Advising

MSCS General Advising Guide Heading link

MSCS Advising Guide

You can find an updated “Getting to Know Us” presentation and also the MSCS Advising Guide here. This guide does not replace academic advising in the department, but can assist with course planning and learning more about the department. Academic Advising appointments are available on iAdvise (my.uic.edu). 

Declaration of Major

Entering students can declare their major on the admission form provided by OAR; continuing students can declare a major by attending an advising appointment with a departmental advisor. Appointments and drop-in information can be found on iAdvise (my.uic.edu). An early declaration is encouraged for several reasons: Declared majors have access not only to advisors in LAS, but advisors in the Department. Departmental advisors can offer guidance about the major and about courses, beyond the descriptive information contained in the Undergraduate Catalog. In addition, declared majors receive important information from the department. More information about major declaration, double majors, double degrees, and second bachelor’s degrees can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

The Advising Session

Advising is one of the most important services provided by the Department. Departmental advisors can offer guidance about the major/minor and courses going beyond the descriptive information available in the undergraduate catalog. Departmental advisors in MSCS offer both drop-in advising (i.e., appointments for quick questions of 15 minutes or less) and full advising appointment (i.e., appointments for course planning, career development, and departmental inquires of 30 minutes). Students can find drop-in advising information on the LAS Advising homepage or on iAdvise (my.uic.edu).

Transfer Students

Transfer students in MSCS must complete half of their major courses in residence at UIC. Twelve of these hours must be completed at the advanced level. Advanced hours are courses numbered 200 and above. The Undergraduate Catalog contains additional information for students pursing a transfer from other colleges and universities, as well as Intercollege Transfers.

The Transfer Assistance Center can provide assistance and helpful information for students who are newly admitted to UIC. Students that spend their first two years at a community college should note that their last 60 hours of coursework should be taken at a 4-year institution.

While transfer students may receive credit for an MSCS course taken at another institution, these courses often have deficiencies in credit hours. These deficiencies must be made up in higher level MSCS coursework at UIC.

LAS Graduation Requirements

MSCS majors should also consult an LAS advisor consistently in order to discuss progress with the graduation requirements of the College, including:

  • LAS General Education Requirements
  • Advanced Hours Requirement
  • Residency Requirements
  • Credit Hour Requirements

Students can schedule appointments with LAS General Academic Advisors on iAdvise (my.uic.edu). Additional drop-in advising information can be found on the LAS Advising website.

GPA Requirements in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

GPA of 2.0 or higher is required in all work taken at UIC. GPA of 2.0 or higher is required in all transfer work ad work taken at UIC. GPA of 2.0 or higher is required in all work taken in the major field.

At the conclusion of each semester, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences determines the academic status of every enrolled undergraduate student based on their academic record and progress. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 in order to stay in good academic standing.

The same is true in the MSCS majors. A student remains in good standing if the major GPA is 2.0 or higher each semester. If the major GPA falls below 2.0 for one semester, the student’s major standing is placed on probation. If the major GPA falls below 2.0 for two consecutive semesters, the student is dropped from the major. In the MTHT major, students must maintain a 2.5 major and overall GPA. Students with a major GPA of 3.5 and above are considered for departmental distinction.

Declaration of Graduation

Seniors are required to submit a Declaration of Intent to Graduate form through their my.uic.edu student portal. The online form is available during the registration period of the semester in which the student intends to graduate. Students are encouraged to review the Graduation Policy and Procedure website for more information. Incomplete or missing grades on a student’s record must be resolved prior to a degree being awarded.

Independent Study

Students that have completed their core coursework in the major may wish to pursue their special interests independently under the direction of a faculty member. To enroll in an independent study, students must have a 2.50 GPA in all work taken at UIC and must contain consent of the instructor and the Director of Undergraduate Studies prior to registration. Students should speak with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for registration information.