Academics & the Life of the Mind at Carnegie Mellon

Carnegie Mellon is an academically rigorous institution, but not all of our intellectual pursuits happen in the classroom. In conjunction with Student Affairs, the Office of the Vice Provost for Education ensures that students have opportunities to learn along all axes of education and translate that into a passion for life-long learning. In addition to an excellent and thorough curriculum in each of our departments, the unversity offers a number of programs and initiatives giving students the opportunity to go beyond the classroom and learn through mentorship, campus lectures, student organizations, and hands-on experience.

In the Classroom
Each program at Carnegie Mellon has a wealth of possibilities for intellectual exploration. Some programs are tightly organized to provide expertise from some of the best instructors and scholars in the field, while other programs allow for students to make a program unique to their interests. It is important to know the requirements and goals of each department as well as the opportunities for students in general, but know also that all programs offer students the opportunity to explore their education both deeply and broadly, through specialization and focused diversification. Students looking for broad latitude in their academic education might consider taking on a supplemental major or minor, from their own college or another, creating their own major, or pursuing an interdisciplinary degree. Meanwhile, studying abroad is a sometimes unconsidered but often life-changing experience allowing students to explore what a global education truly means and how they fit into the broader world community.

Advising and Mentorship
Students can find mentors at various levels of the institution. But while some students will develop relationships with deans, certain faculty, and departmental coordinators, your best first stop is your academic advisor. Advisors are specific to student programs and can help you to navigate your department, fulfill the requirements of your major, and begin planning your academic and professional future. Faculty are also fantastic resources and students should seek out faculty advising, metorship, or just course help during faculty office hours. Professors and deans can provide research opportunities, connect students with future academic and professional experiences, and help students put their academic life into practice. Additional offices, such as the Carnegie Mellon Advising Resource Center (CMARC) and the Career Center, can help students to further develop those plans.

Activities and Programs
From the University Lecture Series to the academic skill workshops of Academic Development and JumpStart to the Undergraduate Research Office (URO), Carnegie Mellon has something for every student looking to enrich their academic experience. Conferences hosted by student professional organizations, student-run academic journals, and free or discounted campus-wide symposia all provide opportunities to deepen one's academic interests on an almost weekly basis. Less strictly academic conferences, such as the gender and sexuality-focused MOSAIC, the first year student-oriented Emerging Leaders, and the skill-building SUMMIT, give students a different perspective from which to view their education and with which to make an impact. Learn more about student advisory councils (SACs), student organizations, and other ways to get involved on campus at our Get Invovled page.