Doctor of Philosophy - Emphasis in Computer Science

The PhD degree program is sufficiently flexible to prepare candidates for careers in industry, government, or academia. Course work provides a strong background in computer science. Students may specialize in a variety of areas, including Ad-Hoc networks, Applied algorithms, Computational geometry and topology, Computer Graphics, Computer science education, Data compression, Educational technologies, Fault-tolerant computing, High performance computing, Human-Computer interaction, Instructional software, Large-scale computer simulations, Medical image processing, Middleware, Multimedia systems, Parallel and distributed computing, Pervasive computing, Visualization and VLSI computer-aided design. A course of study leading to the PhD degree can be designed either for the student who has completed the master's degree or for the student who has completed the bachelor's degree.

Following is a brief summary of the Doctor of Philosophy Program with an emphasis in Computer Science. Students who have been admitted should review:

• the detailed requirements
• the sample timeline, and
• additional information in the Graduate Bulletin regarding Graduate School Requirements.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree, or equivalent, from an accredited institution. Students are expected to have completed two semesters of calculus, along with courses in object-oriented programming and data structures and upper level courses in at at least three of the following areas: software engineering, numerical analysis, computer architecture, principles of programming languages, analysis of algorithms, and operating systems. Applicants without the prerequisites stated above may occasionally be admitted with deficiencies.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work;
• a statement of purpose (short essay) from the applicant briefly describing background, interests, goals at CSM, career aspirations, etc;
• three letters of recommendation; and
• the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE).

In addition, international students must submit the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores
• International Student Financial Statement

A complete list of fees, deadlines and requirements, along with the online application, can be found on the Graduate Admissions home page. Additional information may be requested via the Online Graduate Information Request Form.

Course Requirements

The following core courses are required of all students. Students who have taken equivalent courses at another instituition may satisfy these requirements by transfer.

Required Courses

CSCI406 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms

CSCI442 - Operating Systems

CSCI561 - Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science

CSCI564 - Advanced Computer Architecture

Along with:

• SYGN 502 - Introduction to Research Ethics

Course descriptions of both graduate level courses and senior level courses are available for you to review.

Qualifying Examination

Students desiring to take the PhD Qualifying Exam must have:

1. (if required by your advisor) taken SYGN 501 The Art of Science (previously or concurrently),
2. taken at least four CSCI 500-level courses at CSM, and
3. maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all CSCI 500-level courses taken.

The PhD Qualifying Exam will be offered once a semester; see the timeline for the exam in the steps below. Each PhD Qualifying Exam comprises TWO research areas.

Step 1. A student indicates intention to take the CS PhD Qualifying Exam by choosing two research interest areas from the following list (which is subject to change based on the faculty research profile): algorithms, education, graphics, high-performance computing, and networks. Students must inform the MCS Graduate Director of their intention no later than the first class day of the semester.

Step 2. The MCS Graduate Director creates an exam committee of (at least) four appropriate faculty. The exam committee assigns the student deliverables for both research areas chosen. The deliverables will be some combination from the following list:

• read a set of technical papers, make a presentation, and answer questions
• complete a hands-on activity (e.g., develop research software) and write a report
• complete a set of take-home problems
• write a literature survey (i.e., track down references, separate relevant from irrelevant papers)
• read a set of papers on research skills (e.g., ethics, reviewing) and answer questions

Note: The student does not need to be outstanding in all components of the exam to pass.

Step 3. The student must complete all deliverables no later than the Monday of Dead Week.

Step 4. Each member of the exam committee makes a recommendation on the deliverables from the following list:

• strongly support
• support
• do not support

To pass the PhD Qualifying Exam, the student must have at least TWO "strongly supports" and at most ONE "do not support". The student is informed of the decision no later than the Monday after finals week. A student can only fail the exam one time. If a second failure occurs, the student has unsatisfactory academic performance that results in an immediate, mandatory dismissal of the graduate student.

Doctoral Dissertation

A doctoral dissertation, comprising original work in computer science, must be completed and defended in an oral examination.