IITM BS Minor in Algorithmic Decision Making: Courses and Rules

The IITM BS Minor in Algorithmic Decision Making needs three courses: Reinforcement Learning, Algorithms for Data Science, and Sequential Decision Making. The minor has no prerequisite of its own. Its courses count inside the 142 credits of the BS in Data Science.

Courses in the Algorithmic Decision Making minor

This minor has been available from the September 2025 term. Codes come from the minor list. Credits and levels come from the degree level course table (updated 18 March 2026).

Sequential Decision Making is in the minor list, but it is not in the degree level course table. So the handbook does not give its credits, level or the terms it runs. Ask support about it before you plan this minor.

The two level 5 courses are, in the words of the handbook, more complex than level 3 and level 4 courses. Their credits and fee are the same as a level 4 course.

Prerequisites for each course

• Reinforcement Learning lists Deep Learning (BSCS3004) as a corequisite. You can take them in the same term or do Deep Learning first. Deep Learning is a mandatory BSc level course.
• Algorithms for Data Science has no prerequisite in the table.
• Sequential Decision Making is not in the table, so its prerequisites are not stated.

Rules for this minor

• The credits count within the 142 credits for the BS degree. They are not extra.
• You get the minor only with the BS degree, not with the BSc.
• IIT Madras issues a separate document for the minor. Your transcript and degree certificate do not change.
• You can earn more than one minor if you finish every course of each.
• One course can count for only one minor. None of these three courses is in another minor list, so no overlap here.
• If a minor has a prerequisite, it is checked when the minor is given. This minor has none.

Compare it with the others in the full list of IITM BS minors.

Who this minor may suit

The course names point to algorithms and to making decisions one step after another. It may suit you if you like algorithms and the AI side of the degree more than app building.

How to plan it alongside your electives

After the five mandatory BSc level courses, you have about 36 elective credits across the BSc and BS levels. This minor uses three of those course slots. The DS electives list shows what else you could take.

The March 2026 table marks these terms. Offering also depends on registration numbers.

Reinforcement Learning is marked only for September 2026 out of these three terms. Take it when it appears, and keep an eye on when Sequential Decision Making is offered. The course prerequisites guide explains how prerequisites and corequisites work at registration.

Common questions

Why can I not find Sequential Decision Making in the course list?

The minor list names it with the code BSDA6004, but the degree level course table (updated 18 March 2026) does not include it. Ask support when it will run and how many credits it carries.

Is Reinforcement Learning in any other minor?

No. In the current handbook, Reinforcement Learning appears only in this minor. So you do not need to worry about the one course, one minor rule for it.

Can I take Reinforcement Learning before Deep Learning?

The table lists Deep Learning as a corequisite, not a prerequisite. So the earliest you can take Reinforcement Learning is in the same term as Deep Learning.