Answers to
Frequently Asked Questions by Prospective Students:
Students who are interested in joining the Design
Decisions Lab are encouraged to review research and
prior publications on
this website. Graduate students typically join the lab through one of the
graduate degree programs in Mechanical Engineering or Engineering and Public Policy (or both).
Undergraduate students join the lab through independent study, summer
projects, and CIT Honors Research.
Ph.D.: Admissions each semester depend on candidate
qualifications as well as availability and area of project funding. Ph.D.
students generally must have a funding source to support tuition and living
expenses. Applicants are encouraged to apply for their own funding, and
strong applicants are also considered for funded DDL projects. A partial
list of student funding sources can be found <here>. Funded DDL projects vary from
semester to semester, and availability of DDL funding is determined at the
time of admissions decisions. All applicants are reviewed through the
application process according to the Carnegie Mellon application schedule.
It is not necessary to have a M.S. degree before applying to the Ph.D.
program; however, a relevant M.S. degree can make an applicant more
competitive.
M.S.: The M.S. degree is a self-supported degree,
meaning that DDL project funds are generally not available to support M.S.
students; however, students typically make up for any educational loan
costs with higher salaries and increased job prospects. Students interested
in research should pursue the 2-year M.S.-project degree (which may include
a 2-year research project with DDL in addition to coursework) and consider
applying for funding. A partial list of funding sources can be found <here>. Students interested in coursework
only should choose the 1-year M.S.-coursework option. Students specifically
interested in interdisciplinary product development should consider the Master's Degree in
Product Development option. Mechanical Engineering students who
are interested in obtaining a M.S. degree along the way to a Ph.D. should
consider the direct Ph.D. option. The Department of Engineering and Public
Policy admits to the Ph.D. program only – there is no M.S. program.
B.S.: High-performing undergraduate students at
Carnegie Mellon may apply to join the lab through CIT Honors Research, summer
projects, and/or independent study. Students can apply for funding to do
paid research during the summer. A partial list of funding sources can be
found <here>.
Honors research is a CIT program for juniors who have an accumulated QPA of
at least 3.5. More information can be found <here>.
Admissions and projects will vary depending on project availability and student
qualifications, skills and interests. For undergraduates interested in
graduate school, early involvement in research is an excellent experience.
Internships: DDL receives many requests for
internships. DDL does not hire interns and may not respond to internship
requests due to the large volume of inquiries.
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