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2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog

Welcome to the 2011–2012 Carnegie Mellon University Undergraduate Catalog!

Use the search box or click Catalog Contents to search through the Catalog. For help, see our pages on How to Use the Catalog and Frequently Asked Questions.

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Foreword

This catalog is intended to detail the University’s academic programs, policies and services for use by current undergraduate students, faculty, and administrators. We appreciate that applicants, prospective students, and many other people will read this material, as well, for some understanding of University programs and culture.

Information in the catalog is current as of August 2011; the next Catalog will be published in August 2012. In the interim, new courses will be announced in the course schedules which are usually available in November and April and on the Web (www.cmu.edu/hub).

The program requirements and academic policies set forth in this Catalog are subject to change. As a consequence, students are expected to consult with their individual college or department for the most up-to-date information about program requirements, and should consult the University’s policy website for the most current statements of University policy.

Any changes or updated information from any member of the campus community should be directed to John Papinchak, University Registrar.

Michael C. Murphy
Vice President for Campus Affairs

Jonathan D. Samuels, Copy Editor
University Registrar's Office Catalog Team
John Papinchak, University Registrar


Published August 15, 2011

Statement of Assurance

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information.  Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon 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.

Catalog Contents

• Catalog Contents
• Look at Carnegie Mellon
• Degrees Offered
• Campus-Wide Services and Options
  • Undergraduate Admission
  • Summer Opportunities
  • Division of Enrollment Services
  • University Policies
  • Undergraduate Academic Regulations
  • University Services
  • Undergraduate Options
  • Department of Athletics and Physical Education
  • Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC)
  • Intercollege Programs
  • BXA Intercollege Degree Programs
• Carnegie Institute of Technology
  • Undergraduate Designated Minors
  • CIT Minors for Non-Engineering Students
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering
  • Department of Chemical Engineering
  • Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Department of Engineering and Public Policy
  • Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering
• College of Fine Arts
  • Minors Offered by the College of Fine Arts
  • School of Architecture
  • School of Art
  • School of Design
  • School of Drama
  • School of Music
• H. John Heinz III College
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • H&SS Interdepartmental Majors
  • H&SS Interdepartmental Minors
  • Undergraduate Economics Program
  • Department of English
  • Department of History
  • The Major in Information Systems
  • Department of Modern Languages
  • Department of Philosophy
  • Department of Psychology
  • Department of Social and Decision Sciences
  • Department of Statistics
• Mellon College of Science
  • Minors Offered by the Mellon College of Science
  • Department of Biological Sciences
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Department of Mathematical Sciences
  • Department of Physics
• School of Computer Science
• Tepper School of Business
  • Undergraduate Business Administration Program
  • Undergraduate Economics Program
• Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar
• Frequently Asked Questions

In this section

• Foreword
• Statement of Assurance
• Catalog Contents

Administration

JARED L. COHON, President.MARK S. KAMLET, Provost and Executive Vice President.RANDAL E. BRYANT, Dean, School of Computer Science.AMY BURKERT, Vice Provost for Education.JAY S. CALHOUN, Treasurer.ILKER BAYBARS, Dean, CMU-Qatar.GINA CASALEGNO, Dean, Office of Student Affairs.MARY JO DIVELY, Vice President and General Counsel.ROBERT M. DAMMON, Dean, David A. Tepper School of Business.FREDERICK GILMAN, Dean, Mellon College of Science.CHERYL M. HAYS, Secretary of the Board; Director, Office of the President.CHARLES KENNEDY, Interim Chief Investment Officer.PRADEEP K. KHOSLA, Dean, Carnegie Institute of Technology.RAMAYYA KRISHNAN, Dean, H. John Heinz III College.ROBBEE BAKER KOSAK, Vice President for University Advancement.JOHN P. LEHOCZKY, Dean, College of Humanities & Social Sciences.DANIEL J. MARTIN, Interim Dean, College of Fine Arts.RICHARD MCCULLOUGH, Vice President for Research.ELIZABETH MILAVEC, Assistant Treasurer.DEBORAH J. MOON, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.MICHAEL MURPHY, Vice President for Campus Affairs.PAUL D. NIELSEN, Director and Chief Executive Officer, Software Engineering Institute.GLORIANA ST. CLAIR, Dean, University Libraries.JOEL M. SMITH, Vice Provost for Computing Services and Chief Information Officer.

Officers of the Board of Trustees

RAYMOND J. LANE, Chairman.E. KEARS POLLOCK, Vice Chairman.DAVID KIRR, Vice Chairman.JARED L. COHON, President.JAY CALHOUN, Treasurer.MARY JO DIVELY, Vice President and General Counsel.CHERYL M. HAYS, Secretary.MARK S. KAMLET, Provost and Executive Vice President.CHARLES A. KENNEDY, Interim Chief Investment Officer.KAREN T. KHAN, Assistant Secretary.ROBBEE BAKER KOSAK, Vice President for University Advancement.RICHARD MCCULLOUGH, Vice President for Research.ELIZABETH MILAVEC, Assistant Treasurer.DEBORAH MOON, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.MICHAEL MURPHY, Vice President for Campus Affairs.

Ex-Officio Trustees

JARED L. COHON, President.DARLENE M. HARRIS, President, Pittsburgh City Council.GREGORY POLANSKY, President, Andrew Carnegie Society.LUKE RAVENSTAHL, Mayor, City of Pittsburgh.ANTHONY ROLLETT, Chair, Faculty Senate, Carnegie Mellon University.BEVERLY WHEELER, President, Carnegie Mellon Alumni Association.

Life Trustees

JOHN R. BERTUCCI, Chairman, MKS Instruments, Inc.FRANK BRUNCKHORST, BOAR'S HEAD PROVISIONS CO., INC, .ERROLL B. DAVIS, JR., Interim Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools.LINDA A. DICKERSON, Principal, 501(c)(3)².WILLIAM S. DIETRICH, II, Trustee, The Dietrich Charitable Trusts.PHILIP L. DOWD, Sherick Enterprises, LLC.DINA DUBLON, .EDWARD H. FRANK, Vice President, Apple, Inc.YOSHIAKI FUJIMORI, Chairman, President and CEO, GE Japan Corporation.HENRY J. GAILLIOT, .IRA J. GUMBERG, President and Chief Executive Officer, J.J. Gumberg Co..TERESA L. HEINZ, Chairman, Heinz Family Philanthropies.TORRENCE M. HUNT, JR., .TOD S. JOHNSON, Chief Executive Officer, The NPD Group, Inc..DAVID M. KIRR, Partner, Kirr, Marbach & Company.RAYMOND J. LANE, Managing Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers.JACK E. MCGRATH, Retired Senior Vice President, Booz & Company.REGINA GOUGER MILLER, Owner/Artist, Ginger and Spice; Regina Gouger Miller Studio.AMBAR PAUL, Director, Caparo Group Limited.E. KEARS POLLOCK, Retired Executive Vice President, PPG Industries, Inc..JAMES E. ROHR, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.JONATHAN ROTHBERG, Founder and Chairman, Raindance Technologies and Ion Torrent Systems.DAVID S. SHAPIRA, Chairman, CEO and President, Giant Eagle, Inc.J. LEA HILLMAN SIMONDS, .JAMES C. STALDER, .DONALD E. STITZENBERG, Principal, CBA Associates.DAVID TEPPER, President and Founder, Appaloosa Management.MARY ANN ULISHNEY, Vice President and Wealth Specialist, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.SUNIL WADHWANI, Chairman and Co-founder, iGATE Corporation.PAULA KAUFFMAN WAGNER, Producer/Owner, Chestnut Ridge Productions.

Term Trustees

JOEL ADAMS, General Partner, Adams Capital Management, Inc.ANDRESS APPOLON, .RONALD BIANCHINI, President and CEO, Avere Systems, Inc.ARISTIDES CANDRIS, President and CEO, Westinghouse Electric Company.ERIC COOPER, .DAVID COULTER, Managing Director and Senior Advisor, Warburg Pincus.RUSSELL CROCKETT, Senior Vice President, Texas Petrochemicals, Inc.JEANNE CUNICELLI, Partner, Bay City Capital.MARCO DELGADO, Manging Partner, Delgado and Associates, PC.FRANCISCO D'SOUZA, President and CEO, Cognizant Technology Solution.HOWARD ELLIN, Partner, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom.EVAN FRAZIER, Senior Vice President, Community Affairs, Highmark, Inc.DIRK GATES, Chief Executive Officer, Xirrus, Inc.JAMES GIANOPULOS, Chairman and CEO, Fox Filmed Entertainment.ROY HALEY, .OSCAR HARRIS, CEO and Founder, Turner Associates.LARRY JENNINGS, JR., Senor Managing Director, ValStone Partners, LLC.PATRICIA ASKWITH KENNER, President, Campus Coach Lines.CANDACE MATTHEWS, Chief Marketing Officer, Amway Corporation.DAVID MCCORMICK, Senior Leader, Bridgewater Associates.BRUCE MCWILLIAMS, CEO and President, SuVolta.WILLIAM L. MEANEY, CEO, The Zeullig Group.ATTILA MOLNAR, Retired President and CEO, Bayer Corporation.SULAJJA MOTWANI, Managing Director, Kinetic Motor Co., Ltd.ROY J. SHANKER, Consultant.AJIT SHETTY, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board, Janssen Pharmaceutical.MANOJ SINGH, Global Managing Partner - Operations, Deloitte.LIP-BU TAN, Chairman, Walden International; CEO, Cadence Design Systems.THOMAS TULL, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Legendary Pictures.ROHET TOLANI, Managing Director, Tolani Shipping (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.PATRICK WILSON, Actor.

Life Emeritus Trustees

PAUL A. ALLAIRE, Former Chairman and CEO, Xerox Corporation.ARTHUR H. ARONSON, Retired Executive Vice President, Allegheny Teledyne.CAROL R. BROWN, Former President, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.ROBERT M. BROWN, III, President, B-III Capital LLC.FRANK V. CAHOUET, Retired Chairman and CEO, BNY Mellon.LUCIAN CASTE, Retired Owner, Lucian Caste Architects & Engineers.ROBERT A. CHARPIE, .DOUGLAS D. DANFORTH, Retired Chairman and CEO, Westinghouse Electric Corporation.W. LOGAN DICKERSON, President, Lindwood Farm, Inc. & Protos Foods, Inc..EDWARD DONLEY, Former Chairman, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc..WILLIAM B. ELLIS, Retired Chairman and CEO, Northeast Utilities.CYNTHIA FRIEDMAN, Co-owner, Union Real Estate Company of Pittsburgh.CLAIRE W. GARGALLI, .WILLIAM GOLDSMITH, Chairman of the Board, Nucon Energy Group.RICHARD D. HAMILTON, Former Director of Product Supply, Procter and Gamble.WILTON A. HAWKINS, .ORION HOCH, Chairman Emeritus, Litton Industries.T. JEROME HOLLERAN, Chairman, Precision Medical Prodcts, Inc..W. LEE HOSKINS, Retired Chairman and CEO,The Huntington Bank.JUSTIN M. JOHNSON, Retired Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania.WILLIAM H. KNOELL, Retired Chairman and CEO, Cyclops Corporation.HANS W. LANGE, .EDWARD E. LUCENTE, .THOMAS A. MCCONOMY, Retired Chairman of the Board, Calgon Carbon Corporation.LINDSAY J. MORGENTHALER, .ALESSANDRO OVI, President, TechRev srl.NORMAN F. PARKER, Retired President, Varian Associates.CHARLES J. QUEENAN, JR., Retired Senior Counsel, K&L Gates LLP.JOHN G. RANGOS, John G. Rangos, Sr. Charitable Foundation.DAVID M. RODERICK, Former Chairman and CEO, United States Steel Corporation.VINCENT A. SARNI, Retired Chairman and CEO, PPG Industries, Inc..JOYCE BOWIE SCOTT, J. Bowie Scott Studio.RAYMOND SMITH, Chairman, Rothschild Continuation Investments.WILLIAM P. SNYDER, III, President and Chairman, The Wilpen Group, Inc..W. LOWELL STEINBRENNER, Retired Chairman, Contours, Ltd..JAMES M. WALTON, President Emeritus, Carnegie Institute.KONRAD M. WEIS, Former President and CEO, Bayer Corporation.