We are delighted that you have chosen to pursue graduate studies in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy. We want to help make your stay here as enjoyable and productive as we can.

This "handbook" is designed to help you figure out all of the ins and outs of graduate studies in EPP and at Carnegie Mellon.

As EPP has grown larger, we’ve had to develop more rules and procedures. However, most of these are not cast in stone. If you encounter specific situations or problems that just don’t seem to fit, never just grumble and accept them. Come see one of us. We may be able to help you find a solution.

Vicki Finney
Mitch Small
Granger Morgan
Barbara Bugosh

The PDF version of this handbook can be found here.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Academic Affairs
2.1 Getting Started
2.2 Meeting the Faculty, Academic Advisors, and Research Advisor
2.3 Graduate Education Committee
2.4 Course Work
2.4.1 Core Course Requirement
2.4.2 Type A Requirement
2.4.3 Type B Requirement
2.5 Avoiding Plagiarism: Proper Attribution
2.6 Keeping Track of Progress
2.7 A General Progress Schedule for all EPP Students (except students in CASOS & SET Change)
2.8 The Qualifying Examinations
2.8.1 Part A
2.8.2 Part B
2.9 Thesis Proposal and Ph.D. Committee
2.10 Ph.D. Research
2.11 Ph.D. Dissertation
2.12 Binding and Copying the Thesis
2.12.1 Microfilming and Copyrighting the Dissertation
2.13 Dissertation Defense
2.14 Degree Convocation and Commencement Events
2.15 Enrollment Verification
3. Registration, Enrollment and Student Status
3.1 Registration
3.1.1 Summer Registration, Tuition, and Curricular Practical Training
3.1.2 Cross Registration
3.2 Student Status
3.2.1 Full-time and All But Dissertation Status (ABD)
3.2.2 In Absentia Status (ABS)
3.2.3 Final Semester Tuition Grace Period
3.2.4 In Case of Inadequate Progress
3.3 International Students
3.3.1
4. Funding
4.1 Stipends
4.1.1 Time off
4.2 Research Funding
5. Facilities and General Office Procedures
5.1 General Office Procedures
5.2 Office Space & Lounge
5.2.1 Graduate Offices
5.2.2 Student Lounge
5.3 Telephone Calls
5.4 Copying
5.5 Postage
5.6 Miscellaneous Office Machines
5.7 Laser Writers
5.8 University Computing
5.9 EPP Computing
5.10 Graduate Student Health Insurance and Student Fees
5.11 Student Housing
5.12 Graduate Student Transition Loans
5.13 Hygiene
6. Graduate Student Advisory Committee (SAC)
7. Intellectual Property Policy and Miscellaneous Policy Web Sites
8. World-Wide Web
Appendix 1: EPP Faculty and Relevant Department Contacts
Appendix 2: Coursework for Students in the CASOS Program
Appendix 3: Curriculum Progress Sheets
Appendix 4: Proper Attribution
Appendix 5: Qualifying Exam Guidelines
Appendix 6: Invoicing & Payroll Deduction Guidelines
Appendix 7: Graduate Student Office Regulations