Student Resources

Non-MPCS Student Course Requests

MPCS Course Request form for Winter 2025 will be open until Friday, November 22nd at 5PM.

If you are a current student at the University of Chicago and interested in taking a MPCS class, please read our course request guidelines below. For MPCS, Bx/MS, MSCAPP or MACSS students, please see the Course Registration page.

 

MPCS Course Request Form for Non-MPCS Students

Course Request Form

For Winter 2025 the course request form will be open November 11, 2024 to November 22, 2024.

Note: MPCS, Bx/MS, MSCAPP, and MACSS students should choose their courses through the MPCS Pre-Registration Survey or enroll in approved classes during the open registration periods. Registration inforamtion is detailed on the Course Registration page. 

Course Request Instructions for Non-MPCS Students

Non-MPCS students may register for up to two MPCS classes with prior approval from MPCS administration. These two classes can be taken in the same quarter or different quarters. More than two courses will not be approved, and auditing MPCS classes is not permitted.

Winter 2025 MPCS Course Schedule

  1. Submit a Course Request
      • Complete the MPCS Course Request Form
      • For Winter 2025 the course request form will be open November 11, 2024 to November 22, 2024.
      • Late submissions will not be considered.
  2. Available Classes
      • Only classes listed on the form are open to non-MPCS students.
      • If a class is not listed, it is unavailable; please do not contact us or the instructor about additional classes, as auditing is not allowed.
  3. Prerequisites
      • All classes have strict prerequisites. For example:
        • If Core Programming is required, you must pass the Programming Placement Exam at the Programming level of Immersion Programming.
        • If Discrete Math is required, you must pass the Math Placement Exam.
        • You may only attempt each exam once. If you have previously taken CMSC courses, we will review them with your request to determine if they meet the prerequisites and waive the exam requirements if applicable.
  4. Approval Process
      • After review, we will notify you of your approval status and any required exams. Approval depends on class availability after the main registration period, with final approval granted during the first week of the quarter.
      • Non-MPCS students cannot register before receiving official approval from our office.
      • Please note: Seat availability on the university’s time schedule may not reflect actual availability, as adjustments are made based on MPCS student enrollment, classroom capacity, and instructor preference.

Important Notes

      • Auditing Not Allowed: Only registered students may attend classes. Without approval, you cannot attend or access course materials.
      • Eligibility: Only University of Chicago students enrolled in a degree program are eligible to take MPCS classes.
      • Contacting Instructors: Do not contact instructors directly—all permissions must be obtained through MPCS administration.
      • Degree Credit: MPCS courses taken prior to your official MPCS enrollment will not count toward degree requirements, though you will not need to retake any courses you passed. You must still complete the required number of courses to graduate.
      • Placement Exams: If placement exams are required, registration details will be provided in the course request approval notification.

Instructions for Lab School Students

  1. Complete the MPCS Course Request Form
      • Only listed MPCS courses are open to non-MPCS students.
      • If a course is not on the form, it is closed to non-MPCS students. Please do not contact the instructor directly.
  2. Receive Response from MPCS
      • Approval is typically based on available space, and final confirmation may not be given until the first week of the quarter. Follow any specific instructions included in the approval email.
  3. Additional Requirements for Approval
      • Some approvals may require a placement exam or a recommendation from a Lab School instructor.
  4. Complete Lab School Form
      • Once final approval is confirmed, the MPCS administration will assist with completing the Lab School form. Please do not reach out to individual instructors for form completion.
  5. Endorsement for First-Time Lab School Students
      • First-time Lab School students must be endorsed by a CS teacher at Lab. Please ask your CS teacher to contact Borja Sotomayor to provide this endorsement. This endorsement does not need to be a formal recommendation, but your CS teacher should confirm that you are prepared for the rigor of an MS-level class.

Instructions for MPCS Alumni 

  1. Eligibility and Permission
      • MPCS alumni are allowed to audit one course per academic year with approval from the MPCS administration. Do not contact individual instructors with audit requests.
  2. Approval Process
      • Interested alumni should complete the MPCS Alumni Audit Request Form. Approval is based on space availability and is not granted until regular student registration is complete. Not all courses are open for audit, and requests for courses with waitlists or that have reached their enrollment limit will not be approved.
  3. Auditor Participation
      • If approved, alumni may sit in on the class but will not submit homework, take exams, or receive a grade. Audited courses will not appear on transcripts, and there are no fees to audit as an alum.
      • For questions about course requests, please email admin-mpcs@lists.uchicago.edu.
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