What Is a Course Substitution?
The CMTS certificate has an approved list of elective courses spanning multiple departments. In most cases, students select their three elective courses from this list. However, with approval from the ISC Director, a student may substitute courses not on the approved list to fulfill elective requirements. Each request is reviewed case-by-case with no set limit on the number of substitutions permitted. The substitution process applies to elective courses only — the two core course options, MATH 609 and STAT 604, are fixed requirements and are not eligible for substitution.
Substitutions are most likely to arise in cases where a student has access to a specialized course — such as a limited-enrollment special topics course — that addresses computational methods not covered by the approved elective list. In all cases, the student must demonstrate that the proposed substitution offers a meaningful computational component that justifies its inclusion in the certificate.
Approval Must Come Before Enrollment
ISC Director approval for a course substitution must be obtained before you enroll in the substitute course. Substitution requests submitted after enrollment — or after the course has been completed — will not be approved. Plan ahead and submit your request with sufficient time before your intended enrollment term.
Substitutions Cannot Be Applied Retroactively
Because substitution approval must precede enrollment, a course already completed before approval was sought cannot be retroactively approved as a substitution elective — courses on the approved elective list may be counted retroactively, but courses not on the approved list may not. If you believe a course you have already taken should count and it is not on the approved list, contact the CMTS certificate program to discuss your situation before applying.
Contact the CMTS ProgramHow to Request a Substitution
To request an elective substitution, submit the following materials to the CMTS certificate program at cmts-certificate@tamu.edu before registering for the course:
What to Include in Your Request
- Course information
Provide the course number, title, and the term in which you intend to enroll. - A current syllabus
Submit the full syllabus for the proposed substitute course, including course description, learning objectives, and topic outline. - A written justification
Your justification should address the following:- What is the specific computational component of the proposed course?
- How does this course contribute to your development in computational science or engineering in a way that is not already addressed by any course on the approved elective list?
- Why is this course a better fit for your academic and professional goals than the available approved electives?
After You Submit
Your request will be reviewed by the ISC Director. You will be notified of the decision. Do not register for the course until you have received written approval.
Substitution Questions?
For questions about or to submit a course substitution request, contact the CMTS certificate program at cmts-certificate@tamu.edu.
