Graduate Academic Advising

Your Academic Adviser

If you are a newly admitted student to Illinois Tech, your adviser’s name should appear in your letter of admission. If it does not, contact one of the following individuals, depending on your program:

Master of Data Science: Associate Professor Ioan Raicu
Master of Science in Computational Decision Science and Operations Research: Professor Sanjiv Kapoor
Master of Science in Computer Science or Master of Computer Science: Associate Teaching Professor Dennis Hood
Accelerated Master’s Program, non-degree, graduate certificate, or other master’s degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science: Associate Professor Gruia Calinescu

You can change your adviser at any time. It is most often done to have a student’s research adviser become their academic adviser.

Using Your Adviser

Your academic adviser can help you choose courses and advise you on various topics, including program requirements and registration issues. Your adviser’s approval is needed for a number of forms (see eForms below). Advisers can’t solve all your problems directly, but they can at least point you in the right direction. For example, if you’re a distance learner who is having technical troubles watching videos, your adviser can let you that the Office of Digital Learning is where you can go for help.

If you are meeting your adviser for the first time, prepare for your meeting by using the university website to learn about your program's requirements and limitations. Categories of courses you may need to consider include undergraduate prerequisite, graduate prerequisite, core/elective, specialization, recently offered, to be offered, day/night, and online/remote (internet or India internet).

Contacting Your Adviser

To find office hours, email addresses, or phone numbers, check out the faculty directory. Outside of scheduled office hours, email or call your adviser to set up in-person or remote advising sessions. (Email is generally faster and preferred.) If your adviser is on vacation or on sabbatical leave—or your email is not responded to within two or three business days—contact Dennis Hood, or the department.

Advising PIN

Every semester, you need an Advising PIN to register for classes. If you are a new graduate students can find their Advising PIN number in their Illinois Tech Portal account. Information to find your Advising PIN can be found at this link.

Required Academic Advising

If you are a degree-seeking student who wants to be sure that you are taking courses that will lead you to a degree, you must complete an academic advising session before progressing too far into your studies. This advising session is mandatory; the GP Graduate Advising Hold will prevent you from registering for the next semester until you meet with your adviser and your adviser subsequently clears the hold. The hold goes into effect automatically before the next semester of registration opens for:

Accelerated masters students in the first semester of graduate enrollment
Traditional masters students at nine earned or enrolled credits
Doctoral students at 18 earned or enrolled credits

Note: Non-degree graduate students and graduate certificate students do not receive GP holds.

Advising Topics

Student Resources

Academic Affairs (Graduate): www.iit.edu/gaa
Academic Resources: www.iit.edu/arc
Career Services: www.iit.edu/career-services
Center for Learning Innovation: www.iit.edu/cli
Disability Resources: www.iit.edu/cdr
English Language Services: www.iit.edu/els
Financial Aid: www.iit.edu/financial-aid
Student Health and Wellness: www.iit.edu/shwc
Idea Shop and IPro: www.iit.edu/academics/active-learning
Office of Global Services: www.iit.edu/global-services
Registrar: www.iit.edu/registrar/registration
Student Accounting: www.iit.edu/student-accounting

Resources for Computer Science Students

Computer science accelerated master’s students (allowable shared classes)
Graduate computer science admission FAQ