ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ADMITTED STUDENTS

Nature of the Program:

The Masters of Computational Data Science program is an intense, technically oriented, highly selective program designed to produce future leaders in professional software engineering.  Our graduates typically obtain desirable positions and function in technical leadership roles within their companies.  The Program stresses a hands-on experience, guided by skilled mentors, coupled with a world-renowned, challenging curriculum.  Alumni of this program are now working at many high technology companies – Google, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Accessibility to Faculty and Courses:

The elective portion of our curriculum allows the student to take courses throughout the School of Computer Science and across the University.  In addition to outstanding programs in such areas as human computer interaction, robotics, and classical computer science and, of course, software engineering, the University has world-class programs in business, public policy, fine arts and music.

MCDS Required New Student Orientation

All incoming MCDS students MUST attend the in-person MCDS New Student Orientation Monday, August 19, 2024. The orientation is held at the Pittsburgh campus and consists of a full day of activities to prepare you for the program. You will receive information regarding this session, via email as we get closer to the Fall semester. F-1 visa students will be required to attend the in-person OIE Mandatory International Student Welcome and Immigration Check-in, which will take place the week before MCDS Orientation. Please check your email regularly for updates and information from OIE regarding the session. Additionally, All MCDS students are required to attend the Graduate Student Orientation which will also take place the week before MCDS Orientation, so please plan to be in Pittsburgh early enough to attend all events and get acclimated to campus/Pittsburgh.

11-637 Foundations of Computational Data Science

All students entering the MCDS program are encouraged to complete 11-637 Foundations of Computational Data Science, course during the Summer session prior to arriving in Pittsburgh. You must earn a B- or better in this course (12 units). You will need to register for this summer distance education course and the course instructor will communicate with you directly through the Canvas Course.  Your grade in this course will be part of your academic record at CMU. Students who fail to pass the course during Summer must (re-)enroll in the class during the Fall semester.

15-513 Introduction to Computer Systems

Students who plan to select the Systems concentration may wish to enroll in 15-513 “Introduction to Computing Systems” a (6) unit course offered during the Summer; this course is a prerequisite for many advanced Systems courses, so it should be completed during the Summer semester if you wish to enroll in advanced Systems courses during the Fall.  Both will charge tuition at the per-unit rate. This is an asynchronous course delivery where the student can take at a time that is convenient for them. The course will start and end on preset dates. Students are expected to take quizzes and complete projects by preset deadlines. The course does not have any attendance requirements. You can work/study when you have time.

Course Registration

If you are planning to register for the encouraged Summer 2024 Semester/ 11-637 or 15-513 course please visit here:https://www.cmu.edu/hub/registrar/registration/steps/index.html

Tuition and other costs:

Full-time tuition for the 2024/2025 academic year has been set at $57,500 ($28,750 per semester). There are additional costs for the summer semester. The 11-637 Foundations of Computational Data Science course is a 12-unit course and the fee is $600 per unit in addition to full-time tuition, for a total cost of $7,200 for the course. This 12-unit tuition fee will be due by May 15, 2024.  In addition to tuition, students are required to pay activity and transportation fees. You can find more information regarding the breakdown of tuition and fees at the following link: https://mcds.cs.cmu.edu/learn-us-fees-and-financial-aid

Financial Aid:

As a matter of policy, the School of Computer Science does not provide direct financial assistance for students attending its professional masters programs. It is possible, however, following the completion of the first semester, for students to become a Teaching Assistant. After their first semester on campus, interested students, who do not speak English as their native language, must have their language assessed before becoming a Teaching Assistant. The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) is charged with certifying the language of International Teaching Assistants (ITA’s), ensuring that nonnative English speakers have the language proficiency needed to succeed as a teaching assistant in the Carnegie Mellon classroom. In addition to departmental policy, Pennsylvania State Law requires that all students attain a satisfactory level of language proficiency prior to being assigned teaching responsibilities. https://www.cmu.edu/student-success/programs/language-support/index.html

Admission into CMU Doctoral Programs:

Acceptance into the Master of Computational Data Science Program does not guarantee admission into any doctoral program at Carnegie Mellon University.  The courses that students must complete as part of the MCDS Program may serve to enhance one’s application to these programs, but will in no way assure admittance.

Visas for International Students:

International students, who will require an I-20/F1 Visa, please follow the instructions below: 

  • After you receive the "First Pass" email with CMU user credentials (Andrew ID)
  • Use your Andrew ID to sign into the "MyOIE" portal through the "Full Client Services for Students and Scholars" section.
  • On the MyOIE Service home page, click on the "New Student Initial Document Request" 3-Form under the "Pre-Arrival" section.
  • Complete all six sections of the e-Form before submitting.
  • Wait 4-6 weeks.
  • Once your I-20 has been issued, you will receive an email from OIE which will include your SEVIS ID and instructions on how to create a shipping label for OIE to ship your document to you.

Graduate Education:

The Office of Graduate Education is here to help ease your transition to Pittsburgh and the university. We've gathered the most important information to help you prepare for your arrival on campus and to help you get situated once you're here.  For more information please be sure to visit there website at: http://www.cmu.edu/graduate/incoming-students/index.html

Additional Information:

Our website, mcds.cs.cmu.edu, contains detailed descriptions of our programs, the curriculum, and our current students and alumni.  We encourage you to visit the site.  Campus maps may be viewed at the following link: http://www.cmu.edu/visit/. For additional questions, please contact our Academic Program Managers, Jennifer Lucas, via email at: jmlucas@cs.cmu.edu or Caitlin Korpus, via email at: ckorpus@andrew.cmu.edu