Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar

Michael Trick, Dean
Dudley Reynolds, Senior Associate Dean for Education
Undergraduate Programs Office: CMB 1101
www.qatar.cmu.edu

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar is Carnegie Mellon's first and only undergraduate branch campus. Since 2004, it exists as part of a collaborative effort with the Qatar Foundation to bring outstanding American educational programs to the Middle East.

Degree Offerings

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar offers four academic programs: Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science, and Information Systems. To examine the requirements for those degrees, see their respective main campus college sections elsewhere in the Undergraduate Catalog. The purpose of this section is to describe the CMU-Q policies that are independent from those of the Pittsburgh campus and outline procedures that are common to students in all programs in Qatar.

Major Sample Schedules

Sample schedules for how CMU-Q students normally track through the academic programs can be found on the CMU-Q website as follows:

Business Administration Concentrations

The concentration allows students to gain knowledge and expertise in a particular area of business practice. The concentration coursework prepares students with the knowledge and skills for their career pursuits. Completing a concentration is part of the degree requirements. Students are encouraged to declare their concentration by the end of their sophomore year.

Courses taken to meet concentration requirements are not allowed to double count toward any other BA degree requirements, including the minor requirement. The following concentrations may be completed at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar:

Accounting (can only be completed with a semester at the Pittsburgh campus)
Business Analytics and Technologies
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Global Economics and Business
Islamic Business Management (forthcoming)
Marketing Management
Operations Management
Strategic Management

Information Systems Concentrations

As an Information Systems major, you will select a focused concentration to provide a deep dive into a subject that interests you consisting of a minimum of three 9 unit courses and a 12 unit project or research course (39 units total). Currently approved IS Concentrations on the Qatar campus include:

Information Security & Privacy

The Information Security & Privacy concentration is designed to expose students to the key technical, process, and policy aspects related to information security and associated privacy concerns. The student who completes this concentration will have a solid foundation in the area and will be prepared to continue developing expertise through graduate school or their professional career.

Data Science

The Data Science concentration is designed to capitalize on the continuously expanding quantity of data generated through our interconnected information systems and prepares the student to understand how to store, process, retrieve, and analyze data to derive insights and improve decision making for individuals, organizations, and society. The foundation developed in this concentration prepares the graduate to assist organizations to capitalize on the data they generate as well as to support research projects either as a graduate student or within their chosen profession.

Digitalization

The Digitalization concentration is designed to prepare the student to understand and effectively innovate with information systems to support entrepreneurship, organizations, or society. The graduate with this concentration will often find themselves working in a larger organization or creating new organizations that capitalize on the benefits of information and information systems.

In addition to the approved concentrations, a student may choose to instead complete an approved minor or second major, or work with their advisor to develop a plan for an independent concentration.

Minors

In addition to the major degree programs, Carnegie Mellon also offers a number of minors. Minors typically consist of six courses that provide the student with substantial exposure to the core of that academic discipline. As with the major programs, the requirements of these minors are set by their respective departments on the main campus:

Academic Standards and Actions

Academic Standards

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar complies with common University policies unless otherwise noted. The curriculum requirements for the Biological Sciences, Business Administration, Computer Science, and Information Systems majors are set by the respective departments of the Mellon College of Science, Tepper School of Business, the School of Computer Science, and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy on the main campus. At the university level, the same academic standards, policies, and actions apply to all programs at CMU-Q as at the Pittsburgh campus.

Graduation Requirements

Residency

Candidates for a Bachelor's degree must complete a minimum of four semesters of full-time study, or equivalent part-time study, comprising at least 180 units of coursework at Carnegie Mellon.

Cumulative QPA

To be eligible to graduate, undergraduate students must complete all course requirements for their program with a cumulative Quality Point Average of at least 2.0 for all courses taken. For undergraduate students who enrolled at Carnegie Mellon as first-year students 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 students' final transcript will be calculated based on all grades in all courses taken, including the 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.

University Honors

Students maintaining a cumulative QPA of at least 3.5 after seven semesters of full-time enrollment (consecutive or otherwise) or raising their QPA to 3.5 upon completing their graduation requirements in their final semester will graduate with University Honors.

Dean's List

Students earn Dean's List recognition in a given semester by achieving one of two minimum standards. They must either 1) earn a semester QPA of 3.75 or higher (while taking at least 36 factorable units and receiving no incomplete grades), or 2) earn a semester QPA of 3.50 or higher (while taking at least 45 factorable units and receiving no incomplete grades). The CMU-Q Dean's List is calculated uniformly for all students across all majors and may differ from criteria followed for these majors on the Pittsburgh campus, where the criteria vary across colleges.

Academic Actions

Academic Actions are a part of a process designed to help students who are not meeting standards for satisfactory academic progress be successful. Students will be informed by a letter from the Area Head for their academic major if an academic action has been taken in their regard. The letter will identify individuals and resources that can help them address barriers to their success. Academic Actions may be taken for students carrying either a full-time course load (defined as 36 or more units) or a part-time course load (defined as fewer than 36 units). A student on an academic action cannot overload, study abroad, or take independent studies.

Minimum Standards

Academic Actions will be taken when students fail to meet the following standards:

enrollment in 36 or more units (unless a drop-below full-time status has been approved by the Senior Associate Dean for Education with a note indicating that the drop will not be subject to academic action)
a semester QPA of at least 2.0
a cumulative QPA, or post-first-year cumulative QPA if higher, of at least 2.0, and
making satisfactory progress towards their degree according to the standards set by their declared major.

For the purposes of calculating QPAs, all incomplete grades will be treated by their default grade until resolved. Hence, a Incomplete with a default grade of “R” would impact academic progress and QPA calculations.

Students should consult with their academic advisor or the Director of Student Academic Success to understand the standards for satisfactory progress set by their respective major. The standards are listed on CMUQ Scotty website.

Academic Warning

Students will be placed on Academic Warning status if their record at the end of a semester fails to meet the minimum standards described above. Students will return to good academic standing after one semester on Academic Warning if they then meet the minimum standards specified above.

Continued Academic Warning

If a student on Academic Warning earns a semester QPA above 2.0 but their cumulative QPA and post-first-year cumulative QPA are still below 2.0, they will be placed on Continued Academic Warning status. A student will also be placed on Continued Academic Warning status, if they earn a semester QPA above 2.0 but have not yet satisfied the conditions for satisfactory progress in their major because of course scheduling constraints. Students who are taking 36 or more units, meeting their major’s standards for satisfactory progress, and earning a semester QPA above 2.0 may continue on Continued Academic Warning until their cumulative QPA or post-first-year cumulative QPA is above 2.0.

Suspension

A student who fails to meet the minimum standards described above or those for Continued Academic Warning at the end of the Academic Warning semester will be placed on Academic Suspension.

Suspension is typically for a minimum of one year. While on academic suspension, students are considered to be on a mandatory "leave of absence" and are governed by College and University policies concerning leaves of absence. Per university policy, students on suspension may not attend classes, live in university-related housing, or have on-campus employment unless they receive an exception from the Senior Associate Dean for Education.

At the end of their suspension period, the student may petition to return to CMU-Q by:

submitting a "Petition to Return from Leave of Absence" form to the Enrollment Services Manager in Qatar;
providing evidence in writing to the Senior Associate Dean for Education that they have fulfilled return conditions specified in the letter informing them of their suspension (if any) and have taken convincing steps to ameliorate the cause of the suspension. The student must demonstrate that they are better prepared to perform above the minimum standards for graduation than before they were suspended; and
resolving any outstanding financial obligations.

Students will be notified by the University Registrar’s Office once their petition has been approved and their enrollment status has been updated to “eligible to enroll.” Students coming back from suspension are placed on Final Academic Warning status for the semester of their return. Following this semester students may either return to good academic standing or be placed on Continued Academic Warning as described above.

Drop

A student who fails to meet the minimum standards at the end of a semester on Final Academic Warning is subject to a Drop action. A Drop action is a permanent severance; the student is required to follow University procedures for departing from campus and may not enroll again in the future.

The typical progression of academic actions is Academic Warning, Suspension, then Drop.

Appealing an Action

In accordance with the Appeal of Academic Actions Policy outlined in The Word student handbook:

“If a student believes an academic action is inconsistent with the policies of the college, a student should:

1. Submit a formal written appeal 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 the inconsistency in policy and to 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 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 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.”

The Senior Associate Dean for Education is the Dean’s designate at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar responsible for reviewing academic action appeals. The appeal of an academic action to the Senior Associate Dean for Education should be made within 10 days of receiving the initial letter with the notification of the action. Appeals at the university level to the Provost’s designate must be made within five days of receiving the Senior Associate Dean’s decision regarding the appeal.

Other Regulations Affecting Student Status

Adding a Class

Students may add classes to their schedule under the following rules:

a full-semester course through the first 10 class days of the semester.
a half-semester (mini) course may be added through the first 5 class days of the half-semester when the course is offered.

Dropping/Withdrawing from a Class

Students may drop or withdraw from a class as prescribed by the university’s policy for doing so: https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/course-changes/index.html

Course Overloads

A maximum load for a CMU-Q student is five full-semester courses and not more than 54 units. In order to overload (i.e., take more than 54 units but no more than 63), a student must have attained a QPA of at least 3.0 in the previous semester, or have a cumulative QPA of 3.0. Approval by the student's advisor is required to overload up to the maximum (63 units). A student wishing to pursue more than 63 units must petition the Senior Associate Dean for Education to do so.

Non-Carnegie Mellon Courses

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 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 the transcript indicating where the course was taken, but no grade will be reported. Such courses will not be taken into account for academic actions, honors or QPA calculations.

Note: Suspended students may take courses elsewhere with prior approval; however, they will not receive transfer credit.

Cross Registration

Courses offered for cross-registration are those taken through an agreement with Texas A&M University at Qatar; Georgetown School of Foreign Service in Qatar; Northwestern University in Qatar; Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar; and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Full-time students at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar can take up to one class a semester at these schools. Cross-registration requires the completion of a cross-registration form with the appropriate signatures from the home and host institutions. Completion of the form does not guarantee a space in the requested course. The cross-registration agreement only applies during the regular academic year; normal course transfer rules apply in the summer.

Course Transfer

Students may receive credit for courses taken outside of Carnegie Mellon if they successfully petition the Senior Associate Dean for Education in advance for permission. Students must take these courses for a letter grade and instruction must be in English for non-language courses. Credit (but not the grade) will normally transfer for courses with a grade equivalent to at least a “B.” The class's course description must be a close match to a Carnegie Mellon course or material covered in a range of Carnegie Mellon courses and from an accredited institution. Students may not receive credit for any courses taken on-line unless there is some safeguard to ensure that the actual student took the course (e.g., a proctored final taken under supervision at CMU-Q).

Students may not receive credit for more than five non-CMU courses during their undergraduate career as a Carnegie Mellon student. Classes taken prior to enrolling in Carnegie Mellon, during study abroad semesters, and as cross-registration with other Education City schools do not count toward the course transfer limit. All students must meet the University's residency requirement of completing at least 180 units of Carnegie Mellon coursework.

Campus Exchange and Transfer

Campus Exchange

CMU-Q and Pittsburgh students in good academic standing (not on Warning, Continued Academic Warning, Suspension, or Final Academic Warning) may study on the other campus for one semester on a space available basis and with the approval of both the home and host departments. Space constraints on both campuses may force programs to limit the number of students who can exchange in any given semester. CMU-Q students may study abroad for a second semester at another institution (not CMU Pittsburgh) if an appropriate additional study abroad opportunity arises and their academic advisor agrees. Students are expected to complete their final semester of study on their home campus unless an exception is granted by the Senior Associate Dean for Education.

Summer studies in Pittsburgh are not subject to any constraint other than not being on Suspension or Leave of Absence.

Transfer

Internally between majors at CMU-Q

Students may transfer between majors at CMU-Q on a space-available and academic performance basis. Students interested in transferring should consult with the Senior Associate Dean for Education and the Area Head of the new major. First-year students may not apply for transfer until they receive their spring mid-semester grades.

Between CMU-Q and Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh

Decisions about transfers to any major in Pittsburgh will be made by the Vice-Provost for Education. Transfers are only possible under specific conditions and for study beginning in a fall semester. Students interested in transferring to a major in Pittsburgh the following academic year should consult with the Senior Associate Dean for Education in Qatar as early as possible in order to understand the conditions and process for applying.

Transfers to CMU-Q from other Universities

Transfer students from other universities must apply through the Admissions Office at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. The Admissions Office, the Senior Associate Dean for Education, and the Area Head for the desired program will determine if there is space available and if the student's past academic performance warrants admission.

Faculty

MOHAMMAD AAZAM, Assistant Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D., Kyung Hee University; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

IMAN ADEINAT, Associate Teaching Professor, Operations Management – Ph.D, University of New Orleans; Carnegie Mellon, 2021–

NESRINE AFFARA, AssociateTeaching Professor, Biological Sciences – Ph.D., Ohio State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

SERKAN AKGUC, Associate Area Head, Business Administration; Associate Teaching Professor, Finance – Ph.D., Temple University; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

CHADI AOUN, Area Head, Information Systems; Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D., University of New South Wales; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

JOCELYN BELANGER, Associate Teaching Professor, Psychology, – Ph.D., University of Maryland College Park; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

HOUDA BOUAMOR, Associate Area Head, Information Systems; Associate Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D. , Université Paris Sud; Carnegie Mellon, 2015–

MOHAMED BOUAOUINA, Associate Area Head, Biological Sciences; Associate Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences – Ph.D., Pierre and Marie Curie University; Carnegie Mellon, 2013–

JENNIFER BRUDER, Associate Dean for Research; Associate Teaching Professor, Psychology – Ph.D, University of Munich; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

ANDRES CASTANO ZULUAGA, Assistant Teaching Professor, Economics and Analytics – Ph.D., Cornell Univeristy; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

ANIS CHARFI, Associate Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D., Technische Universitat Darmstadt; Carnegie Mellon, 2015–

CRISTA CRITTENDEN, Instructor of Psychology – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

HASAN DEMIRKOPARAN, Co-Area Head, Art and Sciences; Teaching Professor, Mathematics – Ph.D., Michigan State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2005–

GIANNI DI CARO, Teaching Professor, Computer Science – Ph.D., Université Libre de Bruxelles; Carnegie Mellon, 2016–

CRISTIAN DIMITRIU, Visiting Associate Professor, Philosphy – Ph.D, University of Toronto; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

KIRA DREHER, Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging; Assistant Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., University of Minnesota; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

EMILY DRILL, Associate Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences – Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

LAYAN EL HAJJ, Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics; – Ph.D., McGill University; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

HUSSEIN FADLALLAH, Assistant Teaching Professor, Management, – Ph.D., York University; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

MUHAMMAD FUAD FAROOQI, Area Head, Business Administration; Teaching Professor, Finance – Ph.D., Richard Ivey School of Business; Carnegie Mellon, 2013–

SIMON FAULKNER, Assistant Teaching Professor, Chemistry – Ph.D., University College London; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

EDUARDO FEO FLUSHING, Assistant Teaching Professor, Computer Science; – Ph.D., Università della Svizzera italiana; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

MARIA PIA GOMEZ LAICH, Associate Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2018–

KI-WON HAAN, Assistant Teachiing Professor, Organizational Behavior, – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

SUSAN HAGAN, Associate Teaching Professor, Information Systems, Emeritus – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

MAHER HAKIM, Distinguished Career Professor; – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

MOHAMMAD HAMMOUD, Associate Teaching Professor, Computer Science – Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

KHALED HARRAS, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty; Teaching Professor, Computer Science – Ph.D, University of California-Santa Barbara; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–

ERIK HELIN, Lecturer, Spanish – M.A., Eastern Michigan University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006–

AGUSTIN INDACO, Assistant Teaching Professor, Economics – Ph.D., City University of New York (CUNY); Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

CHRISTOS KAPOUTSIS, Associate Teaching Professor, Computer Science – Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon, 2012–

NIRAJ KHARE, Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics – Ph.D., The Ohio State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

DIVAKARAN LIGINLAL, Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D., University of Arizona-Tucson; Carnegie Mellon, 2009–

YASSER MAJEED, Assistant Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences – Ph.D., University of Leeds; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

SELMA LIMAM MANSAR, Teaching Professor, Information Systems, Emeritus – Ph.D., National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

J. PATRICK MCGINNIS, Distinguished Career Professor, Business Administration – M.A., Pittsburg State University; Carnegie Mellon, 1999–

THOMAS MITCHELL, Associate Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2013–

MANORANJAN MOHANTY, Assistant Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D., National University of Singapore; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

EZZOHRA MOUFID, Lecturer, Modern Languages – MS, University of Roehampton; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

NIMER MURSHID, Assistant Teaching Professor, Chemistry, – Ph.D., University of Waterloo; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

ADVITI NAIK, Assistant Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences – Ph.D., University of Tubingen; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

DEEPA NAIR, Assistant Teaching Professor, History – Ph.D., National University of Singapore; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

LAMA NASIF, Associate Teaching Professor, Arabic Studies, – Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

MARION OLIVER, Teaching Professor, Mathematical Sciences, Emeritus – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

TAEYONG PARK, Assistant Teaching Professor, Statistics – Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

SILVIA PESSOA, Co-Area Head, Art and Sciences; Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2006–

DANIEL PHELPS, Associate Teachig Professor, Information Systems, Emeritus – Ph.D., Florida State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

MARY QUEEN, Visiting Associate Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., Syracuse University; Carnegie Mellon, 2024–

BENJAMIN REILLY, Teaching Professor, History – Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon, 2004–

GISELLE REIS, Area Head, Computer Science; Associate Teaching Professor, Computer Science – Ph.D., Vienna University of Technology; Carnegie Mellon, 2016–

DUDLEY REYNOLDS, Senior Associate Dean, Education; Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., Indiana University-Bloomington; Carnegie Mellon, 2007–

RYAN RILEY, Associate Area Head, Computer Science; Associate Teaching Professor, Computer Science – Ph.D., University of Purdue; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

VELI SAFAK, Assistant Teaching Professor, Economics – Ph.D., Georgetown University; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

REYA SALIBA, Instruction and Outreach Librarian; – Ph.D., Lancaster University; Carnegie Mellon, 2023–

VARUN SHARMA , Assistant Teaching Professor, Marketing – Ph.D., Bocconi University; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

JEFFREY SQUIRES, Assistant Teaching Professor, English – Ph.D., University of Minnesota Twin-Cities; Carnegie Mellon, 2019–

MICHAEL TRICK, Dean of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar and Harry B. and James H. Higgins Professor of Operations Research – Ph.D., Georgia Institute of Technology; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

TATIANA USOVA, Director, Library – MLIS, Simmons University; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

SAVANID VATANASAKDUL, Associate Teaching Professor, Information Systems – Ph.D., University of South Wales; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–

ANTHONY WESTON, Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics; – Ph.D., Kent State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2022–

ZELEALEM YILMA, Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics – Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University; Carnegie Mellon, 2014–

IHAB YOUNIS, Area Head, Biological Sciences; Associate Teaching Professor, Biological Sciences – Ph.D., Ohio State University; Carnegie Mellon, 2015–

MOHAMED ZAYED, Associate Teaching Professor, Physics – D.Sc., ETH Zurich; Carnegie Mellon, 2017–