Student Resources

Meet Your Advisor

Todd Schnitzer

The College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE) is committed to enhancing your undergraduate experience and work closely with you to navigate your academic program with the goal of ensuring academic success and professional growth.

The University requires that you meet with your academic advisor every semester to ensure that you’re enrolled in the right courses to meet requirements for your degree. Once you meet with your advisor, you’re given an AVN, so you can register for that semester’s classes.

We can help you

• Connect with people and offices across campus
• Get the information you need to succeed at the University at Albany
• Take advantage of all that UAlbany has to offer

Please read the weekly emails from [email protected] as they provide important information about how and when you can prepare for your advisement appointments.

Contact Us

Please contact the CNSE Advisement Office at [email protected] and schedule an appointment today to speak with an advisor.

Related Links

• Read Your Degree Audit
• Search Schedule of Classes
• Academic Calendar
• Undergraduate Bulletin

• Computer Science, BA
• Computer Science, BS
• Computer Science & Applied Mathematics (CSMAT) Data Analytics Concentration, BS
• Computer Science & Applied Mathematics (CSMAT) General Concentration, BS
• Computer Science Minor

• Add or Update a Major
• Add or Update a Minor
• Cross Registration Guidelines
• Time Conflict Override Form

• Student Forms

• Internship Request Form 
• Internship Request Review Committee

The Graduate Handbook contains information about procedures and requirements to assist students in the Department of Computer Science. It should be used as a supplement to the University’s Graduate Bulletin, the Schedule of Classes, Academic Calendar and other official publications of the University and Department of Computer Science. It must be remembered, however, that programs, courses, and requirements are frequently modified. As a result, this Handbook may not include the most recent information. It is essential that students maintain frequent and close contact with their advisors to ensure that all requirements are met.

The final responsibility for pursuing a successful graduate program, organizing and concluding its many parts, remains with each student. Each student has the primary responsibility for being aware of and satisfying the requirements and policies of his/her program. Students are encouraged to seek advice from their advisors, department chair and professors. Ultimately, the student is responsible for navigating a successful program schedule to the award of his/her degree.

Paliath Narandran, PhD

To connect with your advisor please reach out to our department [email protected], where we can answer general inquiries. If appropriate, we will forward the request to your advisor.

Every graduate student must provide evidence of a basic level of competency in discrete mathematics. This competency is a pre-requisite for many graduate courses, including several required courses and should be taken in the first year of study. The student can demonstrate competency in discrete mathematics in two ways.

Passing the Discrete Mathematics Examination: The Discrete Mathematics Examination (DME) is given on registration day at the beginning of each term. Students can take the DME a maximum of two times. Please make sure you are adequately prepared when signing up for the test. A student’s grade for the examination will be a pass or a fail. A pass permits registration for any course requiring a discrete mathematics prerequisite. Announcements regarding DME review sessions are made via Blackboard. 

Grade of B+ or better in ICSI 521: ICIS 521 is offered in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Students who receive a grade of B+ or better will satisfy the discrete mathematics competency requirement.

• Exam Syllabus

The Placement Exam is offered shortly before the semester begins. If you are required to take this exam you will receive notice in your admissions letter. This exam tests for core CS deficiencies and requires that you take them in your first semester here.

Students that decide to enroll in the degree program will have access to the Blackboard page for the exam, which gives them an opportunity to review before taking the exam. Once the exam is graded, you will meet with an advisor to review your results and register for classes. Learn more about the placement exam review questions.

• Graduate Internship Request
• Internship Request Review Committee

• Admission to Candidacy: This form is submitted to Graduate Education once you have completed your oral qualifying exam. 
• Sample of Dissertation Approval: This document is submitted to Graduate Education once you have successfully defended and published your dissertation.
• Degree Conferral Form: This document is submitted to Graduate Education when all other requirements of your PhD program have been met.
• Transfer Credit Form: Please note that all transfer credit requests must be approved by the Graduate Curriculum Committee.
• Internal Milestone Forms: PhD students should complete this form twice. Once after completing their Oral Qualifying Exam and another after successful defense of your dissertation. Completed forms should be sent to [email protected].