Computer Science - Ph.D.

Program Overview

Computer Science - Ph.D.

Overview

The Ph.D. degree in Computer Science provides students with an educational and research environment that fosters personal and intellectual growth, flourishes academic goals and develops career paths through necessary training with emerging technologies. The program promotes research, discovery and integration, and is designed for students interested in becoming professional scholars, college and university professors or researchers in private, industrial or government research institutions.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science (or closely related field) from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 3.000 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• GRE scores
• Résumé
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.0 IELTS score
  • Minimum 50 PTE score
  • Minimum 100 DET score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester: June 15
• Spring Semester: November 1
• Summer Term: April 1

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

• Computer Science Electives (CS 70000 level): 27-57 credit hours
• CS 89191: DOCTORAL SEMINAR: 3 credit hours
• Culminating Requirement:
  • CS 89199: DISSERTATION I: 30 credit hours
• Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Baccalaureate Students: 90
• Minimum Total Credit Hours for Post-Master's Students: 60

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Major GPA: 3.000
• Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000

Proficiency Requirements and Candidacy

• Students must clear core area proficiency requirements.
• Students admitted after completing a master's of computer science degree must take the Prelims examination within the first two semesters.
• Other students, including directly-admitted Ph.D. students, must take the Prelims examination within the first three semesters.
• The candidacy examination is a comprehensive examination in the field of the major subject.
• The format of the candidacy examination will be determined by the student’s Candidacy Examination Committee, which is composed of the student’s advisor and two other graduate faculty members.
• The Candidacy Examination Committee must be approved by the graduate coordinator.
• The student must complete the candidacy examination at least one year before the dissertation defense.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Have all around breadth-of-knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to advanced topics in computer science to be regarded as a scholar of computer science.
2. Demonstrate depth of knowledge at least in one specialized topic.
3. Conduct independent research by advancing the body of knowledge in the area through the doctoral dissertation research.
4. Clearly articulate advanced research problems and their solutions.
5. Present general computer science topics in a learning environment.
6. Develop and write publishable papers that clearly articulate advanced research problems and their solutions.
7. Demonstrate integrative and deep knowledge of essential literature, facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to a chosen area of research.
8. Perform complete and thorough literature searches.
9. Evaluate, comprehensively and critically, the extent to which a particular work relates to and/or contributes to a given field.
10. Publish and participate in a chosen research community.