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Policies and Forms

Course substitutions

Students may fulfill certain requirements with courses outside the curriculum listings. This provides limited flexibility when required courses are unavailable, or when new "special topics" courses are created by other departments and are relevant to the intentions of the requirement.

Students may make one course substitution within the curriculum's Disciplinary Core. For example, the Organization requirement may be fulfilled with a course transferred from another institution.

One course substitution is also permitted within one's Concentration Area. For example, the course Business Communications (70-340) may substitute for Writing in the Professions (76-270) in the Communication Design area.

All course substitution proposals must be submitted to the Program's Associate Director Steve Pajewski. The following form (Course Substitution Form) must be used, and a description of the proposed course must be attached.

Double Counting

When pursuing an additional major or a minor, students may have the opportunity to count a particular course for both IS and that major or minor. An example is the course Organizational Behavior (70-311), which can count for both IS and the Business Administration minor. Since IS exists as a primary major only, it has no policy on course double-counting. Students must, however, adhere to the policy restrictions on double-counting that are enforced by the academic department of the student's additional major or minor.

Course Overloading

Student who wish to carry a course overload (more than 50 units) must discuss their plan with Associate Director Steve Pajewski. They must meet the qualifications for overloading as determined by H&SS policy and submit a petition for approval.

HSS Overload Policy and Petition Form

Independent Study Credit

Independent studies are opportunities to engage in research with a faculty member to advance your learning in certain areas of interest. As an Information Systems major you may enroll in an independent study course for 3, 6, 9, or 12 units of academic credit. You must arrange your own study by obtaining a faculty sponsor who will direct you and help define the academic component of your work, monitor your progress, and assign a final grade.

Permission for registering and receiving credit is given after Independent Study Learning Contract is completed and submitted to Steve Pajewski (Porter Hall 100B). Steve will add the independent study course to your schedule of classes.

You need to submit the Independent Study Learning Contract by the end of the first week of classes of the semester in which you will have the study. Download the Learning Contract for Independent Study Credit and view the complete details on arranging an independent study for credit. 

Internship Credit

Internships are supervised work experiences either on or off campus and are related to your academic interests and career goals. As an Information Systems major you may receive a maximum of 6 units of academic credit for an internship. You must arrange your own internship by obtaining a faculty sponsor who agrees to define the academic component of your work, monitor your progress, and assign a final grade. You also need to have a work site supervisor willing to communicate with the faculty sponsor and provide an evaluation of your work before a final grade is assigned.

Permission for registering and receiving credit is given after the Internship Learning Contract is completed and submitted to Steve Pajewski. Steve will add the internship course to your schedule of classes.

You need to submit the Learning Contract by the end of the first week of classes of the semester in which you will have the study. Download the Learning Contract for Internship Credit and view the complete details on arranging an independent study for credit. 

Transfer Credit

IS students may receive transfer credit for coursework taken outside of Carnegie Mellon. For courses that are intended to fulfill IS major requirements, approval is needed from the Program¯s Associate Director. Courses intended for other majors or minors need approval from those programs¯ home departments. Elective courses need to be approved by the H&SS Academic Advisory Center.

For complete details on the transfer credit policy and procedures, visit the Advisory Center or click here.