Carnegie Mellon University: Master of Science in Computer Science 2020-2021
Carnegie Mellon University: Master of Science in Computer Science 2020-2021
Carnegie Mellon University: Master of Science in Computer Science 2020-2021
Director’s Welcome 5
Program History 6
Program Overview 7
Program Outcomes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Program Orientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Selecting and Registering for Classes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Primary Contacts for the MSCS Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Other Leadership Roles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
About This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Curriculum 11
Breadth Areas: AI, Systems, Theory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Qualifying Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Courses Without Prescribed Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Degree Variants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Practicum 18
Academic Policies 21
Passing Grades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Minimum QPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Dean’s List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Academic Advising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Registration, Adding and Dropping Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Restricted Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Responsibility for Satisfying Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
2 / 51 Contents
Satisfying Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Progress Toward Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Program Timeframe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Course Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Overlapping Courses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Transfer of Credit From Other Institutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Transferring Credit From Within Carnegie Mellon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT) . . 26
Grandfathering of Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Graduation and Award of Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Statute of Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Withdrawal of Degree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Academic Integrity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Enforcement of Academic Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Administrative Policies 30
Program Director, Role of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Employment During Academic Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Summer Employment/Internships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Employment Eligibility Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Leave of Absence/Withdrawal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Return from Leave of Absence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Program Transfer within CSD, SCS or CMU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Deferred Matriculation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Full-time Status Requirement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Financial Obligations and Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Changes of Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Privacy and FERPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Enrollment Verification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Intellectual Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Consensual Intimate Relationship Policy Regarding Undergraduate Students 35
Domestic Partner Registration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Maternity Accommodation Protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Sexual Misconduct Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Incorporation of Applicable SCS and University Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Enforcement of Administrative Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Appeals and Grievances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Statement of Assurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Contents 3 / 51
Resources and Reference 39
Academic Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
International Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Emergency Medical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Routine Medical and Health Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Counseling and Psychological Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
CMU Pantry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Campus Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Religious and Spiritual Life Initiatives (RSLI) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Ethics Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
University and Public Transit Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Legal Consultation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Global Communication Center (GCC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Student Academic Success Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Veterans and Military Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Office of the Dean of Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Computing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
University Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Conference/Travel Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Emergency Loans and University Financial Aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Campus Computer Lab / Printer Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Appendix 49
Systems Courses, Pre-Approved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Theoretical Foundations Courses, Pre-Approved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Artificial Intelligence Courses, Pre-Approved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Outside of CSD, Pre-approved as Qualifying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Graduate Courses Within CSD, Frequently Offered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
4 / 51 Contents
Director’s Welcome
Director’s Welcome 5 / 51
Program History
6 / 51 Program History
Program Overview
The M.S. in Computer Science program offers students with a Bachelor’s degree the
opportunity to improve their training with advanced study in Computer Science.
We cater to students with basic analytic skills and a strong aptitude for mathemat-
ics, programming, and logical reasoning. An undergraduate degree in computer
science is not required.
The program is not based on a fixed set of courses. Instead, students construct
their own course of study, in consultation with their advisors, within broad guide-
lines. Thus, a student may choose an area in which to specialize (such as network-
ing, machine learning, or algorithms) or choose not to specialize at all. Carnegie
Mellon faculty conduct research in diverse areas within the computer sciences and,
when there is mutual interest, provide opportunities to Master’s students to partic-
ipate in research, and related activities such as publications, the preparation and
defense of a Master’s thesis, etc.
Most students will complete the program in three semesters. Students switch-
ing into Computer Science from another field may require additional time to fill in
gaps in their undergraduate training (see “Curriculum”).
The program is distinct from the Doctoral program in Computer Science: Mas-
ter’s students will not necessarily continue into the Doctoral program. M.S. grad-
uates are welcome to apply to the Ph.D. program, but will not receive preferential
treatment.
Program Outcomes
Because the MSCS program targets student-centered intellectual inquiry and edu-
cational diversity, the curriculum is not as prescriptive as that of other programs.
However, the program is designed to achieve certain shared core outcomes.
Graduates of the MSCS program should be able to apply the core prin-
ciples and approaches of Computer Science, together with specialized
knowledge of selected sub-fields, to analyze and solve current and emerg-
ing problems, and to remain engaged as the field develops. In particu-
lar, students will be able to:
Program Overview 7 / 51
1. analyze and prove the properties of algorithms, software, and/or
computing systems using the theoretical underpinnings of Com-
puter Science;
2. analyze, design, and construct software which contributes to large,
multi-layered/multi-machine systems;
3. analyze, design, and construct software which employs intelligence
and learning to solve complex, open-ended, and/or noisy real-world
problems; and
4. select, implement, deploy, and/or develop viable solutions to cur-
rent and emerging problems within one or more sub-fields of Com-
puter Science.
Program Orientation
Orientation is mandatory and is held in the week before the start of classes: Tues-
day, August 25, 2020 and Wednesday, August 26, 2020, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
(Pittsburgh time). Please plan to attend the entire orientation event.
During the orientation event, we will do our very best to welcome you to cam-
pus and the city, and to help you feel at home here, and get to meet your colleagues
and key people on campus. We will review important policies, discuss important
campus and community resources, and help you to understand Carnegie Mellon’s
rich academic culture and traditions. We will help you get registered for classes.
8 / 51 Program Orientation
Primary Contacts for the MSCS Program
If you have a question about how to accomplish a goal or procedure related to
being an MSCS student, you should probably begin by contacting one of these five
individuals.
Program Overview 9 / 51
• David Garlan, Associate Dean, Master’s Programs, School of Computer Sci-
ence
• Martial Hebert, Dean, School of Computer Science
Acknowledgements
Paul Mazaitis of the English Department has graciously contributed macro, layout,
font, and readability advice. Any remaining document-design infelicities should be
attributed to the staff of the MSCS program, not to him.
The Master of Science program in Computer Science gives students advanced study
in Computer Science. The program is not based on a detailed required curriculum.
Instead, students create their own course of study in consultation with their advi-
sor.
In general, students must satisfy four (4) Requirements:
The program has three variants, as summarized in the table below and further
discussed in “Degree Variants.”
Curriculum 11 / 51
Breadth Areas: AI, Systems, Theory
• Any course specifically listed by the Program as a pre-approved course in the
specific breadth area (see Appendix).
• Any course pre-approved by the Program on a case-by-case basis, based upon
consideration of the syllabus and/or other descriptive materials, the spirit of
the requirement, and the student’s individual academic plan.
Qualifying Courses
• Any graduate course offered by the Computer Science Department (15-6xx
and higher), except: “courses without prescribed content” (see below), “spe-
cial topics” courses, 15-9xx courses, and courses in computer science intended
for other than computer scientists, e.g., 15-650. Selected “special topics” courses
may count as Qualifying (including potentially fulfilling Breadth requirements)
with Program approval.
• Any course specifically listed by the Program as a pre-approved Qualifying
course (see Appendix).
• Any course approved by the Program for an individual student, based upon
that student’s proposed course of study. Such courses might, for example,
include independent study or research courses, or courses offered by other
departments.
• Although there is no guarantee, and permission must be obtained by each
student in each instance, the Program will often approve graduate-level and
4xx-level courses offered by other programs within SCS or ECE, within the
offering program’s area of specialization, intended for and qualifying for the
offering program’s own M.S. and/or Doctoral students.
Degree Variants
Switching
It is important to note that students cannot freely switch among degree variants.
Switching requires Program approval and may involve other logistical issues as well.
For example, international students would need approval from the Office of Inter-
national Education, which is usually not possible. Thus it is important for students
to carefully consider their situation during the application process, and again when
enrolling in MSCS. Because it may not be possible to switch, students should affirma-
tively plan to be committed to one degree variant before arrival at CMU.
Curriculum 13 / 51
by a faculty member, including structured career-advice interviews and a post-
experience reflection. The MSCS program cannot guarantee the availability of a
paid industry internship for every student. As a fallback, software development
opportunities are available in SCS and elsewhere at Carnegie Mellon.
14 / 51 Degree Variants
expressive programming, to manage concurrency, and to use an understand-
ing of system design, such as memory hierarchy, to improve program perfor-
mance. [Mitigate with 15-213/513]
• Mathematical Theory: Exposure to elementary number theory, induction, the
algebra of sets, equivalence relations, congruencies, recurrence equations,
graph theory, and the methods of mathematical proof. [Mitigate with 15-
151/21-127]
• Theory of Probability: Background in probability spaces, random variables,
expectations, conditional probability and independence, limit theorems such
as the strong law of large numbers and the central limit theorem, random
walks [Mitigate with CMU OLI “Probability & Statistics,” 36-218, or 21-325]
Curriculum 15 / 51
Participation in Research and the
Thesis Option
For many students, internships, especially summer internships, are an integral part
of graduate education in computer science. Students who so choose may for-
mally include an internship into their course of study by registering for “15-691:
Practicum.” As with any course, the goals and expectations may be revised from
time to time. At the time of writing, the course is described as below.
This 3-unit course is designed to both recognize and enhance the prac-
tical education of the internship experience. Students who wish to reg-
ister for this course should submit to their Advisor a copy of their in-
ternship offer letter, as well as a personal statement describing their
educational goals for the internship. The Advisor will confirm that the
internship, the student’s goals, and the program’s educational goals are
aligned and, once confirmed, approve the student to register for the
course. Upon completion of the internship, the student must submit a
reflection statement describing what they learned through the intern-
ship experience. The course grade is based upon the student’s suc-
cessful completion of the internship as well as the thoughtfulness and
quality of expression shown in each of the two statements. Contact the
Program Administrator or your Academic Advisor for guidance on writ-
ing the personal statement and reflection.
18 / 51 Practicum
University Policies and Guidelines
Passing Grades
A passing grade is C or higher, regardless of the home department or level of the
course. A passing grade is required for a course to count toward the Requirements
or to serve as a prerequisite for another course. The University’s grading policy is
available at:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/grading.html
Minimum QPA
During each semester, students must achieve each of a 3.0 QPA across all courses
taken during the semester and also a 3.0 QPA in Qualifying Courses. Furthermore,
students must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 QPA cumulatively across all semesters.
Dean’s List
Each semester, the Director, or designee, may nominate students to the Dean
for inclusion on the Dean’s List, which recognizes those students with the highest
level of academic achievement. The nomination is according to criteria established
from time to time by the Director. At the time of this writing, the Director nomi-
nates those full-time students who earn “A” grades (A+, A, A-) in all Requirements-
satisfying classes taken during the semester for which the nomination is being
made.
Academic Advising
Students are required to review their academic plans and proposed schedules with
their assigned Academic Advisor prior to registering for classes and prior to adding
or dropping any courses intended to be used to satisfy Requirements.
Academic Policies 21 / 51
Registration, Adding and Dropping Courses
Newly admitted students will receive information about course registration. The
timetable for course registration, as well as for adding and dropping courses, is set
by the University as published in the official academic calendar, which can be found
here:
http://www.cmu.edu/hub/calendar
Especially after the end of the Add period, you should consult your Academic
Advisor before dropping a class. Frequently you should discuss the situation with
your course instructor(s) as well. It is generally quite unwise to drop a class without
appropriate consultation.
Restricted Enrollment
Not all classes at Carnegie Mellon are open to all students. Some classes are re-
stricted by program, by year, or by prerequisites. A few require permission of the
instructor, portfolio reviews, auditions, etc. Some courses may have reservations
governing how many students may enroll from particular programs or seniority lev-
els. If you are encountering difficulty registering for a desired class, please see your
Academic Advisor, who may (or may not) be able to help you register for certain
courses within the School of Computer Science, and can often offer advice about
similar or alternative courses, the likelihood of getting registered, etc.
Satisfying Prerequisites
Some students may need to take additional courses that do not satisfy any program
requirement, in order to satisfy pre-requisites for other courses. This is especially
true for students with educational backgrounds other than traditional computer
science degrees.
Based on our experience, we expect and encourage students to take 15-513 or
15-213 (Introduction to Computer Systems) prior to taking required or elective sys-
tems classes, and, if possible, prior to arrival on campus in the fall. The Summer
offering of 15-513 has been especially designed to offer a low-unit, low-cost option
for Master’s students. It can be taken over the Internet prior to your first semester
on campus.
Program Timeframe
The Program is designed to be completed in no more than four (4) semesters and
in three (3) semesters by those with a sufficiently foundational and rigorous un-
dergraduate education in computer science or strongly related field. As a conse-
quence, students may not remain enrolled in the program for more than four (4)
semesters, without the prior written or e-mail permission of the Director.
Academic Policies 23 / 51
Course Load
Because courses at Carnegie Mellon are very demanding, the program defines a
maximum course load, which may be different for incoming and returning stu-
dents. Academic Advisors can increase the maximum course load for an individual
student, based upon that student’s academic plan and achievement. Your Aca-
demic Advisor will increase your maximum course load, if needed, to allow you to
register for any appropriate schedule. Please seek your Academic Advisor’s guid-
ance prior to registering, dropping, or adding classes.
Overlapping Courses
As attendance is expected in all courses, students are not permitted to enroll in
courses that overlap in time. Please schedule only courses that you are able to
attend.
24 / 51 Course Load
In situations involving unusual hardship, a student may petition the Program to
consider transfer credit. As of 2020, no such petition has ever been submitted or
approved. Transfer petitions must be approved by the Director, the Department
Head, and the SCS Associate Dean for Graduate Programs. A transfer petition must
include:
• The course’s catalog description, syllabus, and any official description of learn-
ing outcomes,
• The course’s lecture schedule,
• The course’s assignment handouts,
• A sample exam, if sample exams are made available to enrolled students,
• A curriculum vitae for the course instructor(s),
• An official transcript including the final course grade.
The Program may require the student to obtain a professional translation into
English of any of the above material, using a translator acceptable to the Program.
The Program may require the student to provide for review all student work prod-
uct submitted as part of participating in the course, including scores and feedback
received by the student. When reviewing the transfer petition, the Program will con-
sider the breadth and depth of material covered, compared to the most-equivalent
course at CMU, with reference to the learning outcomes relevant to the Program.
In compliance with CMU policy, the Program will consider the accreditation status
of the institution offering the course. The minimum grade required by the Program
may vary depending on the institution offering the course, but will generally be at
least a B (3.0) or the equivalent as determined by the Program. As indicated above,
if transfer credit is approved, the source of the credit will appear on the transcript
and the credit will not bear a grade, affect QPA computations, etc.
Academic Policies 25 / 51
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical
Training (OPT)
International students may be eligible to take part in paid summer internships via
Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and to participate in Optional Practical Training
(OPT) for up to 12 months during and after the Program, and may additionally qual-
ify for a 17-month OPT extension post-graduation, under a special program for
Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Government regulations
are often nuanced and may change at any time. Interested students should con-
tact their Academic Advisor and/or the Office of International Education for more
information.
Grandfathering of Requirements
A student is generally bound to the Requirements in force at the time of matric-
ulation, but may elect to satisfy any curriculum Requirements more recent than
those under which they matriculated, e.g., a student matriculating in the 2019–2020
academic year may elect to satisfy the Requirements in force during the 2020–2021
academic year.
Because the Master’s program is relatively short and in a relatively rapidly chang-
ing area, students returning from Leave or Suspension may not be able to return
under the same catalogue year, e.g., Requirements, under which they originally ma-
triculated, as the supporting courses may no longer be offered or offered in their
original form. Under these circumstances, the Director may approve exceptions to
the prior Requirements or require that the returning student satisfy more-current
Requirements, at the Director’s option.
Additionally, the Director may revise the Requirements from time to time, so
long as these revisions do not unreasonably impede the graduation of those in
good standing. The Director may approve exceptions to revised requirements to
mitigate the impact of revisions upon those affected.
Statute of Limitations
As documented in the “Master’s Student Statute of Limitations” document on the
Carnegie Mellon Policy web site, students who have matriculated at Carnegie Mel-
lon during or after the Fall semester of 2012 must complete all requirements for the
master’s degree within a maximum of seven years from original matriculation as a
master’s student. Once this time-to-degree limit has lapsed, the student may re-
sume work towards a master’s degree only if newly admitted to a currently offered
master’s degree program under criteria determined by that program.
Under extenuating circumstances, such as leave of absence, military or public
service, family or parental leave, or temporary disability, a college/school may, upon
the relevant department’s recommendation and with the written approval of the
dean (or designate), defer the lapse for a period commensurate with the duration
of that interruption. Students who are pursuing the master’s degree as part-time
students for all semesters of their program, as approved by their program, may
also appeal to their program or department for extension of the time-to-degree
limit.
Withdrawal of Degree
The University reserves the right to withdraw a degree even though it has been
granted should there be discovery that the work upon which it was based or the
academic records in support of it had been falsified. In such a case the degree will
be withdrawn promptly upon discovery of the falsification. For further information:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/withdrawal-of-a-degree.html
Academic Integrity
Please understand that CMU’s standards for academic integrity are high and may
differ significantly from the standards at other places you may have studied. Conduct
Academic Policies 27 / 51
which may be accepted or commonplace elsewhere may result in you failing a class
here, and may also lead to stronger sanctions, such as temporary suspension, per-
manent Dismissal from the Program, and/or expulsion from CMU. As just one ex-
ample, we understand that at some institutions it is acceptable to submit code
written by somebody else as long as you can explain it in detail when asked to. At
CMU the submission of any code written by anybody else usually counts as an academic
integrity violation, often results in a failing course grade, and may result in additional
sanctions.
Generally speaking, all work you submit must be your own, you must not use
the work of others without proper citation, and you must not use resources, includ-
ing other persons, except as authorized by the course or project for which you are
submitting the work.
The University Policy on Academic Integrity includes the University expectations
around academic integrity and provides definitions of cheating, plagiarism, and
unauthorized assistance. We expect you to review the Policy, found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/academic-integrity.html
Academic Policies 29 / 51
Administrative Policies
Summer Employment/Internships
Students are encouraged to seek on- and off-campus opportunities for internships
and other employment which reinforces and enhances scientific and professional
development.
Please note that special procedures apply for international students. In partic-
ular, international students must consult with the Office of International Education
(OIE) before agreeing to employment terms or signing an offer letter. Further de-
tails may be found beginning here:
http://www.cmu.edu/oie/
30 / 51 Administrative Policies
Employment Eligibility Verification
If you will be receiving a stipend, serving as a teaching assistant, or will have any
paid position at CMU, Employment Eligibility Verification will be required.
Every individual receiving a stipend from CMU or employed by CMU must com-
plete the federal government’s Form I-9 within three business days following the
stipend start date or date of first employment. Individuals working on a federally
funded project are further responsible for submitting an E-Verify Processing Re-
quest Form to the Office of Human Resources. Further details:
https://www.cmu.edu/hr/assets/recruiting/restrict/i-9-guidance.pdf
Leave of Absence/Withdrawal
Matriculated students may voluntarily separate themselves from the University
through two mechanisms. A “Leave of Absence” is a separation which is intended
to be temporary. In other words, a student who requests a leaves of absence states
that it is their intention to return in the future. A student may also “Withdraw” from
the University, in which case the student is stating to the University that they are
separating themselves from the University with no intention of returning.
Should the University choose to grant a student’s request for a Leave of Ab-
sence, it may impose conditions upon the student’s return. For example, should a
student request and receive permission to take a Leave of Absence during a period
of academic difficulty, the Program may require the student take particular courses
upon return or take particular steps to reinforce prerequisite material prior to re-
turn. These conditions, to the extent that they are known in advance, are docu-
mented on the request form prior to its approval.
The Program adheres to the University’s procedures, policies, and process for
leaves of absence and withdrawals. They can be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/student-leave.html
The Program adheres to the University’s procedures, policies, and process with
respect to the student’s financial obligations as affected by leaves and withdrawals.
These policies can be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/adjustment
Students who fail to meet required standards of academic achievement may be
required to leave the University, either temporarily or permanently. The University
policies governing these academic actions can be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/suspension-required-withdrawal-policy.html
Administrative Policies 31 / 51
Return from Leave of Absence
Students seeking to return from a Leave of Absence should contact their Academic
Advisor to review their academic situation and academic plans and to ensure that
any conditions that were set at the time the leave was granted are satisfied. The
next step is to complete and submit the “Petition to Return from a Leave of Ab-
sence” Form (available from the HUB). This request should be completed at least
one month prior to the start of the semester (more time is required for interna-
tional students). Students may not return from a Leave of Absence until this peti-
tion is approved by the University.
Further information about the Carnegie Mellon University Student Return Policy
can be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/return-student.html
Deferred Matriculation
Offers for admission into the Program are valid only for the academic year for which
they are issued. There is no right to defer an admission offer. Should it be neces-
sary to delay your entry to the Program, it may be necessary to reapply, including
32 / 51 Return from Leave of Absence
payment of any necessary fees. Should your circumstances necessitate a delay in
your matriculation after your acceptance, please contact the Program Administra-
tor or Director to request a deferral, which is granted solely at the discretion of the
Program.
Changes of Address
Students are required to update contact information in a timely fashion, and will
be held responsible for any failure to receive official notices due to correct contact
information not being on file. International students may jeopardize their status if
address information is not current. In particular, international students who leave
Pittsburgh for an internship must update their contact information when leaving
and when returning.
Administrative Policies 33 / 51
Students can update contact information using Student Information Online (“SIO”):
https://s3.andrew.cmu.edu/sio/
Enrollment Verification
Enrollment Services is the only University office that can provide an official letter
of enrollment, official transcript, or enrollment verification. Enrollment verification
can be requested online through The Hub at:
http://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/student-records/verifications/
Intellectual Property
The Program incorporates the University’s policy on intellectual property, which can
be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/policies/administrative-and-governance/intellectual-property.html
Administrative Policies 35 / 51
Maternity Accommodation Protocol
Students whose anticipated delivery date is during the course of a semester may
consider taking time away from their coursework and/or research responsibilities.
All female students who give birth to a child while engaged in coursework or re-
search are eligible to take either a short-term absence or formal leave of absence.
Students in course work should consider either working with their course instruc-
tor to receive incomplete grades, or elect to drop to part-time status or to take a
semester leave of absence. Students engaged in research must work with their
faculty to develop plans for the research for the time they are away.
Students are encouraged to consult with relevant university faculty and staff as
soon as possible as they begin making plans regarding time away. Students must
contact the Office of the Dean of Students to register for Maternity Accommoda-
tions. Students will complete an information form and meet with a member of the
Dean’s Office staff to determine resources and procedures appropriate for the indi-
vidual student. Planning for the student’s discussion with her academic contact(s)
(advisor, associate dean, etc.) will be reviewed during this meeting.
Further information:
https://www.cmu.edu/graduate/programs-services/maternity-accommodation-protocol.html
Statement of Assurance
Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment, or ad-
ministration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed,
Administrative Policies 37 / 51
ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Furthermore, Carnegie Mel-
lon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation
of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.
Inquiries concerning the application of and compliance with this statement should
be directed to the vice president for campus affairs, Carnegie Mellon University,
5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-2056. Obtain general
information about Carnegie Mellon University by calling 412-268-2000.
38 / 51 Statement of Assurance
Resources and Reference
Academic Calendar
The Academic Calendar contains important dates, such as those of the registration
periods, add and drop deadlines, University holidays and observances, and the
final exam period. The Academic Calendar can be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/hub/calendar
Career
The Career and Professional Development Center is an outstanding resource to
guide you as you begin the process of thinking about internships and life after grad-
uation. The career consultants for the School of Computer Science are Katelyn Liv-
ingston, [email protected], and Allison Viverette, [email protected].
They are an excellent source of information about employers and opportunities, as
well as a great resource as you prepare your résumé and prepare for interviews.
Since the Master’s program is intense, but short, you are encouraged to contact
them during your first semester.
There are many career and internship fairs on campus, including the Technical
Opportunities Conference (TOC) early in the Fall semester, and the Employment
Opportunities Conference (EOC) early in the Spring semester.
For more information, and for information about additional resources, please
do check the Center’s Web portal:
http://www.cmu.edu/career
International Students
The Office of International Education (OIE) at Carnegie Mellon University is commit-
ted to supporting, promoting, and celebrating individuals in an intercultural envi-
ronment. They advocate for and facilitate international and cross-cultural experi-
ences, perspectives and initiatives. They also help international students with the
process of coming into the United States and maintaining legal status here, as well
as with the process of settling in within the United States and on campus.
Police
University Police provide traditional security and police services on campus, op-
erate crime prevention programs, offer Rape Aggression Defense Systems (RADS)
classes and fingerprinting services, and operate a lost and found.
They can be reached by dialing 8-2323 (for emergencies) or 8-6232 (for non-
emergency issues) from any campus phone.
When off-campus, in order to contact the local police, call the emergency dis-
patcher by dialing 9-1-1 from any cellular or landline phone. To reach University
Police while off-campus or from a cellular phone, dial 412-268-2323 (for emergen-
cies) or 412-268-6232 (for non-emergency issues).
The annual security and fire safety report may be found at:
http://www.cmu.edu/police/annualreports
Other University Police web pages can be found here:
http://www.cmu.edu/police/
40 / 51 Police
Counseling and Psychological Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS) offers students the opportunity to
talk privately about academic and personal concerns in a safe, confidential setting.
An initial consultation with CaPS can help clarify the nature of a concern, provide
immediate support, and explore further options if needed. These may include a
referral for counseling within CaPS, to another resource at Carnegie Mellon, or
to another resource within the larger Pittsburgh community. CaPS also provides
workshops and group sessions specifically for graduate students on campus. CaPS
services are provided at no cost.
For an appointment, call 412-268-2922 during regular office hours. For emergen-
cies, the phone is answered 24x7: every day, including holidays, at all hours of the
day and night. If you aren’t sure whether a problem is “bad enough” for you to call
after regular office hours, you should call and an expert will help you decide. You
may contact CaPS about an issue you personally are facing or to discuss a concern
about another person.
While calling is arguably the best way to contact CaPS, you may find their web
page here:
http://www.cmu.edu/counseling/
CMU Pantry
The CMU Pantry is a resource for undergraduate and graduate students to help
combat food insecurity on campus.
https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/resources/cmu-pantry/
Campus Wellness
We believe our individual and collective well-being is rooted in healthy connections
to each other and to campus resources. The university provides a wide variety
of wellness, mindfulness and connectedness initiatives and resources designed
to help students thrive inside and outside the classroom. The BeWell@CMU e-
newsletter seeks to be a comprehensive resource for CMU regarding all wellness-
inspired events, announcements, and professional and personal development op-
portunities.
Newsletter sign-up:
https://bit.ly/BeWellatCMU
Wellness web site:
https://www.cmu.edu/wellness/
Resources and Reference 41 / 51
Religious and Spiritual Life Initiatives (RSLI)
Carnegie Mellon is committed to the holistic growth of our students, including cre-
ating opportunities for spiritual and religious practice and exploration. We have re-
lationships with local houses of worship from various traditions and many of these
groups are members of CMU’s Council of Religious Advisors. We also offer pro-
grams and initiatives that cross traditional religious boundaries in order to increase
knowledge of and appreciation for the full diversity of the worldview traditions. Our
RSLI staff are here to support students across the spectrum of religious and spiri-
tual practice and would be more than happy to help you make a connection into a
community of faith during your time at CMU.
Web site:
https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/spirituality
Ethics Hotline
The health, safety, and well-being of the university community are top priorities at
Carnegie Mellon University. CMU provides a hotline that all members of the uni-
versity community should use to confidentially report suspected unethical activity
relating to financial matters, academic and student life, human relations, health
and campus safety, or research.
Students, faculty, and staff can anonymously file a report by calling 877-700-
7050 or visiting http://www.reportit.net (username: “tartans”; password: “plaid”).
All submissions will be reported to appropriate University personnel.
The Ethics Hotline is not an emergency service! To report an emergency, call
University Police at 412-268-2323.
Legal Consultation
The Graduate Student Assembly, the Office of the Provost, and the Undergraduate
Student Senate have partnered to offer all CMU graduate and undergraduate stu-
dents free legal consultations. Typical areas of inquiry include, but are not limited
to: Landlord/Tenant, Criminal/DUI, Contracts, Employment, Civil Lawsuits (Plaintiff
or Defendant), Personal Injury. Further information:
https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/resources/legal-consultation.html
Computing
Carnegie Mellon has a rich computing environment, including OS X-, Linux-, and
Windows- based computers, public printers, public wireless networking, and a large
library of software licensed for use by students. As members of this community, we
are all responsible for the security of these shared resources.
Safe Computing:
http://www.cmu.edu/computing/safe/
University Computing Policy:
https://www.cmu.edu/policies/information-technology/computing.html
Computing Services Web site:
http://www.cmu.edu/computing/start/
If you need assistance, you can contact the Help Center at 412-268-HELP or it-
[email protected].
University Libraries
University Libraries offers a wide range of information resources and services sup-
porting graduate students in coursework, research, teaching, and publishing. The
library licenses and purchases books, journals, media, and other needed materials
in various formats.
Library experts can help and advise with locating and obtaining specific re-
sources, research support, and the use and management of data. Workshops in-
clude data visualization with Tableau, cleaning data with OpenRefine, and getting
started with Zotero. Drop-in hours for Digital Humanities and for Research Data
Management are scheduled during the academic year.
The University Libraries home page:
https://www.library.cmu.edu
Housing
Carnegie Mellon offers on- and off- campus housing for students, and resources
for finding housing in the community. For more information see the Off-Campus
Housing resource page:
http://www.cmu.edu/housing/our-communities/find-housing/off-campus-housing/
Conference/Travel Funding
Conference Funding is a funding application process provided by GSA and the Provost’s
Office for students to attend a conference, whether as a participant or as a pre-
senter. The process is managed by the Graduate Education Office. Information is
available here:
http://www.cmu.edu/graduate/professional-development/
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Appendix
Appendix 51 / 51