suggested course sequences depending on (1) how many semesters you have left at SJSU, and (2) which semester you begin taking minor courses:

    4 semesters, Fall start

    Fall: ENGR 120, Spring: ENGR 122, Fall: ENGR 121, Spring: ENGR 195E

    3 semesters, Spring start

    Spring: ENGR 120, Fall: ENGR 121, Spring: ENGR 122 + ENGR 195E

    3 semesters, Fall start

    Fall: ENGR 120, Spring: ENGR 122 + ENGR 195E, Fall: ENGR 121 

• Do I need programming experience to sign up for the ACBSS minor?

  • No experience required! Students enrolling in the first course in the series (ENGR 120) are assumed to have very little to no experience in computer programming. 

• Are there any prerequisites for the first course in the series (ENGR 120)? 

  • Yes, the prerequisite of ENGR120 is one of the following courses: 

    • STAT 095
    • MATH 30
    • MATH 71

• Are there any prerequisites for the other courses in the minor (ENGR 121, 122, 195e)? 

  • Yes, the prerequisite for all of the remaining courses is ENGR 120. As such, if you aren't able to complete the full minor but you wanted to take a couple classes, you could take ENGR 120 and then move directly to any of the other courses.

• Do courses in the ACBSS minor count towards my major?

  • It really depends on your department! We suggest speaking with an advisor from your department—it's possible that you may be able to use one or more of these courses as an elective.

• Do I have to minor in ACBSS in order to take any of these courses?

  • No, all social science students are welcome to take ACBSS courses so long as prerequisites are met.

• Can Master's students take ACBSS courses?

  • Yes, Master's students are welcome! However, you should check with the head of your Master's program to determine whether ACBSS courses can count towards your degree.

• Who teaches ACBSS courses: professors in engineering or professors from my department?

  • ACBSS courses are currently taught by faculty from both engineering and the social sciences. The first course, ENGR 120, is typically taught by a Psychology or Economics instructor. Subsequent courses in the minor (ENGR 121, 122, and 195E) are taught by faculty in General Engineering.

    Importantly, social science professors have been involved in designing each of the courses to ensure that they are relevant to students from disciplines such as psychology, economics, sociology, and beyond. 

• Do I need to bring a laptop to ACBSS courses?

  • Just like any language, learning a new programming language requires regular practice, including in-class exercises. As such, students in ACBSS courses will need to bring a laptop to each class session.

    Don't own a laptop? No problem! You can borrow one from the university for free. Please the SJSU Learn Anywhere page for details about borrowing laptops (scroll down to: Computer Equipment Resources).

• What will a typical class session be like?

  • Each class session involves a combination of lecture and in-class programming activities. Activities, homework, and projects are drawn from the field of social and behavioral sciences.

• What language(s) will we learn?

  • In ENGR 120 and 121 you will learn Python, and ENGR 122 you will learn R.

    The final course in the series, ENGR 195E, is a project course during which you will apply knowledge gained in the first few courses to a project of your choosing. 

• How will we be graded in the class? 

  • Grades will be based on homework, quizzes/midterms/exams, and projects. Homework will consist of programming exercises designed to be relevant to social science topics. Quizzes, midterms, and/or exams may be pencil and paper based, or may involve programming on a computer. Students will be asked to answer conceptual or theory questions, as well as to write fragments of Python and R code.

• How do I apply for graduation for the ACBSS minor? 

  • If you have already signed up for the minor, you DO NOT need to do any additional paperwork. If you have not yet signed up for the minor, you need to sign up BEFORE applying for graduation.

• Other questions?

  • For other questions concerning ACBSS minor, please email Dr. Carr or Dr. Marbouti.