OMSCS FALL 2020 ORIENTATION INFORMATION

Welcome to the Online Master of Science in Computer Science (OMSCS) program! The faculty and staff at the College of
Computing are looking forward to working with you for the duration of your time at Georgia Tech.

We encourage you to review our ​onboarding information​ in addition to reading this document carefully and in its entirety.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Hyperlinked)

SECTION A. ACADEMIC POLICIES

SECTION B. FOUNDATIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENT
SECTION C. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
SECTION D. REGISTRATION TIME TICKETS
SECTION E. REGISTRATION HOLDS
SECTION F. REGISTER FOR CLASSES
To prepare for registration​...
If a course is CLOSED...
SECTION G. WAITLISTING FOR A CLOSED COURSE
Things to know about waitlisting​...
Checking your wait list number​...
SECTION H. DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE(S)
SECTION I. SYSTEMS YOU WILL BE USING AND WHY
SECTION J. IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE FALL 2020 SEMESTER
SECTION K. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
New Student Onboarding/GT Email Account
Institute Services & Course-Related Resources
Deferring Admission
Degree Requirements
Foundational Requirement
Course/Program Planning
Grades/GPA Requirement
Registration-Related Information
Payments & Financial Information
Taking Time Off
Graduation
SECTION L. GEORGIA TECH DIRECTORY INFORMATION
SECTION M. GET CONNECTED!
SECTION N. OMSCS ADVISING CONTACT INFORMATION

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SECTION A. ACADEMIC POLICIES

As a Georgia Tech student, you are responsible for knowing these academic policies and information:
● Academic Catalog: ​Website
● Academic Honor Code: ​Website
● Student/Faculty Expectations: ​Website

SECTION B. FOUNDATIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENT

1. You have one calendar year from the time you matriculate to complete the foundational course requirement.
2. If this is your first term as a new admit, you have Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021 to complete the
foundational course requirement.
3. The foundational course requirement is a minimum grade of “B” in two foundational courses.
4. The foundational courses are those with an asterisk (*) listed on the “​Current Courses​” page under the Program
Information tab on the OMSCS website.
5. If at any point during the first three consecutive terms after you matriculate you make less than a “B” in a
foundational course, that term still counts as part of your one-year time frame to complete the requirement.
○ For example, if you earn a “C” or below during your first semester (Fall 2020), you still would have two
semesters (Spring 2021 and Summer 2021) to fulfill the requirement, as long as you have not been
academically dismissed (please see Section K. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) for
information regarding academic standing).
○ To clarify further, you do not need to fulfill the foundational requirement with the first two courses you
enroll in as part of the OMSCS program — you simply need to fulfill the requirement within the one-year
time frame (again, as long as you abide by the Institute’s guidelines for academic standing).
6. If at any point during the first three consecutive terms after you matriculate you withdraw from a foundational
course, that term still counts as part of your one-year time frame to complete this requirement.
7. For new Fall 2020 students who matriculate this semester, you will be restricted to enrolling only in
foundational courses until you have satisfied the foundational course requirement.

SECTION C. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

​ ere​. The OMSCS program has the same DEGREE

Please take time to view the current MS CS degree requirements h
REQUIREMENTS as the on-campus MS CS but offers fewer areas of specialization and fewer courses.

1. Students must complete 30 credit hours (10 total courses) for the OMSCS degree.
2. Students must declare one specialization. 15-18 hours comprise the “Area of Specialization”.
3. The remaining 12-15 hours comprise CS/CSE “free” electives. The electives are any OMSCS course not used in
the “Area of Specialization”.
4. The thesis and project options are not available to online students. OMSCS is a course-only program.
5. Students must earn at least a “B” in all courses in their chosen “Area of Specialization”.
6. Students must earn at least a “C” in all courses counting toward their “free” elective requirement.
7. Students must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to graduate.
8. A maximum of 6 hours may be taken at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE.
9. Students must complete the OMSCS degree in six years as per the Institute’s policy
(​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/masters-degree-info/​). Therefore, if you matriculate during
the Fall 2020 term, you must fulfill the degree requirements by the end of the Summer 2026 term.
10. If you previously completed courses at Georgia Tech, specifically undergraduate/graduate Computer Science
(CS) or other CS-related undergraduate/graduate courses, you will be responsible for researching whether or not
the course(s) are considered to be “equivalent” to OMSCS courses, as these credits cannot count toward your
OMSCS degree. Please visit ​https://www.cc.gatech.edu/equivalent-courses​ and see SECTION K. FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) for more information.
11. Additional program information can be found here: ​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/program-information​.
12. The following “Areas of Specialization” (​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/program-info/specializations​) are available
through the OMSCS degree:
● Computational Perception and Robotics
(​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/specialization-computational-perception-robotics​)
● Computing Systems (​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/specialization-computing-systems​)
● Interactive Intelligence (​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/specialization-interactive-intelligence​)
● Machine Learning (​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/specialization-machine-learning​)

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SECTION D. REGISTRATION TIME TICKETS

Your time ticket will tell you the specific ​date and time​ you are allowed to ​begin​ registering for classes​.
● You will be able to view your time ticket on Friday, July 31 at 6:00pm ET.

To check your time ticket in OSCAR, follow these directions:

1. Go to ​https://oscar.gatech.edu/​.
2. Sign in using your GT credentials via the Secured Access Login.
3. Choose Student Services & Financial Aid.
4. Click Registration, then Registration Status.
5. Click Fall 2020 for Term and hit SUBMIT.
6. This page will display a time at which your Registration Time Ticket will begin. Also, if you have any holds or
outstanding issues, they will appear here.

Please note that time ticket assignment is based on earned hours. The time tickets are issued by the Registrar’s Office,
and the OMSCS Advising team unfortunately has no control over the process. We do not know the allocation of time
tickets until they are released to students.

Also, please keep in mind that graduate students typically are the last student population to register, as undergraduate
students and students who are part of a group that gets priority registration (Presidential Fellows, Office of Disability
Services, members of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), military veterans currently utilizing G.I. Bill benefits,
etc.) register before graduate students. ​Therefore, it is not uncommon for OMSCS students’ time tickets to begin
several days after the registration period opens.

SECTION E. REGISTRATION HOLDS

1. Once your account is activated, you must check to see if you have any holds that might prevent registration.
Instructions on how to view holds are available online: ​Holds.

2. If you have a hold on your account, you ​MUST​ clear it before you can register for classes. ​You must contact the
department who placed the hold, as the department who placed the hold is the ​only​ department who can
remove the hold.

● If you have a Graduate Admissions HOLD: ​Graduate Studies is missing documentation (probably your
final official transcript). Please refer to your checklist in CollegeNet for detailed information. If you have any
additional questions regarding these documents, please contact Graduate Studies at
[email protected]​ or call 404.894.1610.
➢ To mail your documents to Graduate Studies, see SECTION K. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(FAQs) for their mailing address.
➢ If your institution releases official transcripts electronically, please send them to
[email protected]​.
➢ Please note: If you are a new student starting Fall 2020, you will NOT have a missing document hold
placed on your account for transcripts until ​after​ registration has ended. However, you will want to ensure
that you submit all required official transcripts/documents to avoid future holds.

● If you have a Lawful Presence HOLD: ​Only the documents listed h ​ ere​ can be used to clear this hold. Go
to the ​Graduate Studies Home Page​ under “New Students” and click “Lawful Presence”. For questions,
please send an email to ​[email protected]​.

● If you have an Immunization HOLD:​ Send an email to ​[email protected]​ and request a

Waiver Request Form. Once the waiver is submitted, it is valid for ​one year from the date it is signed​.
“Distance Learners” do not require proof of immunization but ​must​ complete the yearly waiver. If you have
any questions regarding this requirement, please contact ​[email protected]​ or 404.894.1432.

● If you have a Financial Agreement HOLD:​ There is a new Financial Agreement hold that is being placed
on ​all​ students’ accounts​. ​This hold will prevent registration; however, you can clear the hold immediately in
OSCAR and do not need to wait until your time ticket becomes active. On the Registration menu, select
“Financial Responsibility Agreement”, read the agreement, enter your initials, and then click “Submit”.
Successful completion of this task clears the hold from your account and will allow you to continue with

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 registration. For questions, please contact the Bursar’s Office
(​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/content/office-information​).

SECTION F. REGISTER FOR CLASSES

● Remember that ​all​ times and deadlines are based on the Eastern time zone.
● Registration dates can be found on the ​Academic Calendar​ on the Registrar’s website.
● Registration begins on ​Saturday, August 1 and ends on Friday, August 21 at 4:00pm ET.
● Please check your time ticket to see the exact day and time you can begin registering.
● You will ​NOT​ be able to add/drop classes ​AFTER​ 4:00pm ET on Friday, August 21.

To prepare for registration:

1. First, be sure your status is “Student” and NOT “Applicant”. You may not activate your GT account until that
changes, and ​it will change about a week before registration begins​. **​Please do not contact our office prior
to the week before registration regarding this, as advisors are unable to change statuses.**

To check your status:

● Go to ​https://oscar.gatech.edu/​.
● Sign in using your GT credentials via the Secured Access Login.
● Select Student Services & Financial Aid.
● Select Registration.
● Select Registration Status.
● Select the Fall 2020 term.
● Click SUBMIT.

2. Activate your GT email account here: ​https://faq.oit.gatech.edu/content/how-do-i-activate-my-gt-account​.

3. The Institute, as well as the department, will use this email address as your official contact. ​You are required to
keep it active, and you are ​expected ​to read your email DAILY (​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/3/​).
This is true even if you are sitting out a semester.

4. The courses that are available for Fall 2020 can be found ​by performing a search in OSCAR.

5. Most​ online courses will have a section of “O” (example: O01, O02, O03, etc.).

6. Registration is first come, first served, so you will want to register as soon as your time ticket opens.

7. You can narrow your search in the Schedule of Classes by designating the Campus to “Online”. Please keep in
mind that there are multiple course subjects offered in the OMSCS program; therefore, be sure to do a search on
“CS”, “CSE”, “ISYE”, and “PUBP” for a full listing of the online courses offered. The search for CS is “Computer
Science”, the search for CSE is “Computational Science and Engineering”, the search for ISYE is “Industrial and
Systems Engineering”, and the search for PUBP is “Public Policy”.

Some of these courses will be offered with the OMS Analytics or the OMS Cybersecurity programs, so
please be mindful when selecting courses that you are choosing the appropriate section for OMSCS
students. Some sections may be restricted to OMS Analytics students and are designated with the
“OAN” section. Other sections may be restricted to OMS Cybersecurity students and are designated with
the “OCY” section. If a section of an OMS Analytics or OMS Cybersecurity course has been created for
OMSCS students, it will have a section of “O” followed by a two-digit number (example: O01, O02, O03,
etc.).

***​Please remember that per the program rules (​https://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​): "A maximum of
6 hours may be taken at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE.”*​ **

8. For detailed registration information, please follow this link: ​Registration Instructions​.

9. We strongly recommend that new students start with only one class.
● During the Fall and Spring semesters, all students (including new students) can take up to ​two​ courses (6
hours).
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 ● Please note that due to limited resources, all students (including new students) can enroll in only ​one
course (3 hours) during the Summer semester.

10. The best way for students to confirm that they have registered successfully for a course is from the "Student
Detail Schedule" section of OSCAR. Follow the directions below:
● Go to ​https://oscar.gatech.edu/​.
● Sign in using your GT credentials via the Secured Access Login.
● Select Student Services & Financial Aid.
● Select Registration.
● Select Student Detail Schedule.
● Select the current term.

**This will show, in detail, the courses for which you have registered successfully, as well as all waitlisted courses
(if any).**

11. Course materials will be available through Canvas sometime during the first week of classes (anytime between
August 17 and 21). ​Canvas should be the first place you check once you have registered for a course.
Unfortunately, we do not have control over when course materials will be available, nor do we have any additional
information as to exactly when course materials will be available.
● If you register for a course during the first week that classes begin, please note that it can take up to ​24
hours​ before you can access your course materials. If after this period of time you still cannot access
your course materials, please contact ​[email protected]​ for Canvas access.

12. If you try to register for a course and receive an error message, please refer to the link:
https://registrar.gatech.edu/registration/error-messages​ for an explanation of what the message means.
● If you receive the ​“OPEN - # WAITLISTED” e ​ rror message, this means that you are trying to register for a
course(s) that does not have any open seats. It may appear as though the course has seats available;
however, the open seats are reserved for students on the wait list.
● If you receive the “COHORT RESTRICTION” error message, this is because you are attempting to enroll
in a non-foundational course but have not yet satisfied the foundational requirement. ​No exceptions will
be made as far as overriding this error message unless you actually have satisfied the requirement.
● If you receive the “CAMPUS RESTRICTION” error message, this is because you are attempting to enroll
in a course that is not part of the OMSCS program. As a reminder, ​most​ OMSCS courses will have a
section of “O” (example: O01, O02, O03, etc.). ​Courses with the “OAN” section are for OMS
Analytics students only, and courses with the “OCY” section are for OMS Cybersecurity students
only –​ ​OMSCS students are NOT permitted to enroll in these sections.

If A Course is CLOSED…
● Once the registration cap has been reached for a course, the course is full. In order to request a seat in a closed
course, you must follow the instructions in SECTION G. WAITLISTING FOR A CLOSED COURSE. ​We ​DO NOT
accept requests for overrides.
● Please note that the OMSCS Advising team ​cannot​ register students for courses and/or add students to wait lists.
Students must follow the procedures that have been outlined in this orientation document.
● Please ​DO NOT​ email a professor to seek permission to enroll in his/her course, as professors have no control
over this. Again, students must follow the procedures that have been outlined in this orientation document.

SECTION G. WAITLISTING FOR A CLOSED COURSE

Being waitlisted for a course is ​not​ the same as being registered for/enrolled in a course. Waitlisting allows students to
add to a wait list for a course that is closed. Once a student has waitlisted for a course section, he/she will receive a
notification email ​IF​ he/she is the next student on the wait list and a seat becomes available in that section. Waitlisted
students are notified on a “first come, first served” basis.

Things to know about waitlisting:

● To add yourself to a wait list, you must choose “Add by CRN”. You cannot add yourself to the wait list by using
“Look Up Classes”.
● Please follow all the instructions from the Registrar’s webpage on ​Instructions for Waitlisting​.
● Be sure to check your wait list number (see the instructions below) in order to confirm that you are on the
wait list.
● The wait list will become active only after ​ALL​ ​the time tickets for current students have been released and are
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 active. This can take up to 4-5 days from the start of registration. ​Please do not email the OMSCS Advising team
asking when the last time ticket will be released and/or when wait lists will become active, as we do not know the
specifics of this time frame since time tickets are generated and handled by the Registrar’s Office.
● For the Fall and Spring semesters: your total number of enrolled + waitlisted hours should never be more
than six hours (two courses).
● If the wait list is full/closed when you are attempting to add yourself, please check back later. Students remove
themselves from wait lists, and seats are added to courses (which removes students from the wait list), so there is
a strong chance that a spot will become available at a later time.
● Once you have added yourself to a wait list, there are two different reasons why you might be issued a wait list
notification: (1) we have added seats to a course or (2) someone else drops the course and releases the seat.
We ​can​ ​control when ​we​ add seats, but we ​cannot​ control when someone else drops. If you receive a wait list
notification at midnight, it is because someone dropped the course at that time, and we ​cannot​ control that.
● Students only have 12 hours to register for the course once the notification has been sent.​ ​Please
understand that this time frame is implemented by the Institute, and the OMSCS Advising team cannot extend the
time frame or make accommodations if you miss the 12-hour window.
● Once you receive the wait list notification, you must add by CRN. Add by look up ​does ​NOT​ work for waitlisted
courses. Please follow the step-by-step instructions included in the wait list notification email, and be sure to
check that you successfully registered for the course after following the instructions.
● If you have your GT email forwarded to your personal email account, please be sure to check your GT
account directly and often, as we have heard of many times when a wait list notification was not delivered
or was routed to a spam folder.
● If you miss your wait list window, you will be dropped from the wait list, ​and the next person on the list will receive
permission to enroll. Again, we have ​no​ ​control over this. I​ f you miss your wait list notification window, your only
option is to add yourself back to the wait list (if possible) and hope for the best.​ ​Your new position will be at the
end of the list, so be sure to keep an eye on your email in case you receive another wait list notification. ​As a
reminder, the OMSCS Advising team ​cannot​ add students to wait lists or enroll students in classes.
● If you are trying to wait list and receive an error message, please refer to the following link to help decipher the
meaning of the error message: ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/registration/error-messages​.
o If you receive the error message ​“OPEN - # WAITLISTED”​, this message means that you are trying to
register for a course(s) that does not have any open seats. It may appear as though the course has seats
available; however, the open seats are reserved for students on the wait list.

Checking your wait list number:

The best way for students to check their wait list number is from the "Student Detail Schedule" section of OSCAR:

1. Go to ​https://oscar.gatech.edu/​.
2. Sign in using your GT credentials via the Secured Access Login.
3. Select Student Services & Financial Aid.
4. Select Registration.
5. Select Student Detail Schedule.
6. Select the current term.

This will show, in detail, the courses for which you have registered successfully, as well as waitlisted course(s). Your
waitlisted course(s) will include "Waitlist Position: “X", “X” being where you are on the wait list.

Please note the following:

● The OMSCS Advising team ​cannot​ register students for courses and/or add students to wait lists. Students must
follow the procedures that have been outlined in this orientation document.
● Please ​DO NOT​ email a professor to seek permission to enroll in and/or wait list for his/her course, as professors
have no control over this. Again, students must follow the procedures that have been outlined in this orientation
document.

SECTION H. DROPPING/WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE(S)

When a student ​drops​ a course, this action can only be done during periods of registration. ​For Fall 2020 registration, the
last day to drop a course is Friday, August 21 by 4:00pm ET​. If a student drops a course, the course will ​not​ be reflected
on his/her transcript. It will appear as if the student never registered for the course, according to his/her transcript, so it
will NOT count as a record of enrollment.

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If a student ​withdraws​ from a course (this is done ​after​ Fall 2020 registration has ended and ​before​ the semester’s
withdrawal deadline), this action will result in a “W” on the student’s transcript. ​For the Fall 2020 semester, this period
runs from August 21 at 4:01pm ET through October 24 at 4:00pm ET.​ If a student withdraws from a course (or courses)
and receives a “W” on his/her transcript, this counts as a record of enrollment for that specific term.

For step-by-step instructions on how to drop/withdraw from a course(s), please visit

https://registrar.gatech.edu/current-students/withdrawal-and-dropping-courses​. ​We strongly recommend that students
check that they dropped/withdrew from the course.

To confirm if you dropped/withdrew correctly, please view your “Student Detail Schedule” section of OSCAR:

1. Go to ​https://oscar.gatech.edu/​.
2. Sign in using your GT credentials via the Secured Access Login.
3. Select Student Services & Financial Aid.
4. Select Registration.
5. Select Student Detail Schedule.
6. Select the current term.

Once a student has dropped/withdrawn from the course successfully, its status field in this same view in OSCAR will
change from "**Registered**" to “Course Withdrawal”, "Course Drop by Student”, “Withdrawn from School”, “Course
Withdrawal on [date]”, or “Withdrawal-Student Initiated”.

​ OT​ email our office asking for confirmation of your drop/withdrawal, as you will be directed to this document.
Please do N

The Fall 2020 withdrawal deadline is Saturday, October 24 at 4:00pm ET.

● If you withdraw from the only course you are enrolled in (or ALL the courses you are enrolled in for the Fall/Spring
term), this is called a “withdrawal from school”. You are eligible for a partial refund. Please refer to this schedule:
http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/content/refund-calendars​. Look at the "Fall 2020 Refund Calendar" — NOT the
“Distance Learning Refund Calendar”.
● If you are enrolled in more than one course, and you want to withdraw from only one of them, you will ​NOT​ be
eligible to receive any refund.

A “withdrawal from school” does NOT mean you are dropped from the OMSCS program. ​It simply means that
you are withdrawing from all of your courses for the term.

Please note the following:

● For questions regarding tuition, payments, fees, refunds, etc., please contact the Bursar’s Office directly at
404.894.4618 or by email at ​[email protected]​. You may also visit their website at
http://www.bursar.gatech.edu​.
● If you withdraw from the Fall 2020 term completely ​after​ 4:00pm ET on August 21 and ​before​ 4:00pm ET on
October 24, you may be eligible to receive a refund based on the Institute’s refund schedule, available online at
http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/​.​ Click on the “Refunds” tab, and you will see links for “Refunds” and “Refund
Calendars”, both of which contain important information.
● You will receive NO refund if you are enrolled for more than one class and withdraw from only one
course.​ You only are eligible for a partial refund if you completely withdraw from school (withdraw from ALL of
your courses for the current semester).
● If you withdraw from school in the Fall 2020 semester, you still can register for a Spring 2021 course. However, if
you sit out two or more consecutive semesters, you will have to apply for readmission
(​https://registrar.gatech.edu/alumni/readmission​). Please note that the summer semester counts toward the two
consecutive semesters.
● As per Georgia Tech policy (​https://registrar.gatech.edu/alumni/readmission​), “With the exception of part-time
graduate students, any student who withdraws during a term and wishes to return the following term must
complete a ​Petition to the Faculty Form​ only.” Therefore, since OMSCS students are part-time graduate students,

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 you do ​NOT​ need to submit a "Petition to the Faculty” form if you withdraw.
● If you withdraw from a course, you will receive a “W”. A “W” is visible on your transcript, but it has no impact on
your GPA. If you retake a course from which you previously have withdrawn, the “W” from your first attempt and
the new grade will appear on your transcript.
● At this time, there is no set limit on how many “W”s students can have on their transcripts. However, please keep
in mind that you must make "satisfactory academic progress" in order to continue to enroll in the OMSCS
program. If you are withdrawing semester after semester, you may be at risk for being academically dismissed
(though you should be warned of this ahead of time), so you need to try to complete at least one course per three
semesters. Also, as a reminder, students must complete the OMSCS degree in six years.
● If you received financial aid, please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid with any questions on
how withdrawing may affect your loan (​http://www.finaid.gatech.edu/​).
● The OMSCS advising team ​cannot​ drop or withdraw students from their course(s).
● Once Fall 2020 registration has ended (August 21 at 4:00pm ET), there will be a small window of time in which
you will ​NOT ​be able to withdraw. If during this time frame you decide that you wish to withdraw, you can do so in
OSCAR once the "withdraw" option is available (which is typically 1-3 days after the fee payment deadline of
August 24 at 4:00pm ET).
● If you do not pay your tuition/fees in full by the fee payment deadline of August 24 at 4:00pm ET, you will be
subject to class cancellation and holds. If your schedule is cancelled, you will be notified by email. Appeals can
be submitted by visiting the Bursar’s website (​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/​). If you are reinstated into classes, a
reinstatement fee of $200.00 will apply, and the account balance must be paid immediately to avoid
re-cancellation.

SECTION I. SYSTEMS YOU WILL BE USING AND WHY

System Website Reason

OSCAR https://oscar.gatech.edu/ Use this to register for classes, pay
tuition, check for holds, view final
grades, etc.
Canvas https://canvas.gatech.edu/ Canvas is where you will go for all of
your assignments and to turn in
homework. You can also access
Piazza, which is your virtual classroom
for interacting with classmates,
professors, TAs, and course developers.
Outlook https://mail.gatech.edu Use this to access your GT email
account
Passport https://passport.gatech.edu/ Passport offers tools for GT account
password changes, email aliasing, and
GT Directory options.

SECTION J. IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE FALL 2020 SEMESTER

Date (All times refer to Eastern Time) Event

July 31 ​at​ 6:00pm ET Time tickets for Fall 2020 registration are available

August 1 – 21 ​by​ 4:00pm ET Registration for Fall 2020

August 17 First day of class

Week of August 17 Course materials available online

August 21 ​by​ 4:00pm ET Last day to register, make schedule changes, and/or drop courses
without a “W” grade

August 24 ​by​ 4:00pm ET Tuition/fee payment deadline

September 7 Official Institute Holiday – Labor Day

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October 24 ​by​ 4:00pm ET Last day to withdraw for the Fall 2020 term with a “W”

November 25 – 27 School break

December 1 – 8 Final exams

December 12 End of term

December 15 ​after​ 6:00pm ET Grades available

**Please note that this list does not reflect all of the academic-related dates.
In order to view the Institute’s full academic calendar, please visit the Registrar’s website at:
https://registrar.gatech.edu/calendar​ ​and refer to your syllabus for course-specific deadlines and dates.**

SECTION K. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

New Student Onboarding/GT Email Account

1. Where do I send my official transcript(s) and other official documents?

Send your final official transcript(s) and other official documents to Graduate Studies at:
Office of Graduate Studies
Georgia Institute of Technology
631 Cherry Street, Room 318
Atlanta, GA 30332-0321
Phone: 404.894.1610
Email: ​[email protected]

2. Is there an orientation for the OMSCS program?

Since this is an online program, we do not have a formal orientation for OMSCS students. You can access
onboarding information ​online​. Also, a wiki was created for new and existing students in the OMSCS program, so
you may access it online at ​http://omscs.wikidot.com/​. ​Please note that since the OMSCS Advising team did not
contribute to this document, we cannot guarantee that all of the information is up-to-date and fully accurate.

3. What are the expectations regarding my GT email account?

The Institute, as well as the department, will use your Georgia Tech email address as your official contact. ​You
are required to keep it active, and you are ​expected t​ o read your email DAILY
(​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/3/​). This is true even if you are not enrolled that particular semester.

***​Also, even if you have arranged for your GT email to be forwarded to your personal account, we encourage you
to check your GT email account directly and often, as we have heard from students on multiple occasions that
their forwarding service did not always work properly. ​No​ exceptions will be made simply because you missed an
email that was sent by our department and/or the Institute.​***

Please pay special attention to any messages sent from ​[email protected]​, as important
announcements typically are sent from this account. Since this account is the official mailing list for all OMSCS
students, please do NOT reply or send messages to this account, as this could result in all OMSCS students
receiving your message. All OMSCS students are required to be subscribed to this email list, and only Georgia
Tech email accounts can be added.

While it is not required, we also encourage students to subscribe to the ​[email protected]​ account
for non-academic events and announcements. You may do this by visiting
https://mailman.cc.gatech.edu/mailman/listinfo/omscs-announce​.

4. How can I access my GT email account?

Please visit ​https://gatech.service-now.com/home?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0025065​ for
information on how to access your GT email account. We recommend bookmarking ​https://mail.gatech.edu​ so
that you can access your GT email account quickly.

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 5. For what purpose will I use my GT email account?
Please contact all Georgia Tech offices and employees (including the OMSCS Advising team and your
instructors) from your Georgia Tech email account ending in @gatech.edu. Please do ​not​ communicate using
your personal email account. If you do, you will be asked to resubmit your request from your GT email account.
This is necessary as a security step, as we cannot verify the legitimacy of personal email accounts. In that same
regard, the OMSCS Advising team will only communicate with you through your GT email account.

Also, please keep in mind that registration information, including wait list notifications, will be sent to your GT
email account. As stated previously, even if you have arranged for your GT email to be forwarded to your
personal account, we encourage you to check your GT email account directly and often, as we have heard from
students on multiple occasions that their forwarding service did not always work properly. ​No​ exceptions will be
made simply because you missed an email that was sent by our department and/or the Institute, including wait list
notifications.

6. When will newly-admitted students be added to the official OMSCS mailing list?
For newly-admitted OMSCS students, the OMSCS Advising team will send important information to the email
account you listed on your application until you are added to the official OMSCS mailing list
(​[email protected]​). This will not take place until a few weeks after Phase II registration has ended.
Please note that you may receive messages twice as we are updating the ​[email protected]​ mailing
list. Your patience with this process is greatly appreciated.

7. Who do I contact if I have questions about or issues with my GT email account and/or OSCAR, including
questions such as my account being deactivated, if I get locked out of my account, or if I want to set up
email forwarding services?
Please contact the Technology Services Organization (TSO) Help Desk at ​[email protected]​. More
contact information can be found online at ​https://support.cc.gatech.edu/​. If they are unable to assist you, you
may be referred to the Office of Information Technology (OIT). Their contact information can be found online at
https://www.oit.gatech.edu/​.

Institute Services & Course-Related Resources

1. I have a documented disability. How do I find out what resources are available to me?
Please contact the Office of Disability Services, which is a division of the Dean of Students office. The website is:
http://disabilityservices.gatech.edu​.

2. Am I eligible to obtain a BuzzCard (student ID) if I am an OMSCS student?

Yes, this is possible for online students. Please visit ​http://buzzcard.gatech.edu/node/163​ for more information
regarding this process. Students also can obtain their BuzzCard in person from the Barnes and Noble bookstore
located on Georgia Tech's campus. For more information, please refer to ​http://buzzcard.gatech.edu/​.

3. What is my nine-digit GT ID number (90X-XX-XXXX) used for, and where can I find it?
This nine-digit number was included in your admission letter. You also can visit
https://webapps.gatech.edu/cfeis/gtid/gtid_ind_lookup_par.cfm​ for assistance. Please note that you will need to
include this nine-digit number every time you contact our office so that we can access your student record, but
please be sure to replace the first two digits with “xx”. As a reminder, your GT ID number should generally only
be shared with your advisors and instructors, as well as other relevant Georgia Tech offices (such as the
Registrar’s Office, Graduate Studies, etc.). Otherwise, it is meant to be a private number.

4. What if I have a personal or family emergency and need an extension on an assignment or exam, or I need
to withdraw from a class or from school after the deadline due to an extenuating circumstance?
The worst thing you can do is not tell anyone! Your first point of contact should be your TA/professor if something
has come up with work, family, etc. If your TA/professor would like you to go through the Dean of Students office,
their website is: ​www.studentlife.gatech.edu​.

5. I am interested in becoming a TA. Is this possible?

Each semester, an email is sent to the ​[email protected]​ account notifying students of how to apply

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 to become a TA for a future semester. Please be sure to monitor your email for this information.

6. What if I have an issue with/complaint about an assignment/exam or my instructor/TA?

Unfortunately, the OMSCS Advising team cannot get involved in the classroom management of OMSCS courses.
If you need to request an extension due to health, family, or other unforeseen issues, please consult your class’
syllabus for directions and/or contact the Dean of Students office using the Request Assistance form
(​http://studentlife.gatech.edu​).

If you have a dispute with your grade, you should first contact your instructor. Any final grade dispute must be
resolved by the end of your next enrolled term. See paragraph six: ​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/5​/. Any
student with a grade dispute that cannot be resolved after contacting the instructor should open a ticket at
[email protected]​ with the subject line "Grade Dispute – Your Name". Please send this message
from your GT email account and attach any correspondence with the instructor that you have had regarding the
issue when you open that ticket.

If you would like to share feedback about a class that is not specifically related to your grade, please contact the
Associate Director for Student Experience (Alex Duncan) at ​[email protected].

7. What are the technical requirements for the OMSCS program?

Please visit ​http://omscs.gatech.edu/technical-requirements​ to learn more about the minimum technical
requirements for the OMSCS program. Please note that individual courses may have additional requirements, but
the ones listed on the webpage are common across all OMSCS courses.

Also, please note that courses with proctored exams may require you to use Google Chrome to take the exam.

8. Will my accounts be disabled if I travel to a different country while enrolled in OMSCS courses?
We are not sure if there is a way to prevent this from happening, but we strongly recommend that you contact the
Technology Services Organization (TSO) for assistance if you encounter this. Their contact information can be
found online at ​https://support.cc.gatech.edu/​. You may also need to contact the Office of Information Technology
(​https://www.oit.gatech.edu/​).

9. How can I determine if there is a system outage, as well as stay informed of scheduled downtime for
network maintenance?
Please visit ​https://support.cc.gatech.edu/alerts​ to stay up-to-date about system outages and scheduled
maintenance that occurs within the College of Computing. This webpage also links to other helpful resources
available on OIT’s website.

10. Are OMSCS students eligible to earn credit for internships?

Unfortunately, per the Graduate Co-Op Program Manager, we currently have no policy that allows for OMSCS
students to earn credit for internships nor to do graduate co-op assignments, regardless of the student’s
citizenship status.

11. What career resources are available to me as an OMSCS student?

Please contact the College of Computing’s OMS Career Advisor, Kristi Walker, at ​[email protected]​ for
assistance with job searching, interviewing, networking, career planning, and professional development. If you
sign up for the omscs-announce mailing list (​https://mailman.cc.gatech.edu/mailman/listinfo/omscs-announce​),
you will receive regular communications from Kristi, including opportunities to participate in professional
development workshops and webinars. Please be sure to check out Handshake, the new job platform, at
https://gatech.joinhandshake.com/login​ using your GT credentials. Here, OMSCS students can see current
industry job and internship opportunities and request appointments with the Career Advisor. Additionally, career
coaching is provided by reaching out to the Director of Career Services, Christen Steele, at
[email protected]​. Finally, you can contact your undergraduate or former graduate school for alumni
services. Please note that OMSCS students do ​not​ have access to CareerBuzz, the on-campus jobs platform.

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 12. Can OMSCS students participate in the on-campus and virtual Georgia Tech career fairs?
OMSCS students are eligible to participate in the on-campus and virtual College of Computing career fairs.
Please note that BuzzCards are required for the on-campus career fairs. Also, please keep in mind that OMSCS
students will not have access to CareerBuzz, so you will need to keep this in mind when speaking with
prospective employers. The College of Computing Virtual Fair is designed for OMSCS students and alumni with
recruiters seeking mid- to senior-level talent.

13. Is the OMSCS program accredited?

Georgia Tech’s undergraduate programs are ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology)
accredited. Georgia Tech’s graduate programs are regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS) (​http://www.sacscoc.org/​).

14. How can I obtain an enrollment verification?

Please visit ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/enrollment-verification​ for more information on how to request an
enrollment verification, and please contact the Registrar’s Office directly with any questions. Their contact
information can be found online at ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/contact​.

Deferring Admission

1. If I am not able to attend during the term I was admitted, what are my options?
It ​may​ be possible to defer your admission if you do not matriculate into the OMSCS program. Applications are
good for one year from the term for which you applied originally. For example, if you originally applied for the Fall
2020 term, and you do ​not​ enroll in any classes/matriculate, it may be possible to request a deferral up to the Fall
2021 term. If you want to defer past Fall 2021, you would need to reapply to the OMSCS program.

Please note that deferral requests can be processed only for the fall and spring semesters.

In order to request to defer your admission, please send an email to ​[email protected]​. In the subject
line, please include the phrase “Deferral Request”, your full name, and your nine-digit GT ID number
(90X-XX-XXXX), replacing the first two digits with “xx”. In your email, please include your original application term
and the term to which you would like to defer your admission.

○ If you would like to defer to the Spring 2021 semester, please send your deferral request ​after​ October 1,
2020 but ​before​ December 1, 2020.
○ If you would like to defer to the Fall 2021semester, please send your deferral request ​after​ February 1, 2021
but ​before​ July 1, 2021.

**​It is best to submit your deferral request earlier rather than later during the designated time frame to
allow enough time for processing both within the College of Computing and Graduate Studies.**

For students who are required to complete an English proficiency exam, please note that those scores are only
valid for two years from the date taken. For more information regarding English proficiency scores, please refer to
this link: ​https://grad.gatech.edu/english-proficiency​.

2. If I am planning to defer my admission, what do I need to do?

If you are planning to defer your admission, there is nothing you need to do except not register for courses that
term. You simply will need to follow up with our office to request a deferral during the time frame noted above.

As a reminder, it is best to submit your deferral request earlier rather than later during the designated time frame
to allow enough time for processing both within the College of Computing and Graduate Studies.

Finally, please keep in mind that withdrawing from a course (which results in a “W” on your transcript) means you
are no longer eligible to defer your admission, as you are considered a matriculated student.

3. I am scheduled to matriculate this semester, but I cannot enroll for the course I want because the course
is full. Can I defer my admission to the next term so that I can enroll in the specific course I want?
If you are considering deferring your admission only because you cannot enroll in the specific course(s) you wish

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 to take, we strongly do not recommend pursuing the deferral, as you will be in the same situation the next term
since new students do not register until Phase II.

4. If I defer my admission, when does my one-year time frame start for my foundational requirement?
If you do not matriculate, and you defer your admission to a future term, then your foundational requirement time
frame would start with your new matriculation term. For example, if you were admitted for Fall 2020 but did not
matriculate until Spring 2021, you would have the Spring 2021, Summer 2021, and Fall 2021 terms to fulfill the
foundational requirement. However, please remember that if you matriculate into the program, your foundational
requirement time frame would begin, even if you withdraw from a course that term (since a “W” counts as a record
of enrollment). For example, if you matriculated into the program as of Fall 2020 and later withdrew, that term
(Fall 2020) still would count toward your foundational requirement time frame.

5. I deferred my admission (or I am planning to defer my admission) and received a message indicating that
my accounts are being inactivated. Can they remain active even though I am not a currently-enrolled
student since I plan to enroll in a future term?
If you are not enrolled and are not classified as a student who is eligible to enroll, your student-related services
will be discontinued. It is our understanding that OIT will not extend these student-related services until you are
eligible to enroll. For example, if you were admitted for Fall 2020 but deferred your admission to Spring 2021, you
would not have access to your accounts during the Fall 2020 semester but would regain access as the Spring
2021 semester approached.

Degree Requirements

1. What are the degree requirements for the OMSCS program?

The OMSCS degree requires 30 hours (10 courses). Students must declare one specialization, which, depending
on the specialization, is 15-18 hours (5-6 courses). The remaining 12-15 hours (4-5 courses) are “free” electives
and can be any courses offered through the OMSCS program. You can review the degree requirements online at
http://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​. The requirements for each specialization can be found online at
http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/program-info/specializations​. Please note that courses listed in bold have
been produced for the OMSCS program.

To be able to continue in the program after the first 12 months from your date of matriculation, you must complete
the foundational requirement of two foundational courses with a grade of “B” or better. You may choose a
foundational course that counts towards any area of your degree, whether a specialization requirement or a "free"
elective. The courses that constitute “foundational courses” are designated with an asterisk (*) on the current
courses page of our website (​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/courses/​).

2. By when do I need to declare my specialization, and how can I do so? Can I change my specialization
once I declare it?
We ​strongly​ recommend that you declare your specialization after your first two semesters in the program or as
soon as you have an idea as to which specialization you plan to pursue. Your specialization needs to be declared
by the time you apply to graduate. Please note that you are not “locked in” once you declare your specialization.

You may change your specialization any time that does not conflict with an active period of registration.

To declare your specialization, please follow these instructions:

● Go to ​https://oscar.gatech.edu/​.
● Sign in using your GT credentials via the Secured Access Login.
● Go to "Student Services & Financial Aid".
● Find "Student Records".
● Find "Change Program of Study".
● Select “MSCS". This provides access to the “Major Specialization” field that all students can update.

**​Please note that if you are receiving GI Bill benefits, the Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) regulates that only
degree-applicable courses for your major are allowed to be certified for tuition and fee funding. This particular
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 student population is permitted no more than ​two​ semesters to declare a specialization. By declaring your
specialization, this will allow Georgia Tech’s Veteran’s Services office to certify your courses each semester.
Please contact the Veteran's Services office directly with any questions you may have regarding this requirement.
Their contact information can be found on their website at ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/veterans-services/.​

3. Can I declare more than one specialization?

Students may declare only one specialization. However, you may take courses beyond your specialization as
“free” electives.

4. Can I use extra specialization core courses as specialization electives (and vice versa)?
If a student takes extra specialization core courses and/or extra specialization elective courses beyond what is
required in his/her specialization, the extra course(s) can be used only towards the "free" electives. In other
words, specialization core courses ​cannot​ be used towards the specialization elective requirements and vice
versa (specialization elective courses cannot be used towards the specialization core requirements).

5. Am I allowed to make substitutions within the OMSCS degree requirements?

The official College policy is that substitutions for specialization coursework are made only when necessary when
specialization courses are not available. Since all four of the specializations offered through the OMSCS program
can be completed without substitutions, ​no substitutions will be approved​.

6. Am I allowed to audit a course or take it on the pass/fail grading basis?

Students are permitted to earn only a letter grade in all OMSCS courses. Students may not audit an OMSCS
course or take it on the Pass/Fail grading basis.

7. How long do I have to complete the program and earn my degree?

Students must complete the OMSCS degree in six years as per the Institute’s policy
(​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/masters-degree-info/​).

8. What happens if I need more than six years to complete the program?
Any coursework that is older than six years needs to be approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee (GCC)
and the Institute Graduate Curriculum Committee (IGCC) in order to be applied to your degree. If you will be
exceeding the six-year time frame, please be sure to contact ​[email protected]​ the semester ​before
you plan to graduate so that you can work with your advisor on obtaining approval to use the older coursework.
Please be sure to send your message from your GT email account and to include your full name and your
nine-digit GT ID number (90X-XX-XXXX), replacing the first two digits with “xx”.

9. Can I count non-CS/CSE courses and/or previously-completed undergraduate-level courses toward my

MSCS degree?
As per the program rules (​https://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​), a maximum of 6 hours may be taken
at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE. If you have any questions, especially
regarding previously-completed undergraduate-level courses, please contact your advisor by sending a message
from your GT email account to ​[email protected]​. Please be sure to include your nine-digit GT ID
number (90X-XX-XXXX), replacing the first two digits with “xx”.

Foundational Requirement

1. My admission letter states: “​All incoming students are admitted conditionally. To continue in the
program after the first 12 months from your date of matriculation, you must complete the foundational
coursework requirement of 2 courses in the program with a grade of B or better.”​ Will I be notified of
when I am fully admitted into the OMSCS program?
As stated previously, to be able to continue in the program after the first 12 months from your date of
matriculation, you must complete a foundational coursework requirement of two foundational courses with a grade
of “B” or better. The courses that constitute “foundational courses” are designated with an asterisk (*) on this
page: ​https://www.omscs.gatech.edu/current-courses​.

We do not send notifications for students who have completed their foundational requirement. If you would like to
verify that you have completed your foundational requirement, please refer to the link above to determine if the
courses you have completed successfully are considered to be foundational courses.
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 2. Do my foundational courses have to be a part of my intended/declared specialization?
No — you may choose a foundational course that counts towards any area of your degree, whether a
specialization requirement or a "free" elective.

3. Can I register for non-foundational courses for a future term if I am ​on track​ to finish the foundational
requirement by the end of this term (either I am enrolled in two foundational courses, or I am enrolled in
my second foundational course)?
If you are enrolled in two foundational courses or your second foundational course, you would not be eligible to
enroll in any non-foundational courses until you successfully completed the two foundational course(s) with a "B"
or better.

To clarify, during Phase I registration, you would be restricted to enrolling only in foundational courses. If you
successfully completed the requirement by the end of the current term, the restriction would be lifted shortly after
grades had been posted, and you would have an opportunity to make adjustments to your future schedule during
Phase II.

4. What happens if I do not meet my foundational requirement by my designated deadline?

As of now, students have not been dismissed from the OMSCS program simply for not fulfilling the foundational
requirement. Students will need to continue enrolling in foundational courses until they have satisfied this
requirement. Our office sends an email each semester for students whose foundational requirement deadline has
passed, so please refer to these messages for any updated information regarding this policy.

Course/Program Planning

1. Which semesters are OMSCS courses offered?

OMSCS courses are offered during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. However, the summer offerings are
much more limited due to the condensed time frame of the semester. Students are not required to enroll in each
term consecutively, but please make note of the readmission policy if you plan not to enroll during a specific
semester(s) (please see the “Taking Time Off” section in the FAQs for more information).

2. Are there plans to add more courses and/or specializations to the OMSCS program?
At this time, all of the courses/specializations that will be offered with the OMSCS program are listed on our
website (​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/​). The advisors unfortunately do not have any additional information other
than the information that is posted on our website.

3. Can I take on-campus and/or Distance Learning (DL) courses as an OMSCS student?
Unfortunately, OMSCS students are not eligible to enroll in on-campus or DL courses, as they are considered to
be a different campus and have different tuition rates/fees. Likewise, on-campus or DL students are not eligible to
enroll in OMSCS courses.

4. Can I enroll in courses offered through the OMS Analytics and/or OMS Cybersecurity programs as an
OMSCS student?
Sections for OMSCS students have been created for a select number of OMS Analytics and OMS Cybersecurity
courses. If a section of an OMS Analytics or OMS Cybersecurity course has been created for OMSCS students, it
will have a section of “O” followed by a two-digit number (example: O01, O02, O03, etc.). As a reminder, courses
designated with the “OAN” section are reserved for OMS Analytics students, and courses designated with the
“OCY” section are reserved for OMS Cybersecurity students. Therefore, please be sure you are selecting the
correct section if you wish to enroll in the course.

​ ttps://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​): "A maximum of

***​Please remember that per the program rules (h
6 hours may be taken at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE.”*​ **

If you have questions about the OMS Analytics program or courses offered through that program, please visit
https://pe.gatech.edu/degrees/analytics/contact-us​. Additionally, you may visit
https://pe.gatech.edu/online-masters-degrees/analytics/faqs​ for a list of FAQs. For the OMS Cybersecurity
program and courses offered through that program, please visit​ ​https://pe.gatech.edu/degrees/cybersecurity​.

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5. Are there prerequisites for the OMSCS program and/or courses?
There are no prerequisites for the OMSCS courses beyond those required for admission into the program, so
students can take these courses in essentially any order. There are certain recommendations as to what
material/information you should be familiar with prior to taking a course (available in the course descriptions online
at ​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/current-courses​), but there are no official prerequisites for the OMSCS courses.

In general we expect students who enter the program to be very comfortable working with multiple programming
languages such as C, Java, and Python (there is no provision within the program to make up any deficiencies)
and to have taken several more advanced topics, such as Advanced OS, Networking, Theory, and/or Algorithms.

If a student needs to take refresher courses before enrolling in OMSCS courses, it is up to the student to find out
how and where to take these kinds of courses, as the OMSCS Advising team cannot provide advisement for that.

6. After reading the course descriptions, it appears I am only prepared to take “X” course(s). What happens
if I am not able to enroll in that specific course(s)?
Since there are no official prerequisites for our courses (beyond those required for admission into the program),
there is an expectation that students should be prepared for essentially most, if not all, of the OMSCS courses.
Therefore, please do not contact the OMSCS Advising team requesting to be enrolled in a specific course based
on your qualifications, especially since the advisors are unable to add students to courses and/or wait lists.

7. Can my advisor help me plan out all of my courses in advance?

Unfortunately, advisors cannot register students for courses, nor can we add students to wait lists. Therefore, we
cannot guarantee that students will be able to take specific courses during specific semesters, so planning out the
exact ten courses you wish to take (and the semester you wish to take them) most likely is not possible, as
students should plan to be flexible in taking courses whenever they are available.

As a reminder, there are no prerequisites for the OMSCS courses (beyond those required for admission into the
program), so students can take these classes in essentially any order. There are certain recommendations as to
what material/information you should be familiar with prior to taking a course, but there are no official prerequisites
for the OMSCS courses. For course-specific prerequisite information, please read the course descriptions online
at ​http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/current-courses​. Please see the next FAQ for more information on how to plan
for future courses using DegreeWorks.

8. How can I check my degree progress and/or plan for future courses?
For students wishing to check their degree progress and/or plan for future courses, we encourage them to use
DegreeWorks. If you have declared your specialization, DegreeWorks should tell you what requirements, if any,
you are missing. It also should allow you to plan for future courses using the “what if” feature. If you have not yet
declared your specialization, all of your courses should be listed in the "Fallthrough Section", as they will not be
allocated until you declare your specialization. ​Please note that specializations cannot be declared during active
periods of registration.

As a reminder, please be sure to review the degree requirements online at

http://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​ and the specialization requirements online at
http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/program-info/specializations​. Alternatively, you can print a degree worksheet for
your specialization and fill it in so that you can see what requirements, if any, are remaining. You may access the
degree worksheet online at ​http://www.cc.gatech.edu/academics/degree-programs/masters/forms​.

9. There have been some curriculum changes (new course numbers, recently-approved specialization
courses, etc.), and my DegreeWorks is not listing these courses in the correct areas of my degree audit.
When will this be adjusted?
If changes are made to the curriculum or a new course number is assigned after you have matriculated,
DegreeWorks will not make the necessary adjustments automatically – the OMSCS Advising team has to make
exceptions in DegreeWorks manually. This typically is not done until students have petitioned to graduate.

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10. When will the course schedules for each term be available?
The course schedules for each term are released shortly before the Phase I registration period for each term.
Please refer to the academic calendar online at ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/calendar​ for term-specific dates.

11. I completed my bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Georgia Tech. Can I double-count any of my
courses toward my OMSCS degree?
Students completing both a bachelor’s and master’s in the same discipline (Computer Science) at Georgia Tech
may use up to six credit hours of ​graduate-level​ coursework in the major discipline for both degrees. To qualify
for this option, students must complete the undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and
complete​ the master’s degree within a ​two-year period​ from the award date of the bachelor’s degree. Please visit
http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/masters-degree-info/​ for more information regarding this. If
you feel you qualify for this option, please send a message from your GT email account to
[email protected]​ and include your full name and nine-digit GT ID number. Your advisor will be able
to assist you and confirm your eligibility.

12. I earned another master’s degree at Georgia Tech prior to matriculating in the OMSCS program. Can I
double-count any of my courses toward my OMSCS degree?
Students who have earned another master’s degree at Georgia Tech may be eligible to double-count up to six
hours of previously-earned credit toward their OMSCS degree. Please visit
http://catalog.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/policies-and-regulations/​ for more information regarding this policy.
If you feel you qualify for this, please send a message from your GT email account to
[email protected]​ and include your full name and nine-digit GT ID number. Your advisor will be able
to assist you and confirm your eligibility.

13. I took courses and/or earned another degree (undergraduate and/or graduate) from Georgia Tech – are
there restrictions as to which OMSCS courses I can enroll in and count toward my OMSCS degree?
If you previously completed courses at Georgia Tech, specifically undergraduate/graduate Computer Science
(CS) or other CS-related undergraduate/graduate courses, you will be responsible for researching whether or not
the course(s) are considered to be “equivalent” to OMSCS courses, as these credits typically cannot count toward
your OMSCS degree if they were used toward another earned degree. Please visit
https://www.cc.gatech.edu/equivalent-courses​ for more information. Additionally, we have provided you with
some of the equivalencies (please see below), but we ​strongly​ recommend that you contact the OMSCS
Advising team, as things can change and/or be updated at any time.

OMSCS Course Georgia Tech Equivalent Course

CS 4235*
(*If you took CS 4235 prior to Spring 2011, you will be allowed to earn credit for both
CS 6035 courses. If you took CS 4235 ​after​ Spring 2011, you will not be able to enroll in CS 6035.)

CS 6200 ​(formerly
CS 8803-O02) N/A

CS 6210 CS 6420 and CS 4210

CSE 6220 CX 4220

CS 6238 N/A

CSE 6242 CX 4242

CS 6250 CS 6380

CSE 6250
(formerly CX 4803 ​BDS
CSE 8803-O01)

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 CS 6260 ECE 6280

CS 6262 N/A

CS 6263
(formerly ECE 8813 ​Cyber-Physical Systems Security
CS 8803-O07)

CS 6265 N/A

CS 6290 ECE 4100, ECE 6100, and CS 4290

CS 6291 ​(formerly
CS 8803-O04) N/A

CS 6300 CS 6144 and CS 6301

CS 6310 N/A

CS 6340 N/A

CS 6400 CS 6450

CS 6440 N/A

CS 6460 CS 6397 and CS 4660

CS 6475 CS 4475

CS 6476 CS 4476 and CS 4495

CS 6505 CS 6500 and CS 4540

CS 6515 ​(formerly
CS 8803 GA) CS 4540, CSE 6140, and CS 6505

CS 6601 N/A

CS 6750 PSYC 6750

CS 7637 CS 4635

CS 7638 ​(formerly
CS 8803-O01) N/A

CS 7639 ​(formerly
CS 8803-O09) N/A

CS 7641 CS 4640, CS 4641, CSE 6740, CSE 7641, and ISYE 6740

CS 7642 ​(formerly
CS 8803-O03) N/A

CS 7646 CS 4646 and CS 4803 ​MLT

CS 8803-O08 N/A

CS 8803-O10 CS 4803 ​Big Data and Society – Misuse, Abuse, and Algorithms

CS 8803-O11 N/A

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 ISYE 6402 N/A

ISYE 6420 N/A

ISYE 6501 N/A

ISYE 6644 N/A

ISYE 8803
(Topics on N/A
High-Dimensional
Data Analytics)

PUBP 6725 CS 4725, CS 6725, MGT 4725, MGT 6725, and PUBP 4725

14. What is the difference between when two courses are cross-listed and when they are considered to be
equivalent?
Equivalent courses are courses that are listed as equivalent in Banner. They may not necessarily be taught
together (such as the Atlanta campus courses CS 4460 and CS 7450). Cross-listed courses are courses that are
taught together and are usually equivalents as well (such as CS 4641 and CS 7641).

15. Are there any courses that students cannot count toward their MSCS degree?
MSCS students are not permitted to count credit for 1) CSE 6010 ​Computational Problem Solving for Scientists
and Engineers;​ 2) CSE 6040 ​Computing for Data Analysis: Methods and Tools​; 3) CS 4001 ​Computing, Society
and Professionalism​; or 4) CS 4002 ​Robots and Society ​toward their MSCS degree. If you have concerns about
other courses, please be sure to contact your OMSCS advisor from your GT email account at
[email protected]​. Please include your full name and your nine-digit GT ID number (90X-XX-XXXX),
replacing the first two digits with “xx”.

Grades/GPA Requirement

1. Is it possible to repeat a course, and what are the consequences of doing so?
According to the academic catalog (​http://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/9/​), “Students may not repeat courses on a
letter-grade basis in which the grade of ‘B’ or higher has been earned previously.”

In other cases of a repeated course, we will consider the newest grade for purposes of completing a requirement
(specialization and/or foundational course); however, you can never have the initial grade replaced or removed
from your GPA.

Please also note that if you retake a course, it can be used to satisfy only one requirement, as one course cannot
be used to satisfy more than one requirement.

Unfortunately, the grade substitution policy does not apply to graduate students
(​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/5/​). Therefore, as a graduate student, if you retake a course, both grades
will count in your overall GPA.

If you ​withdraw​ from a course, “W”s are visible on your transcript, but they have no impact on your GPA. If you
retake a course from which you previously have withdrawn, the “W” from your first attempt and the new grade
from that class both will appear on your transcript.

2. What are the grade/GPA requirements to remain active in the program?

Please visit ​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/6/​ and ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/academic-standing​ and
review this information carefully. Please note that your academic standing is based on your cumulative GPA
and/or your term GPA. For MS students, the minimum GPA to remain in good academic standing is 2.7.
However, please note that you must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in order to meet the graduation
requirements.​ For information on how to calculate your GPA, please visit

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 https://registrar.gatech.edu/current-students/grades​.

3. What happens if I earn a “C” in a course?

You must earn a “B” or better in all specialization courses for your declared specialization and your foundational
courses. If you earn a “C” in a course that is not part of your specialization and/or is not one of your two required
foundational courses, it can be used as a “free” elective toward your degree hours.

However, if the course is required for your specialization, and there are no other course options within that
specific area of your specialization that you can take instead (since substitutions are not permitted), then you must
retake the course and earn the required "B" or better. Please keep in mind the guidelines regarding repeating a
course that were discussed previously. Specifically, you would not be able to repeat a course and count one
instance when you earned a “C” as a “free” elective and another instance when you earned a “B” or better as a
specialization course (since courses can be used to satisfy only one requirement).

If there are other course options available within that specific area for your specialization, then you may choose to
enroll in a different course to satisfy the requirement.

4. If I earn a “D” in a course, can it count toward my OMSCS degree?

Courses in which a student earns less than a “C” cannot be counted toward the OMSCS degree. Please note that
these grades still will be factored into your overall cumulative GPA and cannot be removed from your record.

5. If I do not earn the required grade in a course, or if I withdraw from a course, am I required to repeat the
course in a later semester?
If the course is required for your specialization, and there are no other course options within that specific area of
your specialization that you can take instead (since substitutions are not permitted), then you must retake the
course and earn the required "B" or better for specialization/foundational courses. However, if there are other
course options available within that specific area for your specialization, then you may choose to enroll in a
different course to satisfy the requirement.

If the course would count toward your “free” electives, you have the option of retaking it to earn the required “C” or
better for “free” electives, or you may choose to enroll in a different course to satisfy your “free” elective
requirement.

6. Is there a limit to how many times I can withdraw from and/or repeat a course?
At this time, there is no set limit on the number of times a student repeats a course or how many “W”s a student
can have on his/her transcript. However, please keep in mind that you must make "satisfactory academic
progress" in order to continue to enroll in the OMSCS program. If you are withdrawing semester after semester,
you may be at risk for being academically dismissed (though you should be warned of this ahead of time), so you
need to try to complete at least one course per three semesters. Also, as a reminder, students must complete the
OMSCS degree in six years. Finally, please keep in mind the guidelines regarding repeating a course that were
discussed previously, especially which grade will be considered.

7. How is my academic standing impacted if I withdraw from or do not enroll in a semester?

It is our understanding that if you withdraw from or do not enroll in a semester, and you do not have any new
grades that would change your status, then your academic standing from the previous semester would carry over.
Therefore, if you were on academic warning or academic probation after your last enrolled term, then this status
would carry over to the next term as long as you did not have any new grades to change your academic standing.

8. If I am on academic warning or academic probation, am I allowed to withdraw from a course/semester?

As long as you do not have a hold on your account, you should be able to withdraw from a course/semester, even
if you are on academic warning or academic probation. As stated previously, if you were to withdraw from the
semester, and you did not have any new grades that would change your status, then your academic standing
from the previous semester would carry over. Therefore, if you were on academic warning or academic probation

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 after your last enrolled term, and you did not have any new grades that would change your status, then your
academic standing would carry over to the next term.

9. By when do I need to resolve an “I” grade?

Detailed information regarding an “I” grade can be found online at ​http://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/6​/ (Section C,
Point 7), ​http://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/5​/ (Section A), and ​http://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/7​/ (Section B, Point 1).

To confirm: "​When a grade of ‘I’ (‘Incomplete') is assigned in a course, the ‘I' grade must be removed and the
grade change reported by the end of the student's n ​ ext​ academic term in residence or, if the student has not
been enrolled, by the end of the academic term one calendar year from the date the incomplete was assigned.
Failing to remove the ‘I' in the allotted time will result in the​ g
​ rade of ‘I' being changed to the grade of ‘F'. To
remove the ‘I' grade, the student should consult with the instructor as soon as possible after the academic term is
over and complete whatever remaining coursework is outlined by the instructor. Repeating the course for credit
does not remove the grade of​ ‘I​ ’."​

10. Is it possible to “start over” or “erase” my previous academic history?

Unfortunately, this is not possible. Your previous academic history always will be a part of your student
record, even if you take time off and seek readmission into the program at a later time.

11. If I take extra OMSCS courses, can I designate which courses will count toward my “degree” GPA rather
than my cumulative GPA?
The OMSCS program does not have a separate “degree GPA” and simply uses your cumulative GPA. The only
exception to this is for students who continue taking courses after they have graduated from the OMSCS
program. For the purposes of your resume, whatever your GPA was when your degree was awarded would be
your MS GPA.

Registration-Related Information

1. What is the difference between Phase I and Phase II registration?

Current/returning students will register during Phase I and will have another opportunity to make changes to their
schedules during Phase II. Newly-admitted students will register during Phase II only. For the summer term,
there is only one registration phase, with an “unofficial” Phase II period taking place shortly before the start of the
semester. Visit the academic calendar online at ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/calendar​ for term-specific dates.

2. Are the published times/deadlines updated based on my local time zone if I do not live in Atlanta?
No — all of the Institute times/deadlines you see are listed in the Eastern time zone. They will not update
automatically to reflect your local time zone. Therefore, you will need to be mindful of time-sensitive
activities/deadlines such as when time tickets open, the expiration of a wait list notification, the end of a
registration period, the semester’s withdrawal deadline, etc. For any class-specific deadline, please be sure to
work with your instructor and/or TA(s).

3. What is the maximum number of courses I can register for each term?
The OMSCS program is a part-time program only. Students can register for a maximum of two courses (six
hours) during the fall and spring semesters, and students are limited to enrolling in one course (three hours)
during the summer semester due to limited resources.

4. What if a course I want to register for is CLOSED?

Once the registration cap has been reached for a course, the course is full. In order to request a seat in a closed
course, you must follow the instructions in SECTION G. WAITLISTING FOR A CLOSED COURSE. The OMSCS
program does ​not​ ​accept override requests. Please note that the OMSCS Advising team ​cannot​ register
students for classes, nor can we add students to wait lists.

5. What if the wait list for a course I want to register for is CLOSED?
If the wait list is full/closed when you are attempting to add yourself, please check back later. Students remove
themselves from wait lists, and seats are added to courses (which removes students from the wait list), so there is
a strong chance that a spot will become available at a later time.

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6. Why is there a limit on the number of seats for each course if this is an online program?
While we do not have physical space constraints, there are other factors that have to be taken into consideration
for an online program this size. One example is that in order to maintain the integrity and academic rigor of the
program, we have to hire an adequate number of TAs per a specific number of enrolled students. This is why we
limit the number of waitlisted courses for each student so that we have a realistic idea of the demand for each
course and can hire TAs accordingly (whenever possible). Additionally, some courses are unable to scale above
a certain maximum while still providing an effective learning experience for students.

7. Can the OMSCS Advising team tell me which courses are open currently?
Students can access up-to-date enrollment/wait list totals by performing a class search in OSCAR. You can
perform a course look-up in OSCAR once you have logged in using your GT credentials — the full courses have a
“C” in the first column, and the open courses have a checkbox that can be selected in order to enroll.

8. What are the chances of enrolling in a class if I am waitlisted or if the class is closed?
We strive to give students an opportunity to register for a variety of courses. The number of available seats is
determined primarily by the number of TAs available for each course. Unfortunately, advisors cannot predict
if/when a course may have more seats added or if a wait list will be expanded. Also, we cannot guarantee
students will be able to enroll in specific courses. Our best advice is to continue monitoring the courses you are
interested in taking and/or the wait lists. Towards the end of Phase II, the wait lists will be removed, and you may
have another opportunity to register for your desired course(s). ​More information regarding this will be
forthcoming.​ Alternatively, you may review the degree requirements and try to find another course.

9. How long should I expect to wait before I receive a wait list notification?
There is no specific amount of time as to when students will receive a wait list notification, as we unfortunately
cannot guarantee that everyone on every wait list will get into the course. As stated previously, some courses are
unable to scale above a certain maximum while still providing an effective learning experience for students.
Please note that the advisors are unable to determine/predict which courses will have more seats added.
Therefore, please be sure to monitor your email account carefully and frequently, including your spam folder, in
case you receive a wait list notification.

10. Can I use a computer program or script when trying to register for courses?
As explained on the Registrar’s website
(​https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/computer-and-network-acceptable-use-policy​), “Students are required to abide by
the Institute's ​Acceptable Use Policy​ when using Georgia Tech's computer resources, including the registration
system. As such, no student may use any unauthorized computer program or script to register for classes or
attempt to circumvent the registration system in any way. No student should repeatedly attempt to register for a
closed section of a course by hand in an attempt to "brute force" into the next available seat. To do so is a
violation, as ‘faculty, staff, and students are expected to behave in an ethical and professional manner when using
IT resources.’ This also violates the section ‘Protection of IT Resources’ by ‘knowingly installing or
running...disruptive software’ which results in depriving other students an opportunity to register. Information
regarding any student who violates this policy will be forwarded to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.”

11. Why is my wait list position increasing instead of decreasing?

Each semester, we prioritize the degree candidates on wait lists if they need a specific ​specialization​ course (not
“free” elective) to graduate by the end of the term. Therefore, your wait list position could change due to degree
candidates receiving priority. We hope that students will understand this, as we will do the same for you once you
are in your final term and are preparing to graduate.

12. Why is my waitlisted course showing as “0” credits in OSCAR?

Since a waitlisted course does not count as enrolled hours, your waitlisted course will display as “0” units until you
are registered officially (though please remember that being on a wait list does not guarantee that you will be
permitted to enroll in that course for the term).

13. If I am registered for the maximum number of hours permitted, and I receive a wait list notification, will I
be able to drop one of my other courses in order to add the waitlisted course, or will the system skip me
and notify the next person on the wait list?
The system will not skip you because you are enrolled in the maximum number of hours permitted. You will have
the same 12-hour window to respond to the wait list notification and make any necessary changes to your
schedule in order to enroll in the waitlisted course if desired.

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14. I missed my wait list notification. What should I do now?
Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is add yourself back to the wait list and hope for the best or select
another course. The OMSCS program must abide by the Institute’s policies and procedures, and this includes the
fact that wait list notifications can be sent at any time (even overnight and/or on weekends) and that students
have 12 hours to respond to the notification. The wait list process is not controlled by the OMSCS Advising team,
so we are unable to make any changes or exceptions regarding this process.

15. I received a “Campus Restriction” or “Major Restriction” error message when trying to add a course.
What does this mean?
If you receive the “Campus Restriction” or “Major Restriction” error message, this is because you are attempting
to enroll in a course that is not part of the OMSCS program. As a reminder, ​most​ OMSCS courses will have a
section of “O” followed by a two-digit number (example: O01, O02, O03, etc.). ​Please note that courses with
the “OAN” section are for OMS Analytics students only, and courses with the “OCY” section are for OMS
Cybersecurity students only –​ ​OMSCS students are NOT permitted to enroll in these sections.​ If a section
of an OMS Analytics or OMS Cybersecurity course has been created for OMSCS students, it will have a section
of “O” followed by a two-digit number (as mentioned previously). Therefore, please be sure you are selecting the
correct section if you wish to enroll in the course.

​ ttps://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​): "A maximum of

***​Please remember that per the program rules (h
6 hours may be taken at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE.”*​ **

16. What is the difference between “L” and “ALP” in the “BAS” column in OSCAR?
When searching for courses in OSCAR, the “BAS” column tells you the grade modes accepted for a particular
course. OMSCS courses have the “L” grading basis, which stands for “Letter Grade”, as students may not audit
an OMSCS course or take it on the “Pass/Fail” grading basis.

You might notice that other courses, such as those offered through the OMS Analytics and OMS Cybersecurity
programs, have the “ALP” grading basis, which stands for “Audit”, “Letter Grade”, and “Pass/Fail”. As a reminder,
courses with the “OAN” section are for OMS Analytics students only, and courses with the “OCY” section are for
OMS Cybersecurity students only – OMSCS students are ​NOT​ permitted to enroll in these sections. If a section
of an OMS Analytics or OMS Cybersecurity course has been created for OMSCS students, it will have a section
of “O” followed by a two-digit number as described above. Again, please be sure you are selecting the correct
section if you wish to enroll in the course.

​ ttps://www.cc.gatech.edu/future/masters/mscs​): "A maximum of

***​Please remember that per the program rules (h
6 hours may be taken at the 4000-level and/or with a subject code other than CS or CSE.”*​ **

17. What happens if I am not able to register for my course until the first week of classes?
Professors have access in Canvas to see when students were added to their course. It is our understanding that
students will not be penalized for assignments that were due before the student was registered for the course.
However, please be sure to confirm this with your professor(s) and/or TAs, and please contact them for any other
specific questions you may have regarding their course and/or assignments.

18. What happens if I am not registered by the time the semester starts?
Unfortunately, students cannot be added to a course(s) once Phase II registration has ended. Therefore, if you
plan to be enrolled in that specific term, you may need to enroll in a backup course prior to the end of the active
registration period if your first-choice course is not available.

19. If I am still on the wait list toward the end of the registration period, will my wait list position carry over to
the next semester’s registration period?
On the last day of Phase II registration, all of the wait lists are cleared, and students are able to enroll in any open
course without needing to go through the wait list first. Therefore, wait lists will not carry over to the next
semester’s registration period.

20. If there are seats available once Phase II registration has ended, can I be added to the course?
Students cannot be added to a course(s) once Phase II registration has ended, even if there are seats available.

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21. I successfully registered for a course. What should I do next?
Once you have successfully registered for a course, you should log into Canvas to see if you have access to the
course materials. Please see the next FAQ in case you do not see your course materials once you are registered
for the course.

22. Classes have started, and I cannot access my course materials and/or Canvas has not been set up for my
course. Is this normal?
As stated previously, course materials will be available sometime during the first week of classes (anytime
between August 17 and 21). Unfortunately, we do not have control over when course materials will be available,
nor do we have any additional information as to exactly when course materials will be available. Please note that
some professors do not start their classes until later in the week, so you may not be able to view any course
materials even if the semester technically has started already.

If you register for a course during the first week that classes begin, please note that it can take up to ​24 hours
before you can access your course materials. If after this period of time you still cannot access your course
materials, please contact ​[email protected]​ for Canvas access.

23. Can I be switched to another course once the registration period has ended?
Unfortunately, even if there are seats available, students cannot be switched to another course once the
registration period has ended. If they no longer wish to be enrolled in the course, they will need to withdraw
before the semester’s withdrawal deadline.

24. What is the difference between dropping and withdrawing from a course?
When a student ​drops​ a course, this action can only be done during active periods of registration (either in Phase
I and/or Phase II). If a student drops a course, the course will ​not​ be reflected on their transcript. It will appear as
if the student never registered for the course, according to their transcript. This means that the student will ​not
have a record of enrollment for the term.

If a student ​withdraws​ from a course (this is done ​after​ Phase II registration has ended and ​before​ the semester’s
withdrawal deadline), this action will result in a “W” on the student’s transcript. If a student withdraws from a
course (or courses) and receives a “W” on his/her transcript, this counts as a record of enrollment for that specific
term.

25. If I withdraw from a course and change my mind, can I be re-added to the course?
Unfortunately, students cannot be re-added to a course once they have withdrawn. Please keep this in mind as
you are deciding whether or not you wish to withdraw from the course (before the withdrawal deadline).

26. If I withdraw from a course/semester, do I need to submit a Petition to the Faculty form to enroll the next
semester?
As per Georgia Tech policy (​https://registrar.gatech.edu/alumni/readmission​), “With the exception of part-time
graduate students, any student who withdraws during a term and wishes to return the following term must
complete a ​Petition to the Faculty Form​ only.” Therefore, since OMSCS students are part-time graduate students,
you do ​not​ need to submit a "Petition to the Faculty” form if you withdraw.

27. If I have an open OSI investigation for a course, or if I was found “responsible” at the conclusion of an
OSI investigation for a course, am I permitted to withdraw or submit a Petition to the Faculty for a late
withdrawal?
Per the Registrar’s website (​https://registrar.gatech.edu/registration/withdrawal-and-dropping-courses​): “If there is
an alleged academic integrity violation pending, the student may not drop the course. The status of the alleged
violation is defined as ‘pending’ when an incident has been submitted to the Office of Student Integrity and has
generated an electronic ‘suspected academic misconduct’ notice that has been sent to the student. If the student
is found responsible for any prohibited academic conduct, she/he will not be allowed to drop the course.”
Additionally: “If the student is found responsible for any prohibited academic conduct in a class, she/he will also
not be allowed to withdraw from the term.”

Please contact the Registrar’s Office (​[email protected]​) and/or the Office of Student Integrity
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 (​http://osi.gatech.edu/​) if you have any questions regarding this policy.

Payments & Financial Information

1. How do I apply for Financial Aid?

Please review GT’s Financial Aid website here for more information: ​http://www.finaid.gatech.edu/​.

2. How do I pay for classes? (Note – You do ​NOT​ pay for classes until you register for them.)
Please refer to the Bursar’s website (​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu​) and click on “STUDENT PAY NOW” in the
Quick Links column. Methods of payment accepted by the Bursar’s Office are cash, check, money order, wire
transfers, webchecks, and credit cards (online only). Please note: there is a third-party service fee (2.75%) when
paying by credit card. ​OMSCS students are ineligible for the GT Payment Plan.

3. What is the amount I need to pay?

Please refer to the Bursar’s website link “Tuition and Fees” at ​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/​ and view the costs
by term.

4. What is the deadline to pay my fees?

Please refer to the Bursar’s calendar for the Fee Payment Deadline for the specific term. If fees are not paid by
the Fee Payment Deadline, class cancellation may occur, and a late fee may be assessed.

5. Why was I charged for health insurance?

This is an error. Please complete a waiver application form, available online at ​https://studentcenter.uhcsr.com/​.

6. Who should I contact if I have questions regarding financial aid, tuition/fees, my financial student
account, or other financial-related questions, such as deferring my previous student loans, tuition
reimbursements for my employer, tax documents that need to be completed by the Institute, etc.?
For any financial-related questions, please contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
(​https://www.finaid.gatech.edu/contacting-our-office​) and/or the Bursar’s Office (​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/​).

7. Who should I contact for information regarding my 1098-T?

Please contact the Bursar’s Office for more information regarding your 1098-T. The contact information for the
Bursar’s Office can be found on their website at ​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/​.

8. Who should I contact if I have questions regarding refunds and/or refund eligibility?
Please contact the Bursar’s Office for more information regarding refunds. The contact information for the
Bursar’s Office can be found on their website at ​http://www.bursar.gatech.edu/​. Please keep in mind that you will
receive NO refund if you are enrolled for more than one class and withdraw from only one course. You only are
eligible for a partial refund if you completely withdraw from school (withdraw from ALL of your courses for the
current term).

Taking Time Off

1. Can I take a semester off?

OMSCS students may take a semester off at any time. However, if you take two or more consecutive semesters
off, you must apply for readmission. Please note that the summer term counts as one of the consecutive
semesters, even though students are not required to enroll in the summer term. Unfortunately, there is no
guarantee you will be readmitted. For more information, please review the Registrar's Readmission Policy online
at ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/alumni/readmission​.

To clarify, if a student enrolls in a course and ​withdraws​ (which would result in a “W” on his/her transcript), this
counts as a record of enrollment for that semester and does not count as sitting out for the semester. Therefore,
the student would need to sit out the next two consecutive semesters before he/she would need to apply for
readmission. If a student ​drops​ a course, this does ​not​ count as a record of enrollment, and this ​would​ be
considered as sitting out a semester.

Please see the FAQ section entitled “Registration-Related Information” for a detailed explanation of the difference
between dropping and withdrawing from a course.

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2. What is the process once students seek readmission?
Students must complete the step-by-step instructions on the Registrar’s website at
https://registrar.gatech.edu/alumni/readmission​. After they have successfully submitted their readmission
application (by following the step-by-step instructions), the information is sent to the Registrar’s Office where initial
processing is completed. They then submit your readmission packet to our office, and we process everything on
our end. If you have been academically dismissed, we will prepare and send you the graduate readmission
contract. Once we receive the signed copy from you, or if you do not require the readmission contract, we will
submit everything to the Executive Director or Director of OMSCS Advising for review. After they have made their
recommendation as to whether or not your readmission application should be approved, we will submit everything
to the Registrar’s Office for a final decision and processing. You will be notified by their office once a final
decision has been made.

Please note that there are different deadlines when you are seeking readmission as a student who has been
academically dismissed versus a student who has taken two or more consecutive semesters off.

3. What is the difference between readmitting versus reapplying to the OMSCS program?
Current students who have been academically dismissed and/or who have taken two or more consecutive
semesters off must seek readmission (as explained previously). Admitted students who have not yet matriculated
into the OMSCS program must reapply if they are seeking a deferral past the one-year time frame from their
original application term. For example, if your original application term is Fall 2020, you would need to reapply to
the program if you wish to matriculate ​after​ Fall 2021.

4. If I am readmitted, will my previously-earned credits still count?

Yes — your eligible, previously-earned credits will count toward your OMSCS degree if you are approved for
readmission (subject to the six-year program completion rule:
http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/academics/graduate/masters-degree-info/​). To clarify, it is not possible to “start
over” or “erase” your previous academic history, as that always will be a part of your student record.

5. What if I need to seek readmission but have not fulfilled my foundational requirement as of yet?
We will address your foundational requirement as part of the readmission application process, so there is nothing
additional that you need to do regarding this when seeking readmission.

6. Is there anything I need to do if I wish to take a semester off?

If you wish to take a semester off, you simply should not enroll in a course for that term. If you are registered for a
future term, please be sure to drop your course(s) once you have an active time ticket so that you are not charged
tuition/fees. You do ​not​ need to notify your advisor or complete/submit any forms. Please keep the readmission
policy in mind, as you will need to seek readmission if you skip two or more consecutive semesters (including the
summer semester).

Also, please remember that Summer registration and Fall Phase I registration take place at the same time.
Therefore, if you are planning to skip the summer semester but will enroll for the fall, you should plan to register
for the fall semester during Phase I. If you miss the Phase I registration period, you will have another chance to
enroll during Phase II (though course availability most likely will be more limited).

7. Can I work as a TA during a semester that I am ​not​ ​enrolled in a course?

OMSCS students can work as a TA during a semester in which they are not enrolled, ​only if they do not need to
seek readmission​. If they are in their second consecutive skipped semester and will need to seek readmission to
enroll in a future semester, then they are not eligible to be a TA.

8. What if I need to take an extended amount of time off from school due to an extenuating circumstance
(such as required military service, maternity/paternity leave, scheduled surgery, etc.)?
Students may be eligible for an approved Leave of Absence. Please visit ​http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/8/
(Section B, #13) for more information. If you have any questions regarding the Leave of Absence policy, please

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 be sure to contact the Registrar’s Office directly at ​[email protected]​.

Please note the following regarding the Leave of Absence policy:

● The Leave of Absence cannot be approved retroactively.
● An approved Leave of Absence would be effective in a ​future​ term. Students on an approved Leave of
Absence would not have to apply for readmission and would be able to retain their email accounts during
the approved absence. Prior to returning, the student would have to notify the Registrar’s Office so that
their record could be reactivated for re-entry.
● The Leave of Absence would cover eligible students for at least two and no more than seven semesters
(including summer). If the seventh semester is a spring term, students may opt to return in either the
summer or fall term.
● Students who are on an approved Leave of Absence may not attend class or access other campus
services.
● The form to request an approved Leave of Absence is on the Registrar’s Office’s website
(​https://registrar.gatech.edu/​) under the “Current Students” tab.
● The Leave of Absence may be used more than once but for no more than seven total semesters during
the student’s enrollment at Georgia Tech.
● Students who have been placed on academic drop, suspended, or expelled for disciplinary reasons may
not participate.
● Students must clear up any other issues such as registration holds or providing any requested
documentation prior to re-entry. The approved Leave of Absence does not override other considerations
or restrictions on enrollment.
● Students should apply for a Leave of Absence as soon as possible. Applications for a Leave of Absence
will require review and signatures by the Office of the Dean of Students and the student’s major academic
advisor. Other signature approvals, such as the Office of International Education and Financial Aid, also
may need to be obtained.
○ Students should bear in mind the time limits in determining the anticipated date of return.
○ As a reminder, readmission is required when two or more consecutive terms have been missed
(the summer term counts as one of the consecutive semesters, even though students are not
required to enroll in the summer term). However, once the student has made the decision that
he/she will have to or need to be out for two or more consecutive terms, and the student wishes
to return to Georgia Tech without being readmitted, the application for a Leave of Absence should
be filed with the Registrar’s Office.
○ The clock begins when the student does not enroll for a second consecutive term. The Leave of
Absence would have to be in effect for the second consecutive missed term to avoid readmission.
● Students must file a Return from Leave of Absence form to return. If the leave exceeds the
seven-semester time frame, the student must apply for readmission. The form is available on the
Registrar’s Office’s website (​https://registrar.gatech.edu/​) under the “Current Students” tab.
● As stated previously, the Leave of Absence, if approved, would be effective in a future term. It will not be
approved to be effective in the term in which the application is made. It in no way supplants or replaces
any other policy. If a student needs to withdraw from classes within a given term, they should follow the
standard withdrawal process, and if a Leave of Absence is needed or desired, it would be effective for a
future term(s) only as approved.
● Applications for a Leave of Absence are due by:
○ Fall – July 1
○ Spring – December 1
○ Summer – April 1

Graduation

1. When do students need to apply for graduation?

Students will need to apply for graduation in the semester preceding the semester they plan to graduate. For
example, students who will be graduating by the end of the Fall 2020 term were asked to apply for graduation
during the Summer 2020 term. The OMSCS Advising team will send email notifications with step-by-step
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 instructions on how and when to apply for graduation.

Please note that our departmental deadline is earlier than the posted Institute deadline for the student’s benefit. If
the advisors do not have time to process/audit a student’s graduation application materials before the registration
period ends for the student’s anticipated graduation term, we cannot ensure that the student will meet his/her
degree requirements by the end of that term.

2. What is the process once I apply for graduation?

After you submit your Online Application for Graduation (OAG) and completed Program of Study (POS) form, your
advisor will conduct several audits on your record to ensure you are on track to graduate by the end of the term:
1. The first audit is completed prior to the start of Phase II registration for your graduation term. The
purpose of this audit is to ensure you are enrolled in the course(s) you need to fulfill your degree
requirements.
2. The second audit is completed after Phase II registration has ended to ensure that you remained
registered in the appropriate course(s).
3. The third audit is completed after the semester’s withdrawal deadline to ensure you did not withdraw from
a course(s) you need to graduate.
4. The final audit is completed after grades have been released for the semester so that we can confirm that
you successfully met all of your degree requirements.

3. When registering for my final semester, what happens if I am waitlisted for a course(s) that I need to
graduate, or the wait list for the course(s) I need to graduate is full?
As we have done in previous semesters, we will ensure that official degree candidates (students who have
submitted the OAG and a completed POS form to their advisor by the departmental deadline) are registered for
the ​specialization​ course(s) that they need to graduate. As we are conducting our first audit, we make note of any
degree candidates who are waitlisted for or not yet waitlisted for a specific ​specialization​ course(s) that they need.
As we get closer to the Phase II registration period, we will bump these students to the top of the wait list(s).
Please note that we only do this for specialization courses, not “free” electives.​ Therefore, if you are
waitlisted, please be sure to monitor your account carefully and frequently to ensure that you do not miss a wait
list notification, if you receive one. If you are not yet on the wait list, be sure to monitor the course, add yourself to
the wait list as soon as a space becomes available, and notify your advisor once you are on the wait list.

4. What resources should I consult as a degree candidate?

Please visit the Registrar’s “Degree Candidate” website at ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/degree-candidate-faq
for helpful information. There are additional links available on this page that may be of interest to you.
Additionally, please visit ​http://www.commencement.gatech.edu/​ for more information regarding the
commencement ceremony. The Commencement Office’s contact information can be found online at
http://www.commencement.gatech.edu/contact-commencement-office​.

5. Am I invited to participate in the commencement ceremony?

OMSCS students are invited to participate in the commencement ceremonies. Please note that commencement
ceremonies only take place in the spring and fall terms. If you are a summer graduate, you would be invited to
attend the fall commencement ceremony. For more information regarding commencement ceremonies, please
visit ​http://www.commencement.gatech.edu/​.

6. How long after commencement will I receive my diploma?

Diplomas are printed by an outside company, and it typically takes six to eight weeks after the commencement
ceremony for the diplomas to be printed and mailed.

7. I have applied to graduate by the end of the semester, and I need a document to prove this. Are there any
documents that the Institute can provide to show that I am approaching my graduation date?
As per the Registrar’s website (​https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/verification-pending-degree​), “[s]tudents who have
petitioned for a degree for the term may request a letter stating that they have a ‘pending’ degree and that the
degree will be awarded when all requirements for the degree are completed. This option is not available for
students who have already been awarded a degree. Students who wish to have verification of an awarded
degree should request a ​Degree Verification​ instead.” Please visit the website linked above for more information
on how to request this letter.

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8. If I am not sure that I will meet the degree requirements by the end of the term, am I still permitted to
attend the commencement ceremony?
Since grades are not finalized until after the commencement ceremony, there have been times when a student
has attended the commencement ceremony but unfortunately did not earn the grade(s) he/she needed. In this
case, the student would need to enroll in a future term in order to fulfill the degree requirements.

Therefore, if you are a degree candidate and have followed the steps on the Commencement Office’s website to
attend the ceremony, you should be eligible to attend, even if you are not sure you will obtain the grade(s) you
need. Please feel free to contact the Commencement Office directly if you have additional questions regarding
this. As a reminder, the Commencement Office’s contact information can be found online at
http://www.commencement.gatech.edu/contact-commencement-office​.

9. When will I know that I completed my degree requirements and will graduate from the OMSCS program?
Grades typically are released on the Tuesday after the commencement ceremony. Our office performs the final
degree audit once grades have been posted so that degrees can be conferred by the Thursday of that same
week. Therefore, as explained previously, it unfortunately is possible for students to attend the commencement
ceremony and later discover that they did not earn the grade(s) they needed to fulfill the degree requirements.
We will notify students if this is the case, but fortunately this does not happen often.

10. What happens if I apply to graduate and do not meet the degree requirements by the end of that term?
If you did not meet the degree requirements by the end of the term for which you applied to graduate, your
graduation application would be inactivated. To clarify, these are the most common reasons why your graduation
application would need to be inactivated:
● You did not register for the courses you needed to fulfill your degree requirements by the end of the term.
● You withdrew from a course(s) you needed to fulfill your degree requirements by the end of the term.
● You did not earn the grade(s) you needed to fulfill your degree requirements.
● You did not earn the overall cumulative 3.0 GPA requirement.

Once your graduation application was inactivated, you would need to re-apply for graduation and submit updated
graduation materials as instructed by the OMSCS Advising team for your new anticipated graduation term.

11. What happens if I pass my courses and fulfill my course/specialization requirements, but my cumulative
GPA is below 3.0?
Even if you complete your courses and ultimately fulfill your course/specialization requirements for the MSCS
degree, you cannot graduate from the OMSCS program if your cumulative GPA is not 3.0 or higher. Therefore,
you would be required to take additional courses beyond the required 30 hours in order to increase your GPA and
meet the minimum requirement of a 3.0. Please be sure to contact your advisor directly for further guidance,
especially if you are considering repeating a course, as students cannot repeat courses in which the grade of “B”
or higher has been earned previously.

12. Can I continue taking OMSCS courses after I graduate from the program?
It is possible for students to continue taking courses after they have graduated. In the semester you are
graduating, you should tell your academic advisor (​after​ your graduating term’s withdrawal deadline) that you wish
to become a special/non-degree student in the next (or in a future) term. Term-specific information regarding the
exact timeline and deadline to submit the required form should be available after that term’s withdrawal deadline.

To confirm, special/non-degree requests are not processed until ​after​ degrees have been awarded by the
Registrar’s Office at the end of the term, as the advisors do not want to request the status change in the
unfortunate event that a student did not fulfill the degree requirements that term as planned.

Please keep in mind the following regarding the special/non-degree student status:
● You will continue paying OMSCS tuition and fees.
● You will have a later registration time ticket than degree-seeking students.
● The same rule applies in that if special/non-degree students do not enroll for two consecutive terms
(including the summer term), they have to apply for readmission.
● The special/non-degree status will last until you apply for another program at Georgia Tech.
● There is no overall limit on how many courses you can take as a special/non-degree student.
● You would earn credits in the sense that if you wanted to transfer them to another institution, you could.
However, at Georgia Tech, the credits would not count for anything.
● Courses taken as a special/non-degree student ​will​ alter your GPA because the GPA does not start over
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 with a new class standing. However, for the purposes of your resume, whatever your GPA was when
your degree was awarded will be your MS GPA.
● Courses taken as a special/non-degree student will appear on your transcript and become a part of your
student record (this is not optional).

13. Can I continue being a TA after I graduate from the program?

This is possible, but it is more complicated than taking courses after graduating. You would have to be hired as a
part-time instructor. The hiring takes more time, and you have to consent to a background check. Therefore, you
should be absolutely sure that you really want to continue being a TA before you apply. Also, please note that
international students who are not living in the U.S. most likely cannot be hired as TAs, as the Institute has to be
able to verify your identity and conduct a background check, and you have to have a Social Security number to do
this. International students who are not living in the U.S. may not work as TAs for free. Unless we hire the TA,
there is no way of holding him/her accountable for his/her work as a TA.

14. What technology-related services will I retain as a graduate of Georgia Tech?

Please visit ​https://faq.oit.gatech.edu/content/what-happens-after-i-leave-tech​ and
https://faq.oit.gatech.edu/content/alumni-will-i-keep-my-gt-e-mail-account​ for information on what will happen to
your GT accounts once you have graduated from the OMSCS program. If you have any questions regarding this,
please contact OIT directly. Their contact information can be found on their website at ​https://oit.gatech.edu/​.

15. How can I request a degree verification from the Institute?

Please visit ​https://registrar.gatech.edu/info/degree-verifications​ for more information on how to request a degree
verification from the Registrar’s Office.

SECTION L. GEORGIA TECH DIRECTORY INFORMATION

DEPARTMENT & WEBSITE CONTACT INFORMATION REASON(S) TO CONTACT

Bursar’s Office Phone:​ (404) 894-4618 Questions about tuition/fees,

http://www.bursar.gatech.edu Email: payments, refunds, 1098-T forms, etc.
[email protected]

BuzzCard Center Phone:​ (404) 894-2899 Questions regarding your BuzzCard

http://buzzcard.gatech.edu/ Email:
[email protected]

Campus Recreation Center Phone: ​(404) 385-7529 Access to the Campus Recreation
http://crc.gatech.edu/index.php Email: ​Please visit the website to Center and other related resources for
complete a web form. students (*​Please note that OMSCS
students do not pay the fee to cover
these services, so additional
arrangements may need to be made
through the Bursar’s Office if you
would like to become eligible.​)

College of Computing Career Email: ​[email protected] Questions regarding on-campus and

Development virtual career fairs, in addition to
http://www.omscs.gatech.edu/career assistance with job searching,
interviewing, networking, career
planning, and professional
development

Commencement Office Phone: ​(404) 385-2638 Information regarding the

http://www.commencement.gatech.edu Email: ​[email protected] Commencement ceremonies

Dean of Students Office Phone:​ (404) 894-6367 Student-support services, especially

http://studentlife.gatech.edu Email: when students are facing extenuating
[email protected] circumstances

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Georgia Tech Athletics Phone: ​(404) 894-5447 or Information regarding Georgia Tech
http://www.ramblinwreck.com/ 888.TECH.TIX (Ticket Office) athletic events (*​Please note that
Email:​ t​ [email protected] OMSCS students do not pay the
athletic fee, so arrangements may
need to be made through the Bursar’s
Office if you would like to purchase
tickets as a student.)​

Graduate Studies Phone: (​404) 894-1610 Admissions-required documents such

http://grad.gatech.edu/ Email: ​[email protected] as undergraduate/graduate
transcripts, TOEFL scores, clearing
the lawful presence requirement, etc.

Office of Disability Services Phone: ​(404) 894-2563 Disability services for students
http://disabilityservices.gatech.edu Email: ​[email protected] needing support, resources, and/or
accommodations

Office of Information Technology Phone: ​(404) 894-7173 Questions regarding technical support
https://www.oit.gatech.edu Email: ​[email protected] for Institute-related services

Office of International Education Phone: ​(404) 894-7475 International student services and
https://www.oie.gatech.edu Email: ​Please visit the website for resources
the advisor and service/area
coordinator breakdown.

Office of Scholarships and Financial Phone: ​(404) 894-2000 Questions regarding FAFSA, financial
Aid Email: ​Please visit the website for aid eligibility, financial aid
http://www.finaid.gatech.edu the advisor breakdown (by last disbursement, etc.
name).

Office of Student Integrity Phone: (​404) 894-2000 Academic integrity issues or concerns
http://osi.gatech.edu

OMSCS Help Desk Phone: ​1-855-MSCSOGT Assistance for prospective and

(1-855-672-7648) admitted students regarding general
Email: ​[email protected] program information, admissions, and
application-related questions

Registrar’s Office Phone:​ (404) 894-4150 Transcripts, enrollment verifications,

https://registrar.gatech.edu/ Email: updating personal information, etc.
[email protected]

STAMPS Health Services Phone: ​(404) 894-1420 Student health insurance,

https://health.gatech.edu Email:​ Please visit the website to immunizations, healthcare-related
complete a web form. services, etc.

Technology Services Organization Phone: ​(404) 894-7065 Questions regarding technical support
https://support.cc.gatech.edu Email: ​[email protected] for departmental and/or COC-related
services

Veteran’s Services Phone: ​(404) 894-4953 Serves as a liaison between GT

https://registrar.gatech.edu/veterans-s Email: veteran students and the Department
ervices/ [email protected] of Veteran Affairs regarding
VA-related educational benefits

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SECTION M. GET CONNECTED!

You are encouraged to connect through social media:

➢ Facebook (OMSCS Official): ​https://www.facebook.com/gtomscs

➢ Twitter (OMSCS Official): ​https://twitter.com/gtomscs

➢ OMSCS reddit (This is not an official OMSCS page; however, we do monitor it periodically. It is run by students,
for students, and is a great way to connect with your classmates across the globe.):
https://www.reddit.com/r/OMSCS/

➢ OMSCS MeWe (As with the reddit community, this is not an official OMSCS page. It again is run by students and
is another great way to connect with your classmates.): ​www.mewe.com/join/georgiatechomscs

SECTION N. OMSCS ADVISING CONTACT INFORMATION

● For all OMSCS Advising questions, please send an email from your GT email account to
[email protected]​. Please be sure to include your full name and nine-digit GT ID number
(90X-XX-XXXX), replacing the first two digits with “xx”.​ ​Once you send an email to this address, you will receive
an automated response that will include a ticket number – this number is assigned to your inquiry directly and is
confirmation that we have received your message.
○ Once we respond to your message, you will receive two emails: one with our response and the other
stating that your ticket has been resolved. You should receive our response first; however, if you receive
the “resolved ticket” message first, please be patient, as the response email should arrive soon. Please
check to ensure it did not go to another folder (like spam) before emailing us to say that you did not
receive a response.
○ If you have further questions after we answer your email, you MUST create a new ticket by sending a ​new
(separate) message from your GT email account to ​[email protected]​. If you reply to our
response, you most likely will not receive a reply because these are not directed back to the
[email protected]​ account.
○ If you are instructed to contact your advisor directly, please do so in a ​separate​ email and include the
ticket number in your message. Do ​not​ forward the email to your advisor, as these messages are not
always routed to the advisor’s inbox, so you may not receive a reply.
○ When you send a message to ​[email protected]​, please do not copy other
people/departments on the message – the OMSCS Advising team will direct you to another department if
necessary. Likewise, please do not copy the ​[email protected]​ account on your messages to
other people/departments.
○ Please allow 24-48 business hours as a standard response time. During certain times of the year, such
as registration and the end of the term, the response time may increase. We greatly appreciate your
patience and understanding.
● Please do NOT reply or send messages to the ​[email protected]​ account, as this could result in all
OMSCS students receiving your message. As a reminder, please pay special attention to any messages sent
from ​[email protected]​, as important announcements typically are sent from this account.
● While it is not required, we also encourage students to subscribe to the ​[email protected]​ account
for non-academic events and announcements. You may do this by visiting
https://mailman.cc.gatech.edu/mailman/listinfo/omscs-announce​.

Again, welcome to Georgia Tech and the OMSCS program! We hope you find this document helpful, and we look forward
to working with you.

Sincerely,

OMSCS Advising Team

College of Computing
Georgia Institute of Technology
[email protected]

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