Curriculum

The Information Systems Program at Carnegie Mellon is unique, exciting and unconventional.  Drawing from multiple and diverse disciplines, the IS major appeals to outstanding students with a wide range of backgrounds and interests.  IS students learn how information technology, effective teamwork and leadership, and sound project management combine to enable innovation and change, and to add competitive value.  

See the Undergraduate Catalog for university and college policies.

See Major Requirements or the Information Systems section of the Undergraduate Catalog for details on the curriculum.

The curriculum itself is built on four key areas:

General Education to give students a broad grounding in humanities, social sciences, arts and natural sciences.

A Disciplinary Core to give students exposure to professional communications, quantitative analysis and research methods, and organizations, policy and social science.

A Professional Core emphasizing system analysis, user-centered design, efficient  development practices, teamwork, decision making and leadership.  We provide the technology, project management and business-facing skills needed to design and build effective real-world systems solutions. 

A Content Area intended to build skills and understanding in a supporting area such as Business/Enterprise Systems, Computing and Information Systems & Technology, Social and Global Systems, and Quantitative Analysis and Research Methods.

All Information Systems students put theory into practice by completing two semester-length, team-based projects.  Junior level Information Systems students work with a small project group to analyze, design, and implement a moderate-sized information system.  Basic system life cycle principles, good teamwork, project management, and quality are emphasized throughout.  Senior level Information Systems students design and implement an operational information system solution for a client organization, typically a non-profit, charitable or education organization.  Through these projects courses, students gain valuable practice, confidence and skills in managing complex projects, working with teammates and project sponsors and dealing with the ambiguities inherent in every large-scale systems project.  (See Project Showcase for some recent projects.)

Information Systems is also home to the minor in Global Systems and Management.  This minor is intended for students wishing to develop skills essential for participating in emerging opportunities in global business systems, systems development, product development and global project management. 

Academic Advising

Advising is integral to the educational mission of Carnegie Mellon and to the Information Systems Program. Seeking good advice is an important part of how students make decisions about their academic and professional futures. All students are encouraged, and expected, to meet with their advisors on a regular basis. 

See the Policies and Forms section for frequently asked advising questions and proper forms.  The University, College and Information Systems major have specific guidelines, policies and restrictions on course substitutions, double counting of courses with second majors or minors, course overloading, pass/fail registrations, independent study and internship credits.  All students should plan carefully to be sure their plans of study meet any applicable policies and restrictions.