All enrolled students are required to comply with the university's Academic Regulations, as well as official University Policies (www.cmu.edu/policies). Students are expected to familiarize themselves with these regulations and are also advised to pay special attention to all academic dates and deadlines (www.cmu.edu/hub/calendar). The university reserves the right to change regulations and policies whenever such action is deemed appropriate or necessary. 

Academic regulations are compiled by the University Registrar's Office. Students who have questions regarding these regulations should consult with their academic advisor.

Courses & Registration

Availability of Required Courses

In order to ensure that students do not have to compete for access to their required courses, registration priority is given to students who are registering for courses in their primary major. Although the university encourages the exploration of other disciplines, access to courses outside a student's primary major (including those courses that fulfill requirements for an additional major, minor, etc.) is on a space-available basis and is not guaranteed. Students must meet course pre- and co-requisites when registering, and are subject to course space availability. The university is committed to ensuring that each degree candidate has access to a normal course load before permitting other students to register for a greater than normal number of units.

Change in Schedule (Add/Drop)

Scheduling changes must be made within the period in the semester as established in the Official Academic Calendar. A student cannot drop a course by simply notifying the instructor or by ceasing to attend class. A student dropping all of their courses (with the intent of leaving the university) must file an Application for Withdrawal or an Application for Leave of Absence (see the “Student Leave Policy” for more information).

Students are considered full time if registered for 36 or more units. Students should be sure to confirm their class level and enrollment status in SIO prior to registering. Students must be registered for courses by the tenth day of classes or they will be administratively withdrawn for the semester. Any student who has been administratively withdrawn in error should immediately contact their academic advisor.

Students may drop a course by following the instructions for dropping a course in Student Information Online (SIO) on or before the appropriate deadline as published in the Official Academic Calendar. When a course is dropped by the drop deadline, the course is removed and does not appear on the academic record. Students may also use a late drop voucher for a limited number of course drops after the deadline during the pursuit of their degree. This action must be taken through consultation with their academic advisor or associate dean. Undergraduate students will receive three course drop vouchers throughout their undergraduate academic career and master's students will receive one voucher per 12 months of study. Only one drop voucher may be used per semester. In order to drop below 36 units, students must see their advisor for special permission. Vouchers are not intended to be used for exceptional or extenuating circumstances and they cannot be used to drop below full-time status (36 units). International students who wish to drop below full-time must consult the Office of International Education.

Undergraduate students who wish to withdraw from a course after the drop deadline must complete a Course Withdrawal form and must obtain their academic advisor's signature. The advisor will indicate whether they "recommend" or do "not recommend" withdrawal from the course on the form, sign the petition and submit it to the University Registrar's Office. When a course is withdrawn by the course withdrawal deadline, a "W" grade appears on the academic record. 

The Late Add form is used for adding a course or switching sections after the add period and during the semester in which the course is offered. Students can check SIO to see if the appropriate schedule changes have been made. Undergraduate students who add a course or switch a section after the add period are required to obtain the permission of their advisor and home dean's office. Graduate students must have the permission of their department.

View details about course adds, drops and withdrawals on The HUB website.

Free Electives

A free elective is any Carnegie Mellon course that a student completes that is not being used to fulfill a college, school, major or minor requirement. A maximum of nine units of physical education and/or student-taught (StuCo) courses may be included in the tally of units required for graduation.

Overloads

The university is committed to insuring that each degree candidate has access to a normal course load before it permits other students to register for a greater than normal number of units. A normal course load has been established by each academic department. Students should check with their academic advisor or department for the definition of a normal course load. Individual colleges may have overload policies that are more restrictive, therefore students should consult with their advisor when considering an overload. Students may register for an overload up to 12 units with the approval of their academic advisor if they have demonstrated their ability to successfully complete a normal course load. Successful completion of a normal course load is defined as having earned at least a 3.00 (3.50 for students in ECE) cumulative QPA through the preceding semester or at least a 3.00 (3.50 for students in ECE) semester QPA in the current semester (in which case all final grades must be recorded before the student can register for the overloaded class). Overloads greater than 12 units or other exceptions must have the approval of the student's associate dean. First-year and transfer students are limited to a normal course load in their first semester of attendance.

Summer Classes

Per the Associate Deans’ Council, undergraduate students are limited to registering for 24 units in summer sessions without advisor approval. If the student's advisor wishes to approve additional units after consulting with the student, the advisor can increase the student's course load units.

Conduct of Classes

Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes unless the instructor explicitly informs the class that other ways of doing the work are acceptable. The action to be taken in regard to tardiness, absence from class or making up late work is the responsibility of the individual instructor; the instructor should consult with the department head and the student's dean if major action, such as dropping the student from the course, is being considered.

All classes will be held at their scheduled hour on days immediately before and after all holidays and recesses. Both faculty and students are expected to be present.

Members of athletic teams and other student organizations are permitted to be absent from classes to participate in authorized contests and presentations, either at home or out of town, provided the following conditions are met:

• All work missed must be made up to the satisfaction of the instructor concerned;
• No trip shall involve an absence of more than two days, excluding days when classes are not scheduled;
• The total number of days of absence shall not exceed six per sport or per organization annually;
• Each student will obtain an absence authorization signed by the director or sponsor of the organization involved and by the Dean of Student Affairs. The student will present this authorization to the instructor. This is not an excuse for work missed.

Technology affords many students access to mobile devices. It is expected that students will respect the wishes of faculty with regard to the use of electronic devices within the academic environment.

Students who, because of religious beliefs, cannot attend class may arrange as individuals to be absent, provided the work missed is made up in a manner satisfactory to the instructor of the class missed.

No student shall leave a scheduled exercise because of the absence of the instructor until a reasonable time has passed. By tradition and as a matter of courtesy a student should wait 10 minutes before leaving.

Course Attendance, STUDENT ACCOUNT BALANCE and Enrollment

A student is responsible for the payment of charges incurred at the university by the stated payment deadline. The purpose of this policy statement is to detail the specific process and action steps to be used to resolve any outstanding student account balance.

Students will be held financially and academically accountable for courses they attend or for which they are enrolled. Enrollment in a course which is not actively taken, or contrarily, the taking of a course for which enrollment has not been completed, will result in the assignment of a grade and responsibility for applicable tuition charges.

Students who fail to resolve their enrollment and balances will be prohibited from using university academic and administrative services. The services include, but are not limited to, computing facilities, library services, housing, dining, career center services, degree verification and the release of academic transcripts for the upcoming semester.

Undergraduate Course Meetings

Usually, no undergraduate classes, exams, academic, or artistic activities (including extra help sessions, rehearsals, ROTC drill, make-up exams, etc.) are scheduled on weekdays between 4:50 and 6:50 p.m. On occasion, some courses may be scheduled during these hours by the University Registrar's Office when they also are offered at other times; students may elect to take such courses during the 4:50 to 6:50 p.m. period.

Grades, Transfer Credit, Advanced Placement

Grading Policy

www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/grading.html

This policy offers details concerning university grading principles for students taking courses, whether those students are undergraduates, non-degree students or graduate students. This policy covers the specifics of assigning and changing grades (including final and mid-semester grades, incompletes and conditional failures), grading options (audit and pass/fail), drop/withdrawals, and course repeats, as well as defines the undergraduate and graduate grading standards.

Questions about grading for a specific course should be addressed to the instructor of the course in question. Graduate students with questions about pass/fail and drop/withdrawal should contact their individual program. Appeals for an exception to any grading policy may be made by the dean's office of the student's home college.

Definitions

Certain terms are used in this document with specific meanings, as defined in this section.

Student means any full-time or part-time degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student, or full-time or part-time non-degree student.

Non-degree student means a student who is not in a university degree program.

Faculty means members of the university's Faculty Organization as defined in the Faculty Handbook, plus instructors and special faculty appointments (even in their first year), and part-time faculty.

Instructor means a faculty member, teaching assistant, and /or lecturer who is the instructor of record, as recorded in the Student Information System (S3).

Policy Provisions

Assigning Grades

Final grades are awarded to each student, in each course scheduled, at the end of the semester, mini-semester or summer session. All students taking a course at Carnegie Mellon must be assigned grades.

The University Registrar's Office will query instructors who do not assign a grade to a student. Copies of the query regarding the lack of grade will be sent to the course's department head and associate dean. If the instructor does not assign a letter grade or an incomplete grade within one month of that query, the teaching department head will be responsible for insuring that a grade is assigned.

Changing a Grade

A student who believes that an assigned grade is incorrect may request that a final grade be changed. This action should be taken as soon as possible but no later than one year after the final course grade was issued. Final grades will be changed only in exceptional circumstances and only with the approval of the instructor and, for undergraduates, with the approval of the dean's office of the college/school offering the course; for graduate students, department approval is required. The intention of this policy is to ensure that, under normal circumstances, all students in a class are treated equally and no student is unduly advantaged.

Mid-Semester Grades

Mid-semester grades provide valuable feedback to students as they assess their performance in courses. Furthermore, mid-semester grades and the QPAs they generate are used by deans and advisors in identifying and dealing in a timely way with students in academic trouble. Therefore it is imperative that mid-semester grades accurately reflect student performance and are turned in on time.

Mid-semester grades are not permanent and are kept only until final grades are recorded. Because mid-semester grades are not permanent, changes of mid-semester grades as a rule will not be accepted.

Incomplete Grades

Carnegie Mellon students are expected to complete a course during the academic semester in which the course was taken. However, if the instructor agrees, a grade of I (incomplete) may be given when a student, for reasons beyond their control, has been unable to complete the work of a course, but the work completed to date is of passing quality and the grade of incomplete provides no undue advantage to that student over other students.

In awarding an I grade, an instructor must specify the requirements for completing the work and designate a default letter grade where no further work is submitted. Students must complete the required course work no later than the end of the following academic semester, or sooner if required by prior agreement. The instructor must record the permanent grade by the last day of the examination period of that following semester, or the University Registrar's Office will administratively assign the default grade.

Pass/No Pass Grades

Undergraduate students may elect to take a free-elective course pass/no-pass unless precluded by the course, the course's department or the student's home department/college. Policies for graduate students vary and students should be advised to check with their individual colleges/departments/programs for details.

A student must submit a Pass/No-Pass form to the University Registrar's Office indicating the course they are electing as pass/no-pass before the end of the university's withdrawal period. This decision is irreversible thereafter. No information regarding the student's decision will be passed on to the instructor. Instructors will submit letter grades, which will automatically be converted to pass/no-pass.

Work graded A through D will receive credit for units passed and be recorded as P on the student's academic record; below D work will receive no credit and will be recorded as N on the student's academic record. No quality points will be assigned to P or N units; P or N units will not be factored into the student's QPA.

In exceptional circumstances, departments may ask to designate a course pass/no-pass or request that the course be evaluated only with letter grades. The College Council must approve designating a course as pass/no-pass only or as graded only. If such a decision will have an adverse effect on the requirements of any other college, Academic Council must review the decision. The decision to designate a course as graded or pass/no-pass must be made before the add period for the course and is irreversible thereafter.

Audit Grades

Auditing is presence in the classroom without receiving academic credit, a pass/fail or a letter grade. The extent of a student's participation must be arranged and approved by the course instructor. A student wishing to audit a course is required to register for the course, complete the Course Audit Approval form, obtain permission of the course instructor and their advisor, and return the form to The HUB prior to the last day to add a course.

Any student enrolled full-time (36 units) may audit a course without additional charges. Part-time or non-degree students who choose to audit a course will be assessed tuition at the regular per-unit tuition rate.

Drop/Withdrawal Grades

Students at Carnegie Mellon may drop a course by accessing online registration in SIO on or before the drop deadline as published in the official university calendar. Policies for graduate students vary and students should be advised to check with their individual colleges/departments/programs for details. When a course is dropped by these deadlines, the course is removed and does not appear on the academic record.

Undergraduate students who wish to withdraw from a course after the drop deadline must complete a Course Withdrawal form and must obtain their academic advisor's signature. The advisor will indicate whether they "recommend" or do "not recommend" withdrawal from the course on the form, sign the petition, and assign the "W" (withdrawal) grade in S3. The "W" grade will appear on the academic record. Withdrawal grades do not apply to graduate students, except in CFA, DC and SCS. Students may use a late drop voucher for a limited number of course drops after the deadline during the pursuit of their degree. This action must be taken through consultation with their academic advisor or associate dean. Learn more about course drops, withdrawals and vouchers at www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/course-changes. 

Undergraduates who are registered as full-time students as of the 10th day of classes are expected to remain full-time for the duration of the semester. Full-time is defined as registered for a minimum of 36 units. Permission to drop below the 36-unit minimum can only be granted in extraordinary circumstances by the student's home associate dean. Undergraduates who are registered as part-time are also subject to the above deadlines to drop or withdraw from a course.

Course Repeats

When a course is repeated, all grades will be recorded on the official academic transcript and will be calculated in the student's QPA. This is the case regardless if the first grade for the course is a passing or failing grade, including pass/fail.

Undergraduate students who wish to repeat a course already passed must obtain approval from the student's dean or department head. When a student takes a course they have already passed, only one set of units will count toward graduation requirements.

University Grading Standards

The undergraduate student grading standard is as follows:

This grading standard is for all students classified as seeking an undergraduate degree and special students taking undergraduate courses.

Any +/- grades received by undergraduate students when taking graduate-level courses will automatically convert to the corresponding letter grade as listed in the scale above.

The graduate student grading standard is as follows:

Grading standards are based upon a student's home academic program and is defined by their home college. The college's standards determine if certain grades are applicable and if undergraduate courses are factored into their mid-semester and final semester quality point averages (QPA). Otherwise, the university policy is that only graduate courses (600 level and higher) are factored into the semester QPA.

Pass/fail policies for graduate students vary and students should be advised to check with their individual college/department/program for details.

Minimum passing grades in graduate courses are determined by the department and college policy. Any course that a graduate student completes will be graded using the scale above. This includes undergraduate courses taken by graduate students, and non-degree students taking graduate courses.

Contact

Questions concerning this policy or its intent should be directed to the University Registrar's Office at 412-268-7404.

Units and Quality Points

Carnegie Mellon has adopted the method of assigning a number of “units” for each course to represent the quantity of work required of students. For the average student, one unit represents one work-hour of time per week throughout the semester. The number of units in each course is fixed by the faculty member in consultation with the college offering the course. Three units are the equivalent of one traditional semester credit hour.

Hence, a 9-unit semester-long course should require 9 hours of student engagement, on average, including class time; if the instructor requires 3 hours of lecture and 1 hour of recitation, they can expect students to spend 5 hours outside of class engaging in class work. For mini courses that run for only seven weeks, the conversion from units to number of hours per week during the mini involves multiplying by 2. For example, a 6 unit mini course should on average involve 12 hours of student engagement; if the instructor requires 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of lab, they can expect the students to spend 6 hours outside of class.

Final grades are given “Quality Point Values” as follows:

Units earned for a course multiplied by the Quality Point Value of the grade given for that course equals the quality points for that course. For example, a 9-unit course assigned a “C” grade is awarded 18 quality points (9 units x 2 quality points = 18 quality points). Total Quality Points divided by Total Units Factorable equals the Quality Point Average.

For example, a student's record in one semester might be:

“I” (incomplete), “P” (pass), and “W” (withdrawal) grades are not awarded quality points and are not considered “factorable” units when calculating the QPA.

The same procedure is applied to all grades earned at the university to establish the Cumulative Quality Point Average.

Dean's List

Undergraduate students who meet specific academic requirements are added to their home college's Dean's List each semester. This is noted on the student's transcript for applicable semesters. Each college may have its own requirements for Dean's List qualification; these are described in the individual college sections of the catalog. Note: Only undergraduate degree-seeking students may earn a place on the Dean's List. Non-degree students are not eligible.

Transfer Credit Evaluation and Assignment Policy 

https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/transfer-credit-evaluation-and-assignment.html

The Policy on Grades for Transfer Courses, originally dated January 13, 1993, and approved by the Committee on Educational Programs and Student and Faculty Affairs states:

Carnegie Mellon University offers students the opportunity to take courses for credit through a cross-registration program and through the receipt of transfer credit from other accredited institutions. The Carnegie Mellon University transcript will include information on such courses as follows:

Carnegie Mellon courses and courses taken through the university's cross-registration program will have grades recorded on the transcript and be factored into the QPA. All other courses will be recorded on this transcript indicating where the course was taken, but without grade. Such courses will not be taken into account for academic actions, honors or QPA calculations. Note: Suspended students may take courses elsewhere; however, they may receive transfer credit only if their college's and department's policies allow this.

Definitions

A Carnegie Mellon course is one conducted under Carnegie Mellon University regulations regarding course content and grading and taught by faculty under the supervision of a Carnegie Mellon academic unit. Courses taught by Carnegie Mellon faculty on the Carnegie Mellon campus qualify. Courses that are part of the regular offerings of other universities do not qualify, unless faculty at the other universities receive appointments at Carnegie Mellon and handle Carnegie Mellon students under Carnegie Mellon academic regulations.

Courses offered for cross-registration are those taken under the PCHE (Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education) agreement during the regular academic year.”

Only official and final college or university transcripts will be accepted for the awarding of transfer credit. Grade reports, letters and the like are not acceptable. It is the responsibility of the Office of Undergraduate Admission and the University Registrar's Office to verify official transcripts. Official transcripts for the awarding of transfer credit will reside in the student's permanent university academic folder in the University Registrar's Office.

It is the responsibility of each academic department to review and establish transfer course credit for their degree-seeking students.

Transfer Credit Evaluation Procedure

External Transfer Students

External applicants applying for transfer to Carnegie Mellon will arrange for submission of:

• official transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admission as part of the admission process.
• official, final transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admission once they are admitted and prior to their beginning coursework at Carnegie Mellon.

As part of the admission process, the Office of Undergraduate Admission will verify the official final transcripts, and then send them to the appropriate academic unit responsible for college/department acceptance decisions. Each unit will be responsible for the review of transfer credit and the establishment of transfer course credit for each individual student.

Current Students

Current Carnegie Mellon students taking courses at other accredited institutions (colleges and universities), during either summer semesters or as part of exchange programs or other departmentally approved programs, or while on leave from Carnegie Mellon, must arrange for the submission of official final transcripts to the University Registrar's Office.

Upon receipt, the University Registrar's Office will verify these official transcripts and send a copy of the transcript to the appropriate academic unit responsible for that student's college/department transfer credit decisions. The official transcript will reside in the student's university academic record in the University Registrar's Office. Each unit will be responsible for its students' transfer credit review and the establishment of transfer course credit for each individual student. Should a unit receive the official transcript, it must be sent immediately to the University Registrar's Office.

Administrative Procedures on Transfer Credit

To be considered for transfer credit, an approved course must be taken for an assessed grade and completed with a grade of C- or better (or equivalent of a U.S. C- grade). Ungraded or pass/fail courses may receive credit if the transcript key indicates that the mark represents a grade of C- or better. CMU does not discriminate against particular institutional settings or modes of delivery and strives for fairness and transparency as outlined in the Middle States Commission on Higher Education standards. 

The coursework must be issued on an official transcript from a regionally accredited US college or university, or from an international institution of post-secondary education that carries globally recognized accreditation from the relevant Ministry of Education (or equivalent higher-education authority/appropriate government agency) and that offers university-level academic degree program courses comparable to a U.S. associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Transcripts from institutions outside the United States should be evaluated course-by-course by a NACES-approved credential evaluator and sent to CMU as part of the undergraduate admissions process. 

Courses eligible for evaluation will be considered case-by-case to confirm equivalencies based on course content and academic rigor. Courses must include the same, or similar, content to CMU undergraduate courses; require the same, or similar, prerequisite coursework; and be offered at the same level of instruction. The student’s home major or minor department will determine how approved credit will apply to a student’s major or minor. Approved courses not given a direct equivalency may serve as general electives, units towards the degree, and breadth units where appropriate. A candidate for a bachelor's degree must complete at least 180 units of coursework at CMU.

CMU will not accept any math courses below Calculus 1. English-language courses, career preparation and first-year seminars, Algebra-based physics, and first-year writing are also not permitted to be transferred to CMU.

Standard Course Equivalents for Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate Units Policy

The university has standard units assigned to Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits for all majors. Standard course equivalencies for each exam will be determined by “expert departments” in each college for each acceptable AP/IB score.

Under this procedure, students' AP or IB credit for a particular course will only go toward their degree requirements if allowed by the home department or college policies. Should a student decide to transfer to another major and/or academic unit within the university, AP/IB credit applicability to new degree requirements will depend upon the requirements of the new home department (or college). Students may only be granted credit for the Higher Level IB exams. This policy assumes no significant AP and/or IB exam changes. In the event of significant exam changes, students will be notified of any resulting policy changes no later than July 30 prior to their enrollment to take effect the fall of that year.

Credit is also given for Cambridge International/EdExcel Advanced Level courses. Learn more about AP, IB and Cambridge credits at www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/registration/ap-transfer-credit.html.

Rank in Class

Undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon pursue degrees in one or more of our ten schools or colleges. They may choose to pursue coursework, majors and minors within and between schools/colleges. In an institution where students' educational experiences are so varied, class rank is not a meaningful way to measure achievement.

Carnegie Mellon does not report nor record students' rank in class, rank in college and rank in department. Graduate school and/or employment requests that ask for a students' rank will be completed with the statement "Carnegie Mellon does not report rank in class."

Transcripts & Verifications

Transcripts

The student's official transcript is to be considered the official record for all degree(s), major(s), minor(s), and honors. The official Carnegie Mellon transcript includes both the undergraduate and/or graduate record(s). All transcripts come in individually sealed envelopes, unless otherwise specified. Transcript requests are not processed if the student has an outstanding obligation, financial or otherwise. We cannot accept phone or email requests and we are not able to fax a transcript under any circumstances.

Visit www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/student-records for complete information, including how to order a transcript.

Verifications

Enrollment and degree verifications are available for currently enrolled Carnegie Mellon students and Carnegie Mellon Alumni. A verification officially confirms information about you. Please note that we cannot fax your QPA or verifications that contain anything besides the following:

• Name
• Local address
• Local phone number
• Email address
• Class
• College
• Department
• Dates of attendance
• Date(s) of graduation
• Degree(s) awarded

The most common reasons for requesting a verification are:

• Student loan agencies and insurance companies asking if a student is enrolled.
• Scholarship committees asking if a student maintained a certain QPA.
• Potential employers asking if a student graduated with a certain degree.

Online Verification Ordering

Currently enrolled Carnegie Mellon students may order enrollment verifications via Student Information Online (SIO). Additional information can be found at www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/student-records.

Full-Time Status

Undergraduates who are registered as full-time students as of the end of the course add period (typically, the 10th regularly scheduled class day) are expected to remain full-time for the duration of the semester. Full-time is defined by a minimum of 36 units. Permission to drop below the 36 unit minimum must be granted by the student's associate dean. Undergraduates who are registered as part-time are also subject to the above deadlines to drop or withdraw from a course.

Students carrying a full-time course load at the end of the course add period (typically, the 10th regularly scheduled class day) are not ordinarily permitted to drop below 36 units after that time. Exceptions must be authorized by the student's associate dean.

Class Level Standing

Students should refer to the sections of the catalog pertaining to their college and/or department to determine the number of units required each academic year by their specific curriculum. Students must achieve passing grades in order to earn units; students do not earn units for incomplete or failed courses.

A first-year student becomes a second-year student after earning passing grades in three-fourths of the units required by their first-year curriculum.

A second-year student becomes a third-year student after earning the number of units required by their first-year curriculum plus three-fourths of the number of units for the second year.

A third-year student becomes a fourth-year student after earning the number of units required by their first-year and second-year curriculum plus three-fourths of the number of units for the third-year.

Classification of students is made only at the time of their first registration in any academic year and remains unchanged throughout the rest of that academic year.

Course Description Requests (for prior years)

Please note that University Archives does not have access to transcript and verification information. They maintain only the course description archives. If you call or email this office, your request will not be processed. Please contact:

Archives/Art Inventory Specialist
Carnegie Mellon University Libraries
4909 Frew St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-268-5021 (phone)
412-268-7148 (fax)

Graduation & Diplomas

Degree Requirements

Students are responsible for checking to ensure that the degree requirements (as listed in the appropriate catalog at the time of their matriculation) have been met. They may also refer to the Stellic online degree audit application. If the degree requirements have been modified by College Council action, the student is responsible for checking to ensure that the modified requirements have been met.

To be eligible to graduate, undergraduate students must complete all residence and course requirements for their program with a cumulative Quality Point Average of at least 2.0. For undergraduate students who enrolled at Carnegie Mellon as a first-year and whose first-year grades cause the cumulative QPA to fall below 2.0, this requirement is modified to be a cumulative QPA of at least 2.0 for all courses taken after the first year. Note, however, the cumulative QPA that appears on the student's final transcript will be calculated based on all grades in all courses taken, including their first year. Some programs may have additional QPA requirements in order to graduate. Students are encouraged to confirm all graduation requirements with their academic advisor.

No student may receive a diploma until all financial obligations to the university have been met.

Residency Requirement 

A candidate for the bachelor's degree must complete at the university a minimum of four semesters of full-time study, or the equivalent of part-time study, comprising at least 180 units of coursework. Note that these are minimum residency requirements applicable to all university undergraduates. Some of the university's colleges and departments have developed more restrictive requirements in this area. Students should consult that section of the catalog in which their college or department's academic regulations are presented for the residency requirements applicable to them. Deviation from these policies requires action by the dean of the student's home college.

Implications of Residency Requirements for transfer students seeking a second undergraduate degree: Students who received degrees from other universities could have up to 2 years of credits earned elsewhere applied to their Carnegie Mellon degree requirements and would need to meet Carnegie Mellon's Residency Requirement and complete at the university a minimum of four semesters of full-time study, or the equivalent of part-time study, comprising at least 180 units of coursework. Deviation from these policies will require action by the dean of the student's home college.

Diplomas

A Carnegie Mellon diploma is a student's certificate of accomplishment. The diploma is printed with the name the student approved within Student Information Online (SIO) , along with the student's primary degree and major (i.e., Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing), and if applicable, additional major(s). Minors are not listed on a diploma, although they do appear on an official transcript.

Diplomas are distributed to graduates during or immediately following the May Commencement Ceremony. Certain circumstances will result in students receiving their diplomas at a later date; these students will be informed of this well before the ceremony. If a student is unable to attend the ceremony, diplomas will be mailed in the weeks following commencement. Diplomas are not available prior to the stated date of graduation. August and December graduates will receive their diploma via the mail.

The diploma is 14x17 inches and is marked with a multi-colored and gold seal.

Graduation with University Honors

In recognition of exemplary academic achievement as undergraduates, some candidates for undergraduate degrees will be named to the University Honors List. Each of the undergraduate colleges will select students for honors on the basis of a cumulative grade point average (typically when cumulative QPA is greater than 3.5) and/or recommendation of the faculty.

Standard Degree Terminology 

Carnegie Mellon University offers a wide variety of programs; the opportunities vary greatly between and among the colleges. For the purposes of clarification, this section defines:

• standard degree terminology;
• changes to the existing degree declaration process;
• the existing procedure for creating new degrees, majors and minors.

Degree

Examples: B.S. (Bachelor of Science); M.F.A. (Master of Fine Arts); Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)

Major

Field studied in greatest depth by fulfilling a department-determined set of course requirements. The primary major is the field in which the degree is granted.
Example: Creative Writing; Physics; Marketing
Students may pursue an additional major(s) in a single degree program.

Minor

Field(s) studied for educational enrichment by fulfilling a department-determined set of course requirements. Graduate students may not pursue minors. Minors are not listed on the diploma but appear on the student's transcript. The type of degree sought is determined by the major (that of the home department), not the minor. Examples: Film Studies; Game Design

Option

(Now referred to variously as track, option, etc.)
A specific area of study associated with the major or an additional major(s), which transforms the title of the major or additional major.
Examples: Civil Engineering (Biomedical Engineering Option) Physics (Computer Science Option)

Concentration

(Now referred to variously as track, option, etc.)
A specific area of study generally associated with a major or additional major, which appears only on the transcript.

Home College

The college into which the student was originally admitted or into which the student formally transferred.

Home Department

The department into which the student was originally admitted or the department offering the major which the student has declared.

Concurrent College/Department

College/department other than the home college/department, granting the second of multiple degrees, or offering the additional major(s) of the double or triple major, or minor.

Single Degree/Major

One diploma, stating the degree and the major field of study. Currently, the Statute of Limitations on earning an undergraduate degree is eight years.
Examples: B.A. in Psychology; M.S. in Chemistry.
Requirements: Fulfillment of all requirements of the home college.
Declaration: At least by registration time (early November), during the first semester of the junior year.
Certification: Home college, home department.

Major-Declaration Process

For undergraduates, depending on the student's college, the major is usually declared at the end of the first year or sophomore year. Departments enter the appropriate majors upon declaration.

For graduate students, the major is usually indicative of the department and is supplied by the department.

Joint Degree

Degree program offered between two or more colleges or departments.

Examples: B.H.A from the College of Fine Arts and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences; M.S. in Colloids, Polymers, and Surfaces (Chemistry and Chemical Engineering).

Multiple Degrees

More than one degree granted by the university (whether simultaneous or sequential). The students receives one diploma for each degree. When awarded simultaneously, two degrees are referred to as dual degrees, three degrees as triple degrees. Multiple graduate degrees may be given in conjunction with an outside university.

Examples of how such degrees appear on the respective diplomas:

• Bachelor of Fine Arts in the field of Art; Bachelor of Science in the field of History
• Bachelor of Science in the field of Physics; Bachelor of Science in the field of Computer Science

Requirements: Multiple bachelor's degrees

Declaration: Undergraduates must declare at least by registration time (early November), during the first semester of the junior year.

To receive multiple bachelor's degrees the student must:

• satisfy all requirements for each degree.
• complete an aggregate number of units that exceeds, by at least 90, the minimum unit requirement for the degree with the smallest such requirement (i.e., if one of the degrees requires a minimum of 360 units and the other requires 380 units, a total of at least 450 units (90 plus 360, the smallest of the two) is required to obtain both degrees).
• comply, for each degree, with the statute of limitations regarding the time at which units are earned.
• while working towards more than one degree simultaneously, designate one of the departments (and if necessary colleges) as the home college/department.

Additional Major

One degree, stating the major in the home department first and the additional major second. The type of degree given (B.A., B.S.) is determined by the major of the home department.

For example, a student whose home department is Physics:

This degree is valid: B.S. in Physics with an additional major in History

This degree is not valid: B.S. in History with an additional major in Physics

The intent of a double major is an in-depth understanding of two major fields. Students may pursue a second major in a field where the primary degree is different from the degree associated with the additional major: i.e., B.S. in Economics with an additional major in History.

Requirements: If the double majors involve two different colleges OR the same college, the student must fulfill:

• all requirements (including core) for the first major degree as defined by the home college;
• all major requirements (including core prerequisites) for the additional major;
• any specific requirements for double majors imposed by the department(s)/college(s) involved.

Declaration: At least by registration time (early November), during the first semester of the junior year.

Certification: Home college, home department; concurrent college (if any), concurrent department (if any).

Additional Majors

One degree, stating the major of the home departments first, the second and the third major afterwards. The type of degree sought (B.A., B.S.) is determined by the major in the home department.

For example, for a History student, this degree is valid: B.A. in History with additional majors in Professional Writing and in Hispanic Studies. This degree is not valid: B.A. in Professional Writing with additional majors in History and in Hispanic Studies.

Requirements: If the triple major involves two or three different colleges OR the same college, the student must fulfill all requirements listed for each additional major.

Declaration: At least by registration time (early November), during the first semester of the junior year.

Certification: department

Concurrent college (if any), concurrent department (if any)

Second concurrent college (if any), second concurrent department (if any)

Minor

One degree, stating the major first and the minor second (or third, if there is also (an) additional major(s) involved). The type of degree sought (B.A., B.S.) is determined by the major (that of the home department). Minors are not listed on the diploma, but appear on the transcript.

Examples: B.F.A. in Music Performance (Voice) with a minor in Theatre Arts; B.S. in Applied History with an additional major in Information Systems and a minor in Mathematics.

Requirements: The student would generally take 45 units pertaining to the minor, in addition to fulfilling all requirements for the major degree (as defined by the home college). The “minor” courses are negotiated between the student and the department certifying the minor.

Declaration: At least by registration time (early November), during the first semester of the junior year.

Certification: department

Concentrations (Tracks, Options, Specializations, Area Cores, etc.)

These concentrations will not be considered part of the student's degree title unless the concentration is included as part of the major or (an) additional major(s) field title.

Additional Majors/Minors Declaration Process

For undergraduates, all variations on a student's intended degree and major field must be declared by the end of the first semester of the student's junior year. Having already declared a major, students should be well prepared by this time to choose additional majors and/or minors.

It is assumed that by these proposed deadlines, the student will have taken a majority of degree requirements and electives. The student can then, in conjunction with an advisor, review their course history and decide which options may or may not apply towards a supplemental degree and field(s), and then receive a detailed curriculum for attaining the additional desired degree, major or minor. The student should then notify the college/department offering the additional program. Upon receipt of this notification, the college/department will update the Student Information System which will allow this information to be reflected in the Commencement System for graduation. This procedure ensures that when a student is expected to graduate, all degree/major information is immediately accessible, and certification of the degree is simplified.

Multiple Degrees Involving Graduate Degrees

Policies involving multiple graduate degrees or a graduate/undergraduate degree program or sequence are dictated by each college involved.

Examples: M.S. in Public Management and Policy and the degree of Juris Doctor (Heinz College/University of Pittsburgh School of Law).

Declaration: Undergraduates: at least by registration time (early November), first semester junior year.

Declaration: Graduates: upon admittance OR by the end of the semester preceding the expected graduation date.

Certification: Home college, home department and concurrent college (if any), concurrent department (if any).

Degree Certification

undergraduate PROGRAM STANDARD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS & DEGREE CERTIFICATION

Carnegie Mellon undergraduate students are expected to complete their program of study within eight semesters of full-time enrollment, or 10 semesters for undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) program. The standard undergraduate program of study is grounded in a primary degree and its requirements, and may be complemented by an additional major(s) or minor(s) as part of the student’s academic plan or as a requirement of the primary major. Upon completion of all primary degree requirements within the program of study in the standard number of eight semesters (or 10 for B.Arch.), the degree will be certified by the student’s academic program in the semester in which the student completes the requirements.

Early Completion

Students who complete their primary degree requirements within their program of study in fewer than eight semesters (or 10 for B.Arch.) may have their degree certified upon the completion of all requirements in consultation with their academic advisor(s).  

Longer-than-Standard Completion 

Longer-than-standard degree completion may occur due to academic interruptions in making progress toward the degree as defined by the academic program and/or the Student Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy, interruptions of full-time study or progress toward the degree due to serious, documented medical issues, or other unusual or unforeseen circumstances. Students who complete their primary degree requirements within their program of study in more than the standard number of semesters will be certified in the semester in which they have completed their primary degree requirements, pursuant to close and regular consultation with their academic advisor(s).  

Additional Guidance for Students

Program of study.  Students seeking guidance about their program of study and degree requirements should consult with their academic advisor and/or appropriate associate dean.

Financial aid and student account.  Students are expected to make normal progress toward their degree in order to graduate within the standard timeframe for their program of study. Under U.S. Federal Title IV regulations, student eligibility for federal financial aid is contingent upon enrollment in and successful completion of courses that are counted as credit toward their current degree program. To receive the maximum amount of federal and state financial aid for which they may be eligible, students must enroll each semester in at least 36 units that count toward their current degree level. CMU institutional undergraduate grants support undergraduate degree completion and on-time graduation; institutional undergraduate grants for students in undergraduate programs and in integrated undergraduate and master’s degree programs are renewable for eight semesters (and 10 for B.Arch.). (See separate guidance regarding integrated bachelor-master’s degree programs.) 

Students should consult with their designated college liaison in The HUB regarding billing and financial aid, particularly for early completion, longer-than-standard completion, or integrated undergraduate and master’s degree programs.     

International students.  Immigration status for students in F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant status is tied to making normal progress toward completing degree requirements. Therefore, F-1 and J-1 students who are considering completing their degree requirements early, anticipating longer-than-standard completion, or moving from an undergraduate to a graduate student classification (integrated undergraduate-graduate study), should consult with their designated advisor in the Office of International Education (OIE) to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.

Guidance for Academic Advisors and Deans

Advisors and associate deans may direct questions regarding degree certification, norms or exceptions to the University Registrar or to the Vice Provost of Education.

Integrated Bachelor & Master's Degree Programs STANDARD DEGREE REQUIREMENTS & DEGREE CERTIFICATION

The integration of bachelor and master’s degree programs (“IBM” programs) benefits CMU students who elect to maximize their use of time and academic energy to blend their undergraduate studies with master’s-level study in close combination, in an integrated program of study at CMU. Some CMU departments and programs have developed integrated options for students in response to student desires for such opportunities and to enliven their graduate programs with students who are well-acclimated to the rigor and demands of the CMU educational experience.  

General Information

Carnegie Mellon students in integrated bachelor-master’s programs are expected to complete their degree requirements within a standard length of time for their full-time program of study as outlined in the Undergraduate Catalog and relevant Graduate Student Handbook. This document describes several standard models for the CMU integrated bachelor-master’s degree programs, some of which involve acceleration of either the undergraduate or the graduate degree component (or both) within the integrated program designs. Each CMU integrated program offers specific, pre-determined model(s) of integrated study reflecting one of the following:

• 4+0 meaning that a student will complete both undergraduate and master’s degree coursework in eight semesters (four years) of full-time study. This model generally applies when the undergraduate and graduate field of study are the same, such as an undergraduate and master’s degree in Chemistry or Mathematics. 
• 3-1-1 meaning three years of full-time undergraduate coursework, followed by one year of integrated undergraduate and graduate study, and one year of exclusively master’s level coursework for a total of five years of full-time study. And example would be undergraduate degrees integrated with Heinz College or Tepper graduate degree programs. The undergraduate degree generally is completed in eight semesters of full-time study (or less.)   
• 4+1 semester meaning eight semesters (four years) of full-time undergraduate coursework including integration of some master’s level courses, followed by one semester of exclusively master’s level coursework for a total of four and a half years. The undergraduate degree generally is completed in eight semesters of full-time study (or less.)   
• 4+2 semesters meaning eight semesters (four years) of full-time undergraduate coursework including integration of some master’s level courses, followed by two semesters of exclusively master’s level coursework for a total of five academic years. The undergraduate degree is completed in eight semesters of full-time study (or less.)  
• 4+3 semesters meaning eight semesters (four years) of full-time undergraduate coursework including integration of some master’s level courses, followed by three semesters of exclusively master’s level coursework for a total of five and a half academic years. The undergraduate degree is completed in eight semesters of full-time study.     
• 5+1 for architecture meaning five years of Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) undergraduate coursework followed by two semesters of full-time master’s level coursework for a total of six academic years. The B.Arch. undergraduate degree generally is completed in 10 semesters.     

The standard undergraduate program of study is grounded in a primary degree and its requirements, and may be complemented by an additional major(s) or minor(s) as part of the academic plan.  Some students decide to apply for one of CMU’s several integrated degree programs to complement their undergraduate degree with an integrated or accelerated master’s degree. Depending on the model of the integrated program, when an undergraduate student applies to an IBM program, they recognize that the standard for undergraduate study will be eight semesters (or 10 for B.Arch.), plus one, two, three or four additional semesters of full-time graduate-level study (except for the 4+0 model, above) to complete the master’s degree. 

CMU students in most IBM programs are considered to be undergraduates until they have completed the requirements for their bachelor degree at which point they are certified by their undergraduate academic program; this typically occurs at the time determined to be the standard for their integrated program following a successful seven or eight semesters (or 10 for B.Arch.) of full-time enrollment, depending on the design of their integrated program. However, in one rare model, the integrated program design holds the bachelor degree certification to be given concurrently with the master’s degree in the ninth or tenth semester of full time enrollment. 

Early Completion of Undergraduate Degree

An IBM student who has completed all undergraduate degree requirements in fewer than the standard number of semesters for their program may request an early undergraduate degree certification from their undergraduate program, in close consultation with their academic advisor(s). This situation, while possible, is not common due to the necessity of staying on track for both undergraduate and master’s degree programs in an integrated manner.  

Movement from Undergraduate to Graduate Student Classification

Students in an IBM program who are certified as having completed their undergraduate degree – typically in the number of semesters that is the standard for their integrated program – then will be classified as a graduate student at CMU, and are expected to complete their graduate degree requirements within the standard length of time for their integrated program of study. Students should be aware of and plan for financial implications, including financial aid, and/or F-1/J-1 non-immigrant implications due to the change of level when moving from undergraduate student status to graduate student status at CMU. (See details below.) 

Standard for Graduate Component of IBM Student/Program

Upon completion of the graduate program degree requirements in the standard period of study, the graduate degree will be certified in the semester in which the student completes the requirements by the student’s graduate program. 

Early Completion of Graduate Degree Requirements

Early completion of the graduate degree requirements.  Graduate students who consider the completion of all degree requirements in less than the standard length of time for their program of study must consult with their degree-granting program or department to determine if early degree certification is allowed academically and under what circumstances. 

Incomplete Graduate Degree Requirements

In some cases, students in an IBM program may withdraw from the graduate component of the program of study and, therefore, will not be certified or awarded the graduate degree. Any such withdrawal decision also may require close consultation with the undergraduate advisor to determine eligibility for undergraduate degree completion and certification if the undergraduate degree is not already certified. 

Extended or Longer-than-Standard Graduate Degree Completion

Longer-than-standard degree completion may occur due to academic interruptions in making progress toward the degree as defined by the academic program, interruptions of full-time study or progress toward the degree due to serious, documented medical issues, or other unusual or unforeseen circumstances.

IBM students who require longer than the standard time to complete their graduate degree requirements are expected to remain in close contact with their graduate program, and will be certified at the end of the semester in which they have completed their degree requirements. Students shall reference the CMU Policy on Master’s Student Statute of Limitations regarding guidelines and restrictions which place an upper limit on the maximum length of time allowable for master’s degree completion and certification. 

Additional Guidance for Students

Program of study.  Students seeking guidance about their program of study and degree requirements should consult with their academic advisor and/or appropriate associate dean.

Financial aid and student account.  Students are expected to make normal progress toward their degree in order to graduate within the standard timeframe for their program of study. Under U.S. Federal Title IV regulations, student eligibility for federal financial aid is contingent upon enrollment in and successful completion of courses that are counted as credit toward their current degree program. To receive the maximum amount of federal and state financial aid for which they may be eligible, students must enroll each semester in at least 36 units that count toward their current degree level. CMU institutional undergraduate grants support undergraduate degree completion and on-time graduation; institutional undergraduate grants for students in undergraduate programs and in IBM programs are renewable for eight semesters (and 10 for B.Arch.). 

Students should consult with their designated college liaison in The HUB regarding billing and financial aid, particularly for early completion, longer-than-standard completion, or integrated bachelor and master’s degree programs.     

International students.  Immigration status for students in F-1 and J-1 non-immigrant status is tied to making normal progress toward completing degree requirements. Therefore, F-1 and J-1 students who are considering completing their degree requirements early, anticipating longer-than-standard completion, or moving from an undergraduate to a graduate student classification (integrated undergraduate-graduate study), should consult with their designated advisor in the Office of International Education (OIE) to ensure compliance with immigration regulations.

Guidance for Academic Advisors and Deans

Advisors and associate deans may direct questions regarding degree certification, norms or exceptions to the University Registrar or to the Vice Provost of Education.

Academic Actions

Each college may have its own regulations and procedures regarding academic actions, but in general, the following apply to all undergraduate students.

Student Suspension/Required Withdrawal Policy

Policy Statement

University Suspension is a forced, temporary leave from the university. There are three types of suspension for students that apply to both graduate and undergraduate students:

• Academic Suspension is the result of poor academic performance or violation of academic regulations and is imposed by the student's college or academic department (see university and college academic policies).
• Disciplinary Suspension is the result of serious personal misconduct and is imposed by the Office of Student Affairs (see The Word/Student Handbook).
• Administrative Suspension is the result of failure to meet university financial obligations or failure to comply with federal, state or local health regulations and is imposed by Student Financial Services (see Student Financial Obligation Terms).

Suspended students may not:

• register for courses
• attend classes
• live in residence halls or Greek housing
• use campus facilities, including athletic facilities, libraries and computer clusters
• participate in student activities
• be members of student organizations
• have student jobs*

*Students on academic suspension may have a summer campus job if they accepted the job before they were suspended.

Employment

Although suspended students may not hold student jobs, students on academic suspension may, under certain circumstances, have a non-student job with the university; students on disciplinary or administrative suspension may not.

To have a non-student job, students on academic suspension must receive approval from their associate dean (undergraduate students) or department head (graduate students) to ensure that the job will not violate their suspension terms. Students in violation of this will lose their degree student status, meaning they would have to reapply for admission to Carnegie Mellon through either the Office of Undergraduate Admission or the appropriate graduate department.

Transfer Credit

Suspended students may take courses elsewhere; however, they may receive transfer credit only if their college's and department's policies allow this.

Appeals

To appeal any action of this policy, the student may write to the following individuals:

• Academic Suspension: Associate dean (undergraduate students) or department head (graduate students)
• Disciplinary Suspension: Dean of Student Affairs
• Administrative Suspension: Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and the Dean of Student Affairs, in consultation with the student's associate dean

Returning from Suspension

In order to return from a suspension, a student must have the following approval:

• Academic Suspension: Associate dean (undergraduate students) or department head (graduate students)
• Disciplinary Suspension: Dean of Student Affairs
• Administrative Suspension: Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and the Dean of Student Affairs, in consultation with the student's associate dean

Procedure for the Appeal of Grades & Academic Actions

In the event a student believes an assigned grade or an imposed academic action is incorrect or not appropriate, the student may follow the processes outlined below to seek a prompt and equitable resolution of the matter.

If a student believes a grade has been incorrectly assigned, the student should:

1. Present the case to the faculty member responsible for the course, providing all supporting data concerning the nature of the discrepancy.
2. If, after a decision is rendered, the student believes that their concerns have not been adequately resolved, the student may pursue a formal appeal with the department responsible for the course. To appeal to the department, a student must present a written statement detailing the grounds for the appeal with appropriate documentation to the head of the department responsible for the course. This appeal must be submitted within seven (7) days of receipt of the faculty member’s decision. The department head will provide a written decision, including the basis for it, within thirty (30) days, or as soon thereafter as practical.
3. If the student is not satisfied with the department head’s resolution, the student may pursue the appeal at the college level. To appeal at the college level, the student must present copies of all documents originally sent to the faculty member and department head, along with a formal letter of appeal, to the dean of the college responsible for the course. This appeal must be submitted within seven (7) days of receipt of the department head’s decision. The dean, or the dean’s designate, will review the appeal and will render a written decision, including the basis for it, within thirty (30) days, or as soon thereafter as practical.

If a student believes an academic action is inconsistent with the policies of the college or merits additional review, a student should:

1. Submit a formal written appeal, as specified in the initial academic action, to the associate dean of the college responsible for the decision, with a copy to the dean, requesting review of the action including all relevant materials to substantiate their case and support their concerns.
2. The dean of the college, or the dean’s designate, will review the appeal and issue a decision and the basis for it within thirty (30) days.

If, after carrying out the steps of either process described above, the student believes that the matter has not been adequately resolved, or if no decision has been rendered by the appropriate date, the student may appeal at the university level. To appeal at the university level, the student must present copies of all previously submitted documents and a formal letter of appeal to the Provost. The Provost or another designated university officer will respond in writing with a final resolution, including the basis for it, within thirty (30) days, or as soon thereafter as practical.

Other Academic Regulations

English Fluency for Non-Native English Speakers

To be successful at Carnegie Mellon University, students who are nonnative speakers of English need to begin their undergraduate work with a strong foundation in academic English and a high level of proficiency with speaking, listening, reading and writing in English. The importance of English language abilities cannot be overstated since there are no basic English as a Second Language (ESL) courses at Carnegie Mellon. All students will have sufficient English language proficiency to be able to participate fully in the academic work and to interact in daily life outside of the classroom.

Students' English proficiency will enable them to handle the demands of academic work, including the ability to comprehend, process, and master complex material presented in English, both in written and spoken form. Students will be able to communicate their ideas and questions to faculty, classmates, and others, in a classroom environment that is often highly participatory. For example, many classes require group discussion, team projects, oral presentations, and/or independent research. In addition to proficient English skills, studying in a new culture requires openness and flexibility to adapt to a new, and often very different, academic system.

To assess the language of non-native English speaking applicants, a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (paper based, PBT), or 100 (internet based, iBT) has been established as the standard for admission. This minimum score indicates that an applicant has the fundamental building blocks of language needed for academic tasks and for continued language development. Since neither the PBT or iBT versions of TOEFL access speaking, students who take these tests should additionally seek feedback on their speaking skills and work to improve conversational skills before beginning academic work.

Exchange Students

Each term, Carnegie Mellon welcomes exchange students from partner institutions around the world. Exchange students enrich the learning experience at Carnegie Mellon and are expected to be full participants in the curricular and meta-curricular life. Therefore, their admission should adhere to the English language guidelines described above. Exchange students submit standardized English language testing scores (such as the TOEFL) as part of the Exchange application process, and present the same high level of English language abilities as degree-seeking students. With exchange students, high-level English abilities are particularly critical since academic, personal and extracurricular experiences must be maximized in a short period of time, sometimes only four months in duration.

Withdrawal of a 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.

Information for Graduating Students

Graduating students may wear one stole ONLY with their academic regalia. Students are certainly permitted to receive/purchase more than one stole if they are a member of multiple organizations that issue stoles and may choose to wear a particular stole to the main commencement ceremony and another to their diploma ceremony.

Graduating students who are a member of a club/organization that issues a pin to designate affiliation are permitted to wear more than one pin with the academic regalia in addition to one stole.

Retention of Student Work

The university reserves the right in all colleges to retain indefinitely any student work the faculty may select. All work not retained by the university must be claimed at the time specified on the bulletin boards (or other forms of communication) of the department concerned; otherwise, the work will be destroyed.

Degree Statute of Limitations

www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/ug-statute-of-limitations-student.html

All units required for an undergraduate degree, whether earned in residence, transferred from another institution or granted via advanced placement, must have been earned within eight years of the date on which the degree is granted. This statutory period can be extended by the Dean of the student's college under the following conditions:

• the courses taken prior to the statutory period still represent a reasonable part of the student's total academic program;

• the prior courses provide adequate preparation for courses which must still be taken to fulfill the degree requirements;

• there is a legitimate reason(s) for the student not completing the academic program within the statutory period.

A request for a waiver of the statute of limitations must be submitted to the dean of the student's college. The request for a waiver should address all of the above conditions for an extension. For cases in which a waiver is granted, the waiver covers specific courses and is intended for a specific period during which the program must be completed.

New Degree, Major, or Minor

Departments proposing new degrees, majors, additional majors, and/or minors must complete a New Academic Program Process (NAPP Step 2)  form. This should include any and all notations to the university diploma and/or transcript (new degrees, majors, minors, options). Departments proposing to offer a new degree, major, additional major and/or minor must follow university policies for approval as follows:

• Document the program by completing the New Academic Program Process (NAPP Step 2) form. Departments proposing new degrees and majors must complete this form and attach course descriptions, curriculum proposal, list of present faculty who will support the program, and verify the availability of other units' courses. This documentation must indicate the starting semester for the program, and in the case of new majors, also indicate if it is available only as a major/additional major/minor, or in combination.

• Receive department approval.

• Receive dean and College Council approval.

• Submit all program documentation complete with College Council approval to the Vice Provost for Education. New majors or degrees will not be processed without the approval of the Provost's Office.

• The Provost's Office will approve or deny, and inform the sponsoring department and Enrollment Services.

• The department may then publicize and offer the program for student enrollment.

Inter-campus Undergraduate Student Transfer Process

Undergraduate students enrolled at either the Pittsburgh or Doha campuses of Carnegie Mellon University may request consideration for internal transfer to the other undergraduate campus through a formal application process. Inter-campus transfers are rare and will be approved only in exceptional and specific circumstances. Decisions about transfers will be made by the Vice-Provost for Education.

Students must be in good standing, and have completed two full semesters at their campus of initial enrollment. Students should consult with their home campus Associate Dean for Education to fully discuss their interest in a transfer and to understand the conditions and process for applying. Students will be required to document a compelling academic and/or personal rationale to support their inter-campus transfer request application. The deadline for application is the last day of fall classes in the fall semester for transfer in the subsequent fall semester.