Students are allowed to change to any class that has open seats. (See the View Available Seats page at https://register.cs.mum.edu ) Students must consult their faculty advisers who will verify that the student has any required prerequisites and that they understand what the class content is. In straightforward cases like this the faculty adviser (not the student) will directly notify the CS Registrar that they have approved the change.
If there are no seats open in the class, i.e., the class is at full capacity, then change requests will only be approved in highly exceptional circumstances. In such cases the faculty adviser (not the student) can contact the Department Chair with the request and justification.
Course instructors cannot give permission for a student to enroll in the course if the course is at full capacity. Course capacities are set in advance, and can only be changed if done in a manner that is fair to all students. This will require review and approval by the Department Chair.
Students should always prepare a table like the following to show their faculty adviser:
| Block | Current Assignment | Desired Changes |
|---|---|---|
| October | Software Engineering | same |
| November | Big Data | same |
| December | WAP | EA |
| January | DBMS | same |
In recent years we have strengthened our curriculum by adding more 5xx courses, and also revising some of these courses to have a stronger sequencing with related 4xx courses. This has allowed us to go into greater depth in the 5xx courses and means that you will be more prepared for successful careers. It also means that there is a greater dependency between certain courses, and to be successful in the more challenging 5xx courses it is important that you have made sufficient progress in the prerequisite courses. Because of these curriculum improvements we have now formalized a policy about ‘sufficient progress’ in the dependent courses. This policy will help ensure that everyone is successful in these important 5xx courses, and ensure success in your careers.
Prerequisite courses for other graduate courses must be passed with a grade of B or better. To help insure success in 5xx courses, students must retake the prerequisite course to obtain a grade of B or better before they can take the dependent course.
If a student does not achieve a B grade in a prerequisite course, then they must meet with their faculty adviser to revise their academic schedule if they have any courses scheduled that depend on the prerequisite course.
Students can register for DE courses whenever they want to from the Infosys site. But they’ll receive an official announcement about this towards the end of their last on-campus block.
The faculty strongly encourages you to think deeply before making your decision to take this month off. All the CS courses are excellent and geared toward the marketplace. Taking a month off increases your loan and doesn’t substantially move you toward your goal of graduation.
Below are the action steps you will need to perform to remain on campus while not enrolled in a course:
- U.S. Residents need to see the Financial Aid (FA) Office to verify that taking a month off doesn’t jeopardize your FA. Depending on where your final course falls within the semester, you may or may not be eligible for FA for that course.
- Send an e-mail to Elaine so that she can verify that your visa status will not be jeopardized by extending your on-campus studies an extra month.
- Submit a study plan to your faculty advisor that includes the topics, the book or online resources you will be using during this month and your goals in terms of knowledge gained during this time.
- Stay in contact with your faculty advisor once a week for the duration of your month off to review your study plan and your progress. Your advisor can answer any questions you may have regarding the material you are studying.
- See Mindy Wendt in the Career Planning Office to sign up for afternoon meditations with the Career Strategies Course. You are required to attend morning and afternoon group TM — in the morning in Dalby Hall and in the afternoon you may join the Career Strategies Course entering just after the break at 3:25).
- Return this form to the CS Registrar by the end of the first week of the block.
This month off break also provides the perfect opportunity to improve your English skills. The English as a Second Language (ESL) Department can be reached at 641-472-7000 X 3221. ESL classes are held Monday through Thursday from 3:30–4:30. The charge is $150 per month (added to your loan), and more support is available if you need it.
Speaking and working with the language is much more effective than watching TV and talking with your friends. The ESL Department can work with you to rapidly improve your English in a short time and command of the English language is crucial to a successful job interview.
Best wishes for a fruitful month off.