EE MS FAQs

• Are there any part-time positions offered through the department that are available to students?

  The department has a number of part-time academic positions that are open to students each semester. Please see ee.columbia.edu/ee-departmental-positions for further details on positions offered.

• Where can I find information for graduate students who are new to the school?

  A Guide for New Graduate Students, which includes a checklist for new graduate students, can be found by linking to engineering.columbia.edu/files/engineering/NewStudentChecklist-2013a.pdf.

• How do I get an advisor?

  MS students are assigned temporary advisors by research area when they arrive to the school. Students are free to consult with any of the MS program advisors as they progress through the program. Note that some decisions (such as which courses students may take  from a non-traditional set of courses) have to be made/approved by the program, rather than an individual advisor. Student are required to contact the dept. academic affairs to consult on those.

• Where can I find information on how to plan-out my courses in my program?

  Useful information for course planning can be found by linking to ee.columbia.edu/course-flowcharts-0.

• Where can I find information on the program requirements for the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering?

  A program checklist for the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering can be found by linking to ee.columbia.edu/files/seasdepts/electrical-engineering/pdf-files/MSCheckList2015.pdf.

• Where can I find information on previous years’ Graduate Student Orientations?

  An itinerary, which includes the overview of the presentations given in the previous year’s Graduate Student Orientation, is available by linking to ee.columbia.edu/ee-and-ce-graduate-students-orientation.

• I take a course for Pass/Fail will it count towards the total required credits for my program?

  No. Courses taken for Pass/Fail will not be counted towards the required program credits.

• Can I take a 3000 level course?

  Yes. However, only 4000+ level courses will be considered towards the successful completion of the MS program.

• I’m an international student. How do I apply for a U.S. social security number?

  For information on how to apply for a social security number, please link to columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/F-1/SSN.pdf.

• I’m an international student and want to drop a course that would put me below the required credits for full-time status. Can I do this?

  Yes. There are exceptions made for international students who wish to drop a course that would affect their registration as a full-time status student. Please link to columbia.edu/sec/cu/isso/Reduced_Course_Load_request.html for information regarded Reduced Course Load (RCL).

• I’m an international student and want to invite my family and friends to my graduation ceremony. How can I do this?

  For information on how to invite family and/or friends to visit you in the United States, please link to   columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/inviting_relatives.html.

• How do I petition for a Leave of Absence (LoA)?

  Students who need to take time off from the program will need to petition Graduate Student Affairs (GSA) by completing a Change of Status Request form found at gradengineering.columbia.edu/files/engineering/ChangeofStatus.pdf . In addition to the completed form, students need to include a written and signed letter explaining the need for the LoA. Forward the completed Change of Status Request form and explanation letter to the attention of Elsa Sanchez at elsa@ee.columbia.edu. Additional LoA information for International students can be viewed by linking to www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/visa/F-1/F-1_LOA.html.

• Where can I find information about the school’s policies on discrimination, harassment, and gender-based misconduct?

  Columbia University is committed to providing a learning, living, and working environment free from discrimination, harassment and gender-based and sexual misconduct. Consistent with this commitment and with applicable laws, the University does not tolerate discrimination, harassment or gender-based or sexual misconduct in any form and it provides students who believe that they have been subjected to conduct or behavior of this kind with mechanisms for seeking redress. For additional information, please link to gradengineering.columbia.edu/discrimination-harassment-and-gender-based-misconduct-policies.

• Where can I find information on campus resources?

  Information on the campus resources that are provided to students can be found by linking to gradengineering.columbia.edu/campus-resources.

• Where can I find information on the school’s student organizations?

  Information on the school’s student organizations can be found by linking to gradengineering.columbia.edu/student-organizations.

• The information on my Degree Audit Report doesn’t appear accurate. What should I do?

  Because the Degree Audit Report (DAR) cannot always capture every possible course that would satisfy a requirement for the program, the information listed should not be taken at face-value. Please contact either Elsa Sanchez (elsa@ee.columbia.edu) or Ronald Curtis (ronald@ee.columbia.edu) if you have any questions on your DAR.

• I dropped (added) a course to my class schedule, but I cannot see it on my SSOL account. What should I do?

  SSOL refreshes every 24 hours. If you do not see your update(s) by the next business day, please contact the Office of Registrar at registrar.columbia.edu.

• What is the school’s policy on Academic Integrity?

  Information regarding the school’s policy on Academic Integrity can be viewed by linking to gradengineering.columbia.edu/academic-integrity-1.