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Computer Science Advising Corner

The following comments are based on typical questions received from students. It is specifically intended for students in the Computer Science (CS), Information Assurance (IA), and Information Systems Engineering (ISE) programs in Engineering for Professionals (EP). The intent is to summarize information and eliminate some common problems and points of confusion. The final authority is the catalog, which is published annually in the Spring. Please do not hesitate to refer to it. Please note that official decisions can only come from the admission committee. Please direct your comments and questions to E. Chlan, Special Student adviser for CS, IA and ISE, at chlan@jhu.edu.

General Comments

  • In their acceptance letters, degree candidates will be referred to the website to fill out an online program plan .
  • Courses have numbers like 605.403 or 695.721. 605 means Computer Science. 695 means IA. 635 means ISE. If the digit after the period is a 2 then it is a 200-level course, if the digit is a 4 then it is a 400-level course, and if the digit is a 7 then it is a 700-level course..
  • Note, many but not all courses from one of these three programs are co-listed in one of the other programs. For example 695.401 is an IA course, a CS course and an ISE course. 605.481 is a CS and ISE course but not an IA course. 605.721 is only a CS course. 635.444 is both an ISE and a CS course. 635.411 is only an ISE course.
  • Registration approval is separate from admission acceptance. If you only want to take courses if you are accepted, then you will need to wait until you get an official response before you register. This typically takes 4-6 weeks, although it can take longer during busy times of the year.
  • Foundation course waivers and transfer requests should be completed before registration to avoid delays.

Admissions

  • Official decisions can only come from the admission committee.
  • Admissions are done on a rolling basis. Applications are processed in the order received.
  • Being allowed to register for a course does not necessarily mean that you have been accepted. Advisers are only supposed to permit registration if it seems likely the student will be accepted.
  • Applicants are allowed one course while waiting for an admission decision, but there are restrictions on what course can be taken. A reasonable effort will be made by an adviser to determine if prerequisites are needed. If they are needed, prerequisites must be done first. If prerequisites are satisfied, then foundation courses will be considered. If foundation course requirements have been satisfied, then other courses will be considered. This rule is intended to protect the student from taking a course that should not be counted towards a degree.
  • If you only want to take courses if you are accepted then you will need to wait until you get an official response before you register. This typically takes 4-6 weeks. It can take longer at busy times of the year.
  • To be sure of enough time, it is suggested that you apply by March 1 for the Summer Term, by June 1 for the Fall Term, and by October 1 for the Spring Term. There are no official application deadlines.
  • Applications and transcripts are sent to the WSE/EP Address.
  • Please send transcripts from ALL the schools that you attended.
  • If you received your degree from a foreign school, then you may need to have your credentials evaluated to see if your degree is equivalent to to a degree awarded by a regionally accredited US school. We will send you the form to get the evaluation done if it is required. If you have previously had an evaluation done for employment purposes, we will be happy to review it and see if it satisfies our requirements.

Prerequisites for Admission

  • Courses have numbers like 605.403 or 635.721. 605 means Computer Science. 695 means IA. 635 means ISE. If the digit after the period is a 2 then it is a 200-level course, if the digit is a 4 then it is a 400-level course, and if the digit is a 7 then it is a 700-level course.
  • 200-level courses can be used to satisfy prerequisites for admission.
  • All students regardless of status are required to satisfy program prerequisites before taking classes at the 400 level. Please do not ask to take other courses until the 200 level prerequisite courses, or equivalent courses, are completed. Send grade slips or transcripts to JHU upon completion.
  • Prerequisites can be completed at other regionally accredited schools. Forms to obtain written pre-approval are included in the student's response from the admissions committee. Email requests will be considered at chlan@jhu.edu up to two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Please include a full description of the prerequisite. You should specify the school, and, if known, the text. Please do not simply provide a link to the description.
  • If you think that you satisfy a prerequisite by work experience or noncredit course work there are proficiency exams available in some cases. Please check out the proficiency exam pages for more details.
  • After the prerequisites are completed, please notify the admissions committee. You can send email to jhep@jhu.edu or a written request to the WSE/EP Address. Please note that it is your responsibility to notify EP that your status needs to be reviewed as students satisfy requirements at their own pace.

Practical Issues for Registration

  • All registrations need to be approved by an adviser. For degree candidates, the approved program plan represents adviser approval. Degree candidates should use ISIS(Integrated Student Information System) to register for classes. Students will need a JHED id in order to log into ISIS and should see this page for more help: http://ep.jhu.edu/jhed.
  • Provisional students and graduate special students will need to have their registrations approved on a case by case basis by the Special Student adviser.
  • If you want to deviate from an approved plan, you should first consult your adviser. This is particularly important if you are waiving a prerequisite for a course. After reaching an agreements, the adviser will send an approval email to the registration staff and permission can be set in ISIS. Then the studetn can use ISIS to register normally. CS, IA, and ISE do not use the deviation forms found on the website.
  • In their acceptance letter, degree candidates will be referred to the website to fill out an online program plan. Until an approved plan is on file, registrations will need to be approved on a case by case basis by their academic adviser.
  • Manual registrations are approved by an adviser pending space in the class. The approval is then sent to the person responsible for placing students in the class if seats are available. The student will be able to confirm their registration in ISIS.
  • All students regardless of status are required to satisfy program prerequisites before taking classes at the 400 level. Please do not ask to take other courses until the 200 level prerequisite courses or equivalents are completed. Please send grade slips or transcripts to JHU upon completion.
  • Prerequisites can be completed at other regionally accredited schools.
  • All students regardless of status are required to satisfy program foundation course requirements before taking any other classes. Exceptions for special students will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please do not ask to take other courses until the foundation courses are completed.
  • Foundation course waivers and transfer requests should be completed before registration, to avoid delay.

Practical Issues for Program Plan

  • Program plans are not cast in stone. They can be easily changed if needed. It is more important to have a plan on file than to have a perfect plan. It will facilitate your registrations.
  • In their acceptance letter, degree candidates will be referred to the website to fill out an online program plan. Until an approved plan is on file, registrations will need to be approved on a case by case basis by their academic adviser.
  • All program plans should be submited online. The submission and approval process is completely electronic. A prior plan can be pulled up and edited, if changes are desired.
  • All students regardless of status are required to satisfy program foundation course requirements before taking any other classes. Please do not ask to take other courses until the foundation courses are completed.
  • Foundation courses can be waived if you have taken a previous comparable course. This is normally handled as part of the program plan approval process. If foundation courses are waived, you still have to take 10 courses, but you have greater flexibility.
  • To waive a foundation course, please submit a complete description of a comparable course you have previously taken in which you have earned a grade of at least B. It should be a graduate-level or senior-level undergraduate course. Please cite the textbook used.
  • When filling out program plan,
    1. List course number, name of course and expected term for each course.
    2. List foundation courses to be taken first.
    3. List substitutes for foundation courses, if waivers requested. If you check the box to request waiver of the foundation course, space to list a substitute and to enter the waiver information will pop up.
    4. Include course descriptions of upper level, undergraduate courses in which a grade of A or B was earned, for each waiver requested.
    5. List at least two 700 level courses. More is acceptable.
    6. List a 3 course concentration. E.g. 605.401, 605.409, 605.701 or 695.411, 695.711, 695.712
    7. List no more than 2 outside electives. Outside electives are optional.
    8. List 10 courses
  • If the plan is not completely filled out, it cannot be approved.
  • If you plan to request transfer credit for courses taken elsewhere, please submit request and wait for answer before submitting program plan. A program plan which includes transfer courses cannot be signed until the transfer request has been approved by the admissions committee. Please note that advisers do not handle transfer requests.
  • If the adviser has a problem with your plan he or she will send you a written memo. You can call or write to negotiate your plan. When student and adviser are in agreement on the plan then it is approved electronically and the student is notified.

Transfer Courses

  • Transfer requests must be sent in writing to the attention of the admissions committee at the WSE/EP Address.
  • Include a description of each course to be considered for transfer. Make sure that the relevant transcripts are on file. Please do NOT request transfer for courses:
    1. Taken at a foreign institution.
    2. Taken after applying to JHU/WSE/EP.
    3. That are undergraduate courses.
    4. That are from a different major.
    5. In which earned grades were lower than a B.
    6. That were counted for another degree.
  • Please wait for a response to your transfer request before filling out your program plan. If you have an approved plan on file, and then have a transfer request approved, you will need to submit a revised plan for approval.
  • If you leave the area permanently before completing your degree, please consult with an academic adviser to determine what options are available for completing your degree.

Address

Use the following address for application, transcripts, registrations, program plans, transfer requests, and status review requests: WSE/EP Johns Hopkins University
Dorsey Center
6810 Deerpath Road
Suite 100
Elkridge, MD 21075

Academic Advising: