Learn at LTI

The Ph.D. in LTI focuses on developing the next generation of scientific and entrepreneurial leaders. The first two years of the Ph.D. program are similar to our MLT program. After the second year, you will spend most of your time working closely with your faculty advisor on research that advances the state-of-the-art in computer science.

Ph.D. students are expected to publish papers about original research in the most competitive scientific journals and international conference proceedings, and to present their research at conferences and workshops. Most of our Ph.D. graduates become professors and research scientists, while a few have started their own companies.

In general, students pursuing a Ph.D. in Language and Information Technologies must

• Pass at least 96 units of graduate-level courses.
• Satisfy proficiencies in writing, presentation, programming and teaching; and
• Propose, write and defend a Ph.D. dissertation (thesis).

Students must also attend the LTI Colloquium each semester and satisfy our Research Speaking Requirement.

For a detailed breakdown of the above requirements, download and read the PhD Handbook.

In order to obtain your Ph.D. in Language and Information Technologies, you need to pass 96 units (generally, eight courses) of graduate courses that fulfill these requirements:

• At least 72 units of LTI courses: Must include one class in each LTI focus area.
• At least 24 units of SCS courses.
• At least two lab courses in two different research areas.

Here's a sample of what your five-year schedule might look like.

Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science has a centralized online application process. Applications and all supporting documentation for fall admission to any of the LTI's graduate programs must be received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application period for Fall 2024 will open on September 6, 2023.

Final Application Deadline

December 13, 2023 at 3 p.m. EST.

Cost

• $100 per program and $80 if the applicant applies before November 29, 2023 at 3 p.m. EST (early deadline).

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers may be available in cases of financial hardship. For more information, please refer to the School of Computer Science Fee Waiver page.

Requirements

The School of Computer Science requires the following for all Ph.D. applications.

• GRE scores: GREs are now optional, but if you want to submit GRE scores:
  These must be less than five years old. The GRE Subject Test is not required, but is recommended. Our Institution Code is 2074; Department Code is 0402.
• English Proficiency Requirement: If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language…meaning spoken at home and from birth), an official copy of an English proficiency score report is required. The English proficiency requirement cannot be waived for any reason. Find more information under "Test Scores" on our FAQ page.
• Successful applicants will have a minimum TOEFL score of 100. Our Institution Code is 4256; the Department Code is 78.
• Official transcripts from each university you have attended, regardless of whether you received your degree there.
• Current resume.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Three letters of recommendation.

For more details on these requirements, please see the SCS Doctoral Admissions page.

In addition to the SCS guidelines, the LTI requires:

• A short (1-3 minute) video of yourself. There will be a prompt question that you will respond to. You will have three attempts. This is not a required part of the application process, but it's strongly suggested.
• Any outside funding you are receiving must be accompanied by an official award letter.

No incomplete applications will be eligible for consideration.

For specific application/admissions questions, please contact Stacey Young.

For a complete breakdown of the Ph.D. program and its policies, including information about internships, please view the PhD Handbook. 

For more information about the Ph.D. program, contact Stacey Young.

The Master's in Intelligent Information Systems degree focuses on recognizing and extracting meaning from text, spoken language and video. As an MIIS student, you’ll receive the department’s deepest exposure to content analysis and machine learning. In addition to completing the program’s coursework, you’ll work on directed study projects with your faculty advisor for two semesters; participate in a summer internship; and collaborate with your peers on a semester-long, group-oriented capstone project. This combination of classroom instruction, professional experience, and using new skills in significant projects with world-class colleagues will help prepare you for a successful career in industry or government. Our alumni have gone on to exciting careers at places like Apple, IBM and Google, and most have job offers within six weeks of graduation.

The Intelligent Information Systems degree offers students the flexibility to create their own course of study in consultation with their advisor. 

MIIS students gain three types of practical experience: software development supervised by their advisor (24 units equivalent to two courses); a summer internship (which can be waived for students that have sufficient prior professional experience); and a capstone project executed in a group of peers (42 units equivalent to three 12-unit courses and one 6-unit course). This combination is proven to help IIS students to broaden their skills quickly. The MIIS degree is offered in two options:

Option 1. Standard MIIS degree (MIIS-16) - A 16-month track that is completed in three academic semesters (fall, spring, fall) and a summer internship.  

Option 2. MIIS: Advanced Study degree (MIIS-21) - A 21-month track that is completed in four academic semesters (fall, spring, fall, spring) and a summer internship.

MIIS: Advanced Study track offers indepth degree in one of the following areas of concentration:

• Human Language for Language Technologies
• Language Technology Application
• Machine Learning for Language Technologies

Part-time education option is available in some cases. 

MIIS-16 students must take at least 84 units (typically 7 courses) of qualifying and elective courses that satisfy human language, machine learning, and language technology applications breadth requirements. MIIS-21 students have to take at least two more courses from the selected concentration area to satisfy their degree requirements, making it total of 108 units (typically 9 courses) of qualifying and elective courses, that also satisfy breadth requirements.

For a full list of requirements, read the MIIS Handbook.

Click one of the two options below: 

MIIS-16

MIIS-21

Here are some example schedules for completing the MIIS-16 program.

Example Course of Study #1

This schedule would satisfy course requirements for a student interested in text mining, text analytics and question-answering systems.

Example Course of Study #2

This schedule would satisfy course requirements for a student interested in voice-based computer applications.

Example Course of Study #3

This example would satisfy course requirements for a student interested in text mining, text analytics and question-answering systems who has petitioned to have the summer internship waived.

Here are some example schedules for completing the MIIS-21 program.

Example Course of Study #1

This schedule would satisfy course requirements for a student interested in deepening their expertise in Machine Learning area of concentration.

Example Course of Study #2

This schedule would satisfy course requirements for a student interested in deepening their expertise in Language Technology Applications area of concentration.

Example Course of Study #3

This example would satisfy course requirements for a student interested in deepening their expertise in Human Language area of concentration

Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science has a centralized online application process. Applications and all supporting documentation for fall admission to any of the LTI's graduate programs must be received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application period for Fall 2024 will open on September 6, 2023.

*Please note, we no longer require mailed, hard versions of transcripts or test scores at the time of application. Do not mail anything to the admissions office. If you are accepted to a program, you will be given instruction to then mail your materials.

Final Application Deadline

December 13, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Cost

• $100 per program, $80 for applications submitted before November 29, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EST (early deadline).

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers may be available in cases of financial hardship, or for participants in select "pipeline" programs. For more information, please refer to the School of Computer Science Fee Waiver page.

Requirements

The School of Computer Science requires the following for all Master's applications.

• GRE scores: MIIS applicants must submit their GRE scores. The scores must be less than five years old. The GRE Subject Test is not required, but is recommended. Our Institution Code is 2074; Department Code is 0402.

• Proof of English Language Proficiency:

If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language…meaning spoken at home and from birth), we are required to formally evaluate your English proficiency. We require applicants who will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and for whom English is not a native language, to demonstrate English proficiency via one of these standardized tests: TOEFL (preferred), IELTS, or Duolingo.  We discourage the use of the "TOEFL ITP Plus for China," since speaking is not scored.

We do not issue waivers for non-native speakers of English.  In particular, we do not issue waivers based on previous study at a U.S. high school, college, or university.  We also do not issue waivers based on previous study at an English-language high school, college, or university outside of the United States.  No amount of educational experience in English, regardless of which country it occurred in, will result in a test waiver. Submit valid, recent scores: If as described above you are required to submit proof of English proficiency, your TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo test scores will be considered valid as follows: If you have not received a bachelor’s degree in the U.S., you will need to submit an English proficiency score no older than two years. (scores from exams taken before Sept. 1, 2021, will not be accepted.)

If you are currently working on or have received a bachelor's and/or a master's degree in the U.S., you may submit an expired test score up to five years old. (scores from exams taken before Sept. 1, 2018, will not be accepted.)Additional details about English proficiency requirements are provided on the FAQ page.

• Official transcripts from each university you have attended, regardless of whether you received your degree there.
• Current resume.
• Statement of Purpose.
• Three letters of recommendation.

For more details on these requirements, please see the SCS Master's Admissions page.

In addition to the SCS guidelines, the MIIS requires:

• A short (1-3 minute) video of yourself. There will be a prompt question that you will respond to. You will have three attempts.

No incomplete applications will be eligible for consideration.

For specific application/admissions questions, please contact Brianna Eriksen.

For a complete breakdown of the MIIS program and its policies, including information about internships, please view the MIIS Handbook.

For more information on the MIIS program, please contact Brianna Eriksen.

The Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation (MSAII) program is a successor to the M.S. in Biotechnology, Innovation and Computing (MSBIC). It combines a rigorous AI and machine learning curriculum with real-world team experience in identifying an AI market niche and developing a responsive product in cooperation with external stakeholders. The core program, which lasts four semesters and leads to a capstone project, focuses on both intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship, equipping graduates to either begin a startup or develop a new organization within an existing company. Students will also gain critical practical skills, such as making persuasive technical presentations, assembling development teams, and evaluating the potential of new market ideas.

Incoming students generally hold undergraduate degrees in computer science, software engineering, bioinformatics or bioengineering. To earn the MSAII degree, you must pass courses in the Core Curriculum, the Knowledge Requirements and Electives. You must also complete a capstone project in which you work on a development project as part of the Core Curriculum. In total, you will complete 192 eligible units of study, including 84 units of Core Curriculum (including the 36-unit Capstone), 72 units of Knowledge Requirements and at least 36 units of approved Electives.

For full requirements and program details, read the MSAII Handbook.

The MSAII degree generally takes four semesters. Here's an example of how your coursework might break down:

*Elective course

For more information on the MSAII program curriculum and requirements, see the program website.

Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science has a centralized online application process. Applications and all supporting documentation for fall admission to any of the LTI's graduate programs must be received by the application deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The application period for Fall 2024 will open on September 6, 2023.

Final Application Deadline

December 13, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. EST.

Cost

• $100 for one program, $80 if application is submitted before November 29, 2023 at 3PM EST (early deadline).

Fee Waivers

Fee waivers may be available in cases of financial hardship, or for participants in select "pipeline" programs. For more information, please refer to the School of Computer Science Fee Waiver page.

Requirements

The School of Computer Science requires the following for all applications:

• A GPA of 3.0 or higher. (Students should report raw university GPA scores and NOT converted scores. Please DO NOT convert your international score to a US GPA or weighted GPA or other system).

• GRE scores: GRE is required. Our Institution Code is 2074; Department Code is 0402. 

• English Language Proficiency: If you will be studying on an F-1 or J-1 visa, and English is not a native language for you (native language…meaning spoken at home and from birth), an official copy of an English proficiency score report is required. The English proficiency requirement cannot be waived for any reason. Find more information under "Test Scores" on our FAQ page.Unofficial transcripts from each university you have attended, regardless of whether you received a degree.

• Current resume.

• Statement of Purpose. A Statement of Purpose is not a resume. It should discuss your reasons for choosing the MSAII program and indicate your intended career path. 

• Three letters of recommendation.

• A short (1-3 minutes) video of yourself. Tell us about you and why you are interested in the MSAII program. This is not a required part of the application process, but it is STRONGLY suggested.  

For specific application/admissions questions, please contact Amber Vivis. 

For a complete breakdown of the MSAII program and its policies, including information about internships, please view the MSAII Handbook.

For more about the MSAII program, visit the MSAII website, or contact Amber Vivis.

Human language technologies have become an increasingly central component of computer science. Information retrieval, machine translation and speech technology are used daily by the general public, while text mining, natural language processing and language-based tutoring are common within more specialized professional or educational environments. The LTI prepares students for this world by offering a minor that gives you the opportunity to not only learn about language technologies, but to also apply that knowledge through a directed project.

Students interested in the language technologies minor must complete our prerequisite courses with an average grade of B (3.0) or better before applying to the program. (Students who do not meet this average must submit a letter of explanation along with their application.) Prerequisites include:

• Principles of Imperative Computation (15-122)
• Principles of Functional Programming (15-150)

We also strongly encourage candidates to take

• Differential and Integral Calculus (21-120) and Integration and Approximation (21-122)
• Matrices and Linear Transformations (21-241) or Matrix Theory (21-242)
• Probability and Computing (15-259) or Probability (21-325) or Probability Theory for Computer Scientists (36-218) or Introduction to Probability Theory (36-225)

The Language Technologies Concentration requires that SCS students complete one core course and their choice of three elective courses of at least 9 units each. The electives can be chosen from a specific set of stand-alone courses. In addition to the four courses, students are required to do an undergraduate research project for at least 9 units to complete their concentration.

Course Requirements for Undergraduate Minor

Students interested in earning a minor in language technologies must apply for admission no later than September 30 of their senior year. An admission decision will usually be made within one month. Students may petition the LTI undergraduate program director to be admitted to the minor earlier or later in their undergraduate careers. To apply, contact the program's director, Carolyn Rosé.

For more information on the undergraduate minor, contact Carolyn Rosé.