Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Computer Science

The Ph.D. Program in the Computer Science Department at Oklahoma State University provides graduate students with the opportunity to concentrate in selected areas of Computer Science.

Entrance Requirements

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• Proficiency in computer-related mathematics, including at least 10 hours beyond calculus
• A grade point average of 3.5 or higher
• Course work in theoretical foundations of computing, operating systems design and implementation, organization of programming languages, and computer organization with grades of "B" or better
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Statement of research interest
• The Graduate Record Exam (GRE): Applicants must take the general test
• English language proficiency as determined by the graduate college
• Three letters of reference from individuals competent to judge the applicant's potential to complete the Ph.D.

Course Guidelines for PhD Students

• Restrictions on courses that can be included in the Computer Science Plan of Study are:
  • CS 4323, 4343, and 4154 cannot be put on any plan of study of a Computer Science graduate student
  • For a course from any OSU department other than Computer Science to be included on a plan of study for a Computer Science graduate student, the course must carry graduate credit and be numbered 5000 or higher
• Each doctoral student must satisfy the following requirements:
  • A. Course requirements:
    1. All current requirements of the OSU Graduate College must be met
    2. The Computer Science Department also has the following requirements
    3. 15 credits (the core) including 5113, 5313, 5323, 5413, and 5513
    4. 12 credits (the primary area of research specialization) in one area of CS at the 6000 level, excluding CS 6000 (Research and Dissertation)
    5. 6 credits (the secondary area of study) in one area of CS at the 6000 level, outside of the area of specialization and excluding CS 6000
    6. 6 credit hours of elective CS courses at the 5000 level or above
    7. 15 to 40 hours of CS 6000 dissertation research credit
  • B. Emphasis in the program is placed on development of competence rather than total course hours
  • C. Dissertation: The dissertation must describe the results of the candidate's research which is an original contribution to knowledge in the computing field
  • D. Ph.D. program examinations: Ph.D. students are required to pass a diagnostic examination, a comprehensive examination, a qualifying examination, and a final oral examination
  • E. Deviations from any of these requirements may be granted by the graduate faculty

Description of PhD Examinations

• A. PhD Diagnostic Exam guidelines:
  • The student's Ph.D. committee will be in charge of the Diagnostic Examination for each Ph.D. student
  • The committee will give the student one expository research question
  • The subject for the diagnostic exam must not be in the student's PhD research area
  • The advisor in consultation with the committee will give the student a number of papers to study in depth
  • The papers will all focus on a single topic within Computer Science, but should also exhibit diversity within the topic
  • The committee will identify its expectations and inform the student
  • The student will be given three weeks to write a paper based on his/her study of the papers given to him/her and prepare a 30-minute presentation of his/her study
  • At the end of the three weeks, the student will submit the paper to the committee and give a half-hour presentation of her/his findings
  • Both the paper and the presentation will contribute to the evaluation of the student's work
  • The result of the Diagnostic Examination will be a grade of "Pass" or "Fail"
  • The student will have two chances to pass the Diagnostic Examination
• B. PhD Comprehensive Exam guidelines:
  • Each student's Ph.D. committee will be in charge of the Comprehensive Examination for the student
  • The comprehensive exam may be given 6 months after the student has passed the diagnostic exam
  • The student shall submit to her/his Ph.D. committee at least one paper published in a peer-reviewed and refereed journal or conference
  • The results of the Comprehensive Examination will be a "pass" or a "fail" given for the entire presentation as well as the oral examination, as applicable
  • The student will have two chances to pass the Comprehensive Examination
• C. The Ph.D. student will conduct, or continue to conduct, her/his dissertation research and present a prospectus/proposal
• D. The Ph.D. candidate will defend her/his dissertation
• E. The written dissertation proposal and the written dissertation for parts C and D should be delivered to all committee members at least one week prior to the respective presentation

Financial Aid for Graduate Students in Computer Science

• Several teaching and research assistantships are available each semester
• Stipends for half-time assistantships for graduate students are $1,929.00 and $2,242.00, for the academic year (nine months)
• Recipients qualify for in-state tuition rates
• Some graduate students are employed by other departments on campus as research assistants or as programmers
• Opportunities arise at various times throughout the year for qualified applicants
• Some of these jobs carry in-state tuition rates, but most do not
• Most Ph.D. students who apply for a teaching assistantship receive one, usually in their first semester