MIT CCSE

  • Current MIT Graduate Students

Doctoral Programs in Computational Science and Engineering

Application & admission information.

The Center for Computational Science and Engineering (CCSE) offers two doctoral programs in computational science and engineering (CSE) – one leading to a standalone PhD degree in CSE offered entirely by CCSE ( CSE PhD ) and the other leading to an interdisciplinary PhD degree offered jointly with participating departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science ( Dept-CSE PhD ).

While both programs enable students to specialize at the doctoral level in a computation-related field via focused coursework and a thesis, they differ in essential ways. The standalone CSE PhD program is intended for students who plan to pursue research in cross-cutting methodological aspects of computational science. The resulting doctoral degree in Computational Science and Engineering is awarded by CCSE via the the Schwarzman College of Computing. In contrast, the interdisciplinary Dept-CSE PhD program is intended for students who are interested in computation in the context of a specific engineering or science discipline. For this reason, this degree is offered jointly with participating departments across the Institute; the interdisciplinary degree is awarded in a specially crafted thesis field that recognizes the student’s specialization in computation within the chosen engineering or science discipline.

Applicants to the standalone CSE PhD program are expected to have an undergraduate degree in CSE, applied mathematics, or another field that prepares them for an advanced degree in CSE. Applicants to the Dept-CSE PhD program should have an undergraduate degree in a related core disciplinary area as well as a strong foundation in applied mathematics, physics, or related fields. When completing the MIT CSE graduate application , students are expected to declare which of the two programs they are interested in. Admissions decisions will take into account these declared interests, along with each applicant’s academic background, preparation, and fit to the program they have selected.  All applicants are asked to specify MIT CCSE-affiliated faculty that best match their research interests; applicants to the Dept-CSE PhD program also select the home department(s) that best match. At the discretion of the admissions committee, Dept-CSE PhD applications might also be shared with a home department beyond those designated in the application. CSE PhD admissions decisions are at the sole discretion of CCSE; Dept-CSE PhD admission decisions are conducted jointly between CCSE and the home departments.

Please note: These are both doctoral programs in Computational Science and Engineering; applicants interested in Computer Science must apply to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science .

Important Dates

September 15: Application Opens December 1: Deadline to apply for admission* December – March: Application review period January – March: Decisions released on rolling basis

*All supplemental materials (e.g., transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation) must also be received by December 1. Application review begins on that date, and incomplete applications may not be reviewed. Please be sure that your recommenders are aware of this hard deadline, as we do not make exceptions. We also do not allow students to upload/submit material beyond what is required, such as degree certificates, extra recommendations, publications, etc.

Application

A complete electronic CSE application includes the following:

  • Three letters of recommendation ;
  • Students admitted to the program will be required to supply official transcripts. Discrepancies between unofficial and official transcripts may result in the revocation of the admission offer.
  • Standalone CSE PhD Statement Prompt: Please explain why you are a good candidate for the MIT PhD program in computational science and engineering (CSE). Describe why you wish to attend this program, what you would like to study, and any research experience you have. If your interests primarily involve machine learning, data science, or operations research, please explain why the CSE PhD program (rather than another MIT program focused specifically on one of those areas) is the right choice for you. Describe one or more accomplishments of which you are particularly proud, and that suggest you will succeed in your chosen area of research.
  • Dept-CSE PhD Statement Prompt: (please note: joint program applicants will also need to respond to department-specific prompts) Please explain why you are a good candidate for the interdisciplinary PhD in computational science and engineering (CSE). Explain the motivation for your choice of home department or departments, what you would like to study, and any research experience you have. Describe one or more accomplishments of which you are particularly proud, and that suggest you will succeed in your chosen area of research.
  • Official GRE General Test score report , sent to MIT by ETS via institute code 3514 GRE REQUIREMENT WAIVED FOR FALL 2025 ;
  • Official IELTS score report sent to MIT by IELTS†  (international applicants from non-English speaking countries only; see below for more information)
  • Resume or CV , uploaded in PDF format;
  • MIT graduate application fee of $90‡.

‡Application Fee

The MIT graduate application fee of $90.00 is a mandatory requirement set by the Institute payable by credit card. Please visit the MIT Graduate Admission Application Fee Waiver page for information about fee waiver eligibility and instructions.

Please note: CCSE cannot issue fee waivers; email requests for fee waivers sent to [email protected] will not receive a response.

Admissions Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

► Current MIT CSE SM Students: Please see the page for Current MIT Graduate Students .

GRE Requirement

GRE REQUIREMENT WAIVED FOR FALL 2025 All applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Aptitude Test. The MIT code for submitting GRE score reports is 3514 (you do not need to list a department code). GRE scores must current; ETS considers scores valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested.

†English Language Proficiency Requirement

The CSE PhD program requires international applicants from non-English speaking countries to take the academic  version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).  The IELTS exam measures one’s ability to communicate in English in four major skill areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking.  A minimum IELTS score of 7 is required for admission.  For more information about the IELTS, and to find out where and how to take the exam, please visit the IELTS web site .

While we will also accept the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language), we strongly prefer the IELTS. The minimum TOEFL iBT score is 100.

This requirement is waived for those who can demonstrate that one or more of the following are true:

  • English is/was the language of instruction in your four-year undergraduate program,
  • English is the language of your employer/workplace for at least the last four years,
  • English was your language of instruction in both primary and secondary schools.

Degree Requirements for Admission

To be admitted as a regular graduate student, an applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college, university, or technical school of acceptable standing. Students in their final year of undergraduate study may be admitted on the condition that their bachelor’s degree is awarded before they enroll at MIT.

Applicants without an SM degree may apply to the CSE PhD program, however, the Departments of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Mechanical Engineering nominally require the completion of an SM degree before a student is considered a doctoral candidate. As a result, applicants to those departments holding only a bachelor’s degree are asked in the application to indicate whether they prefer to complete the CSE SM program or an SM through the home department.

Nondiscrimination Policy

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in education and employment.  To read MIT’s most up-to-date nondiscrimination policy, please visit the Reference Publication Office’s nondiscrimination statement page .

Additional Information

For more details, as well as answers to most commonly asked questions regarding the admissions process to individual participating Dept-CSE PhD departments including details on financial support, applicants are referred to the website of the participating department of interest.

phd computer science eligibility

  • Values of Inclusion
  • 2020 Antiracism Task Force
  • 2022 DEI Report
  • Research News

Department Life

  • Listed by Recipient
  • Listed by Category
  • Oral History of Cornell CS
  • CS 40th Anniversary Booklet
  • ABC Book for Computer Science at Cornell by David Gries
  • Books by Author
  • Books Chronologically
  • The 60's
  • The 70's
  • The 80's
  • The 90's
  • The 00's
  • The 2010's
  • Faculty Positions: Ithaca
  • Faculty Positions: New York City
  • Lecturer Position: Ithaca
  • Post-doc Position: Ithaca
  • Staff/Technical Positions
  • Ugrad Course Staff
  • Ithaca Info
  • Internal info
  • Graduation Information
  • Cornell Learning Machines Seminar
  • Student Colloquium
  • Fall 2024 Colloquium
  • Conway-Walker Lecture Series
  • Salton 2024 Lecture Series
  • Fall 2024 Artificial Intelligence Seminar
  • Fall 2024 Robotics Seminar
  • Fall 2024 Theory Seminar
  • Big Red Hacks
  • Cornell University - High School Programming Contests 2024
  • Game Design Initiative
  • CSMore: The Rising Sophomore Summer Program in Computer Science
  • Explore CS Research
  • ACSU Research Night
  • Cornell Junior Theorists' Workshop 2023
  • Researchers
  • Ph.D. Students
  • M.Eng. Students
  • M.S. Students
  • Ph.D. Alumni
  • M.S. Alumni
  • List of Courses
  • Course and Room Roster
  • CS Advanced Standing Exam
  • Architecture
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Computational Biology
  • Database Systems
  • Human Interaction
  • Machine Learning
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Programming Languages
  • Scientific Computing
  • Software Engineering
  • Systems and Networking
  • Theory of Computing
  • Contact Academic Advisor
  • Your First CS Course
  • Technical Electives
  • CS with Other Majors/Areas
  • Transfer Credits
  • CS Honors Program
  • CPT for International CS Undergrads
  • Graduation Requirements
  • Useful Forms
  • Becoming a CS Major
  • Requirements
  • Game Design Minor
  • Co-op Program
  • Cornell Bowers CIS Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE)
  • Independent Research (CS 4999)
  • Student Groups
  • UGrad Events
  • Undergraduate Learning Center
  • UGrad Course Staff Info
  • The Review Process
  • Early M.Eng Credit Approval
  • Financial Aid
  • Prerequisites
  • The Application Process
  • The Project
  • Pre-approved Electives
  • Degree Requirements
  • The Course Enrollment Process
  • Advising Tips
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Cornell Tech Programs
  • Professional Development
  • Contact MEng Office
  • Career Success
  • Applicant FAQ
  • Computer Science Graduate Office Hours
  • Exam Scheduling Guidelines
  • Graduate TA Handbook
  • MS Degree Checklist
  • MS Student Financial Support
  • Special Committee Selection
  • Diversity and Inclusion
  • Contact MS Office
  • Ph.D. Applicant FAQ
  • Graduate Housing
  • Non-Degree Application Guidelines
  • Ph. D. Visit Day
  • Advising Guide for Research Students
  • Business Card Policy
  • Cornell Tech
  • Curricular Practical Training
  • A & B Exam Scheduling Guidelines
  • Fellowship Opportunities
  • Field of Computer Science Ph.D. Student Handbook
  • Field A Exam Summary Form
  • Graduate School Forms
  • Instructor / TA Application
  • Ph.D. Requirements
  • Ph.D. Student Financial Support
  • Travel Funding Opportunities
  • Travel Reimbursement Guide
  • The Outside Minor Requirement
  • CS Graduate Minor
  • Outreach Opportunities
  • Parental Accommodation Policy
  • Special Masters
  • Student Spotlights
  • Contact PhD Office

Search form

phd computer science eligibility

Computer Science Ph.D. Program

You are here.

The Cornell Ph.D. program in computer science is consistently ranked among the top six departments in the country, with world-class research covering all of computer science. Our computer science program is distinguished by the excellence of the faculty, by a long tradition of pioneering research, and by the breadth of its Ph.D. program. Faculty and Ph.D. students are located both in Ithaca and in New York City at the Cornell Tech campus . The Field of Computer Science also includes faculty members from other departments (Electrical Engineering, Information Science, Applied Math, Mathematics, Operations Research and Industrial Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Computational Biology, and Architecture) who can supervise a student's Ph.D. thesis research in computer science.

Over the past years we've increased our strength in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer graphics, systems, security, machine learning, and digital libraries, while maintaining our depth in traditional areas such as theory, programming languages and scientific computing.  You can find out more about our research here . 

The department provides an exceptionally open and friendly atmosphere that encourages the sharing of ideas across all areas. 

Cornell is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. This beautiful area provides many opportunities for recreational activities such as sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking, both downhill and cross-country skiing, ice skating, rock climbing, hiking, camping, and brewery/cider/wine-tasting. In fact, Cornell offers courses in all of these activities.

The Cornell Tech campus in New York City is located on Roosevelt Island.  Cornell Tech  is a graduate school conceived and implemented expressly to integrate the study of technology with business, law, and design. There are now over a half-dozen masters programs on offer as well as doctoral studies.

FAQ with more information about the two campuses .

Ph.D. Program Structure

Each year, about 30-40 new Ph.D. students join the department. During the first two semesters, students become familiar with the faculty members and their areas of research by taking graduate courses, attending research seminars, and participating in research projects. By the end of the first year, each student selects a specific area and forms a committee based on the student's research interests. This “Special Committee” of three or more faculty members will guide the student through to a Ph.D. dissertation. Ph.D. students that decide to work with a faculty member based at Cornell Tech typically move to New York City after a year in Ithaca.

The Field believes that certain areas are so fundamental to Computer Science that all students should be competent in them. Ph.D. candidates are expected to demonstrate competency in four areas of computer science at the high undergraduate level: theory, programming languages, systems, and artificial intelligence.

Each student then focuses on a specific topic of research and begins a preliminary investigation of that topic. The initial results are presented during a comprehensive oral evaluation, which is administered by the members of the student's Special Committee. The objective of this examination, usually taken in the third year, is to evaluate a student's ability to undertake original research at the Ph.D. level.

The final oral examination, a public defense of the dissertation, is taken before the Special Committee.

To encourage students to explore areas other than Computer Science, the department requires that students complete an outside minor. Cornell offers almost 90 fields from which a minor can be chosen. Some students elect to minor in related fields such as Applied Mathematics, Information Science, Electrical Engineering, or Operations Research. Others use this opportunity to pursue interests as diverse as Music, Theater, Psychology, Women's Studies, Philosophy, and Finance.

The computer science Ph.D. program complies with the requirements of the Cornell Graduate School , which include requirements on residency, minimum grades, examinations, and dissertation.

The Department also administers a very small 2-year Master of Science program (with thesis). Students in this program serve as teaching assistants and receive full tuition plus a stipend for their services.

Email forwarding for @cs.stanford.edu is changing. Updates and details here .

PhD | Program Requirements

Main navigation.

On average, the program is completed in five to six years, depending on the student’s research and progress. First-year students have the opportunity to rotate in three different labs before selecting their advisor. 

The Computer Science Department also believes that teaching is an integral and important part of graduate-level education in Computer Science. In pursuing the PhD degree, students have clear and defined milestones that help guide them to the successful completion of their dissertation and oral defense. This includes a cumulative list of requirements to be completed in order for students to confer their PhD degree in Computer Science.

For any questions related to CS PhD milestone requirements, please email  [email protected]

Form/s should be submitted as a PDF and emailed to  [email protected] .  Jay Subramanian, Director of Graduation Admissions and PhD Program, approves all forms on behalf of the Department chair. The CS PhD Student Services Team will collect her signature after you submit your form/s.

  • CS300 Seminar       
  • First-Year Research Rotation Program       
  • Courses       
  • Foundation & Breadth Requirements       
  • Candidacy Requirement       
  • Qualifying Examination       
  • Teaching Requirements       
  • Reading Committee       

Thesis Proposal       

Note : A student may go to TGR status after all the Ph.D. requirements above have been completed, and just their orals and dissertation submission remain, see Special Registration Statuses page.

  • University Oral Examination       
  • Dissertation

Computer Science, PhD

Computer science phd degree.

In the Computer Science program, you will learn both the fundamentals of computation and computation’s interaction with the world. Your work will involve a wide range of areas including theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, economics and computer science, privacy and security, data-management systems, intelligent interfaces, operating systems, computer graphics, computational linguistics, robotics, networks, architectures, program languages, and visualization.

You will be involved with researchers in several interdisciplinary initiatives across the University, such as the Center for Research on Computation and Society , the Data Science Initiative , and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society .

Examples of projects current and past students have worked on include leveraging machine learning to solve real-world sequential decision-making problems and using artificial intelligence to help conservation and anti-poaching efforts around the world.

APPLY NOW >

Computer Science Degree

Harvard School of Engineering offers a  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Computer Science , conferred through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Prospective students apply through Harvard Griffin GSAS; in the online application, select “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select "PhD Computer Science" in the Area of Study menu.

In addition to the Ph.D. in Computer Science, the Harvard School of Engineering also offers master’s degrees in  Computational Science and Engineering as well as in Data Science which may be of interest to applicants who wish to apply directly to a master’s program.

Computer Science Career Paths

Graduates of the program have gone on to a range of careers in industry in companies like Riot Games as game director and Lead Scientist at Raytheon. Others have positions in academia at University of Pittsburgh, Columbia, and Stony Brook. More generally, common career paths for individuals with a PhD in computer science include: academic researcher/professor, industry leadership roles, industry research scientist, data scientist, entrepreneur/startup founder, product developer, and more.

Admissions & Academic Requirements

Prospective students apply through the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). In the online application, select  “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your program choice and select "PhD Engineering Sciences: Electrical Engineering​." Please review the  admissions requirements and other information  before applying. Our website also provides  admissions guidance ,  program-specific requirements , and a  PhD program academic timeline . In the application for admission, select “Engineering and Applied Sciences” as your degree program choice and your degree and area of interest from the “Area of Study“ drop-down. PhD applicants must complete the Supplemental SEAS Application Form as part of the online application process.

Academic Background

Applicants typically have bachelor’s degrees in the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, or engineering.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Not Accepted

Computer Science Faculty & Research Areas

View a list of our computer science faculty  and  computer science affiliated research areas . Please note that faculty members listed as “Affiliates" or "Lecturers" cannot serve as the primary research advisor.

Computer Science Centers & Initiatives

View a list of the research centers & initiatives  at SEAS and the computer science faculty engagement with these entities .

Graduate Student Clubs

Graduate student clubs and organizations bring students together to share topics of mutual interest. These clubs often serve as an important adjunct to course work by sponsoring social events and lectures. Graduate student clubs are supported by the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin School of Arts and Sciences. Explore the list of active clubs and organizations .

Funding and Scholarship

Learn more about financial support for PhD students.

  • How to Apply

Learn more about how to apply  or review frequently asked questions for prospective graduate students.

In Computer Science

  • First-Year Exploration
  • Concentration Information
  • Secondary Field
  • Senior Thesis
  • AB/SM Information
  • Student Organizations
  • PhD Timeline
  • PhD Course Requirements
  • Qualifying Exam
  • Committee Meetings (Review Days)
  • Committee on Higher Degrees
  • Research Interest Comparison
  • Collaborations
  • Cross-Harvard Engagement
  • Lecture Series
  • Clubs & Organizations
  • Centers & Initiatives
  • Alumni Stories

person holding a writing implement using a notepad, sitting in front of a computer

Doctoral Degree in Computer Science

Carnegie Mellon's Ph.D. in Computer Science is, above all, a research degree. When the faculty award a Ph.D., they certify that the student has a broad foundation and awareness of core concepts in computer science, has advanced the field by performing significant original research and has reported that work in a scholarly fashion.

When you begin our Ph.D. program, you’ll take the Introductory Course for Doctoral Students — an intense two week program that orients you to the department, introduces you to research and education topics our faculty are interested in, helps you find a faculty advisor and familiarizes you with Carnegie Mellon’s resources. Next, you’ll gain a broad understanding of fundamental research issues in major areas of computer science through coursework and original research. Finally, you’ll write and orally defend a thesis that guarantees you understand the area well enough to advance the state of knowledge in the field.

During the first two years of the program, you’ll gain the foundation of knowledge that will allow you to become an expert researcher in computer science, primarily by

Mastering a body of graduate material, achieved by passing 96 university units worth of graduate courses (equivalent to eight full-time courses).

Learning how to organize and begin to carry out original research, achieved by participating in directed research.

You will also serve as a teaching assistant, hone your writing and speaking skills and maintain your programming prowess. You’ll also receive periodic evaluation of your progress, and must make satisfactory progress to continue in the program.

Time Commitment:

As a Ph.D. student in computer science at CMU, you'll spend roughly five years acquiring a body of technical knowledge that includes a familiarity with the breadth of the field, as well as a deep understanding of your research area. From your second month in the program, you'll work closely with your faculty advisor, who is charged with guiding your education and monitoring your progress through the program. You'll take courses, teach and perform directed research — all to ensure that you leave Carnegie Mellon as an expert in your field. For a complete breakdown of our program requirements, read our Ph.D. Handbook .

Financial Information:

The Computer Science Department offers all Ph.D. students full financial support while they are in good academic standing in their respective programs. To learn more about Ph.D. funding, visit the SCS  Doctoral Programs  webpage.

Graduate Tuition: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/graduate/scs.html

Student Fees: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/tuition/fees/index.html

Carnegie Mellon Graduate Student Financial Aid: https://www.cmu.edu/sfs/financial-aid/graduate/index.html

  • Current Semester Courses
  • Upcoming Semester Courses
  • Schedule of Classes
  • Undergraduate Catalog
  • Bachelor's Programs
  • Master's Programs
  • Ph.D. in Computer Science
  • Ph.D. in ACO
  • Ph.D. in PAL
  • CNBC Certificate Program
  • Ph.D. Dual Degree Portugal
  • Doctoral - How to Apply
  • Degrees Conferred
  • Other SCS Doctoral Programs
  • Student Resources

Graduate Programs

Computer science.

Working with faculty who are leaders in the field, our Ph.D. students conduct cutting-edge research, earning prestigious fellowships and awards. After graduation, they contribute widely to science, learning, culture and their communities.

Brown's Computer Science Ph.D. program offers one of the best environments for research and education in computer science. The faculty, consisting of world leaders in their research areas, has grown steadily in number over the years. The program offers a wide variety of research options in both established and emerging areas of the discipline, and seeks out Brown's many opportunities for multidisciplinary research. Ph.D. candidates can earn a master's degree on the way to completing the Ph.D., but students admitted for a terminal master's degree cannot automatically transition to Ph.D. candidacy.

Additional Resources

The Department of Computer Science provides leading–edge computing technology to all its students. PhD students' offices are very similar to those of faculty, with windows overlooking the campus and surrounding area. Students also have access to compute clusters and labs.

Application Information

Application requirements, gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Dates/deadlines, application deadline, completion requirements.

Eight courses satisfying distribution requirements, major and minor course sequences, programming comprehensive examination and research project by the end of the second year in residence, dissertation proposal, and dissertation.

Alumni Careers

placeholder

Contact and Location

Department of computer science, mailing address.

  • Program Faculty
  • Program Handbook
  • Graduate School Handbook

Georgetown University.

College of Arts & Sciences

Georgetown University.

Ph.D. Program

Admission to the ph.d. program.

The Ph.D. program accepts applications annually to begin study during the following Fall semester; we do not currently solicit applications to begin study in Spring semesters. Students may apply for the Ph.D. program before or after earning an M.S. degree.

Ph.D. students in good standing receive financial support during the first five academic years of their program, including tuition, health insurance, and a service stipend assistantship.

Information about the application process may be found below or by visiting our FAQ for Prospective Students .

Application Timeline

Applications are accepted online beginning in mid-July. Visit the Graduate School application page to begin an application.

Final submission deadline: January 15

Applications received by the final submission deadline are eligible for a full review including financial aid consideration.

The admissions committee begins reviewing applications after the priority submission deadline and notifies admitted students in early March.

Admissions Requirements

Successful Ph.D. applicants will hold a B.S. or M.S. degree in computer science or a closely-related field or will have significant coursework or professional experience in computer science. A strong background in computer science topics including data structures and algorithms, hardware and architecture, and computer programming; as well as mathematics including discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, linear algebra, and calculus is expected. Prior research experience and/or publication, either in an academic or professional setting is favored.

All applicants must meet the requirements specified by the Graduate School in their application FAQ . Additionally, our program requires a TOEFL score of at least 90 or an IELTS score of at least 7.0 to apply.

Cognitive Science Concentration

Students applying to our Ph.D. program can apply simultaneously to the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Cognitive Science program . This program is designed to enable Ph.D. students in Psychology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Computer Science to pursue a concentration in Cognitive Science. Students accepted to the Cognitive Science concentration take courses and create an advisory committee of faculty members from multiple departments at the University, which can include the Departments of Psychology, Linguistics, Computer Science, Philosophy, Neurology, Biology, and/or Spanish and Portuguese. Students will graduate with a Ph.D. from their home department with a Concentration in Cognitive Science.

To apply for admission, select “yes” in response to the Cognitive Science question in the application portal and submit a short (1 page) essay describing your interest in cognitive science. Note that your application will be reviewed alongside the other applications in Computer Science. Applying to the Cognitive Science Concentration may open up additional funding sources, so it is to your advantage to do so if the concentration aligns with your goals. It is also possible to apply to the Concentration later, after starting the Ph.D. in Computer Science. You may direct questions about applying to the Concentration to [email protected] .

Ph.D. Program Requirements and Milestones

The Ph.D. program requirements include completing graduate-level coursework; passing a core and area qualifying exam; completing PhD seminar courses; completing an Apprenticeship in Teaching program; and proposing, writing, and defending a research dissertation.

The information below is an overview of these requirements. The official requirements, procedures, and policies are kept in the Graduate Student Handbook .

Ph.D. Coursework

Ph.D. students must complete coursework equivalent to the M.S. Computer Science requirements, consisting of either 30 credits (10 courses) or 24 credits (8 courses) plus the writing of a Master’s Thesis. Upon completion of this requirement, Ph.D. students who have not yet earned a Master’s degree may apply to receive an M.S. in Passing (equivalent to an M.S. Computer Science) from Georgetown.

Ph.D. students who complete an M.S. degree prior to joining the program may receive Advanced Standing credit equivalent to some or all of this requirement, effectively reducing the total number of courses needed.

Qualifying Examinations

Ph.D. students must satisfy two qualifying exam requirements: the core qualifying requirement and the area qualifying requirement.

The core qualifying requirement evaluates a student’s breadth of computer science knowledge and is completed by earning strong grades in three courses at Georgetown. This requirement can be (and often is) completed simultaneously with the coursework requirement above.

The area qualifying requirement evaluates a student’s depth of understanding in an area of their choice and consists of a written literature review to be read and assessed by a committee of faculty.

Ph.D. Seminars

Ph.D. students must take a total of three seminar courses designed to explore current literature and research across computer science disciplines. These seminars are taken after completing the coursework and qualifying requirements.

Apprenticeship in Teaching Workshop Program

Ph.D. students must complete the Apprenticeship in Teaching (AT) Program administered by Georgetown’s Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship. This program consists of a series of workshops on teaching pedagogy. It may be completed at any time in the program but it usually done after the qualifying process is complete.

Dissertation Proposal and Defense

Ph.D. students must propose, perform, and defend a novel research project of significant importance or impact in the form of a written dissertation.

Students must first select a research topic and write a proposal outlining the scope of the problem; prior work in the area; and a blueprint for performing research work and measuring success or completion. This proposal is presented to a committee of faculty who must approve the proposal.

Upon completion of the research work, a written dissertation detailing the results must be written and defended publicly before the faculty committee who must unanimously approve the work.

Timeline of Degree Milestones

Ph.D. students entering the program immediately after completing a B.S. typically complete the degree in five years; the timeline below is based on a five-year course of study.

YearSemesterMilestone
11
2Select a Ph.D. research adviser
23
4Complete Ph.D. coursework
35
6Complete area qualifying exam
47
8Complete Dissertation Proposal
59Complete the AIT Workshop Program
10Complete Dissertation Final Exam

a student works on a project

PhD in Computer Science

The PhD in Computer Science program provides students with the advanced coursework and groundbreaking research opportunities they need to contribute at the forefront of the world’s fastest-growing fields. Forging knowledge in 15 core areas like artificial intelligence, data science, programming languages, and human-centered computing, you’ll gain significant expertise in conducting and presenting the results of your research. Ultimately, you’ll produce and defend original work that contributes to critical discourse in your chosen area.

  • Explore plan of study
  • View program requirements
  • How to apply
  • Request info

phd computer science eligibility

Khoury College doctorate students gain deep knowledge and invaluable experience—preparing you for a research career in academia or industry.

Khoury Computer Science PhD graduates have found prestigious positions across industry and academia.

Tenure-track faculty:

  • University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • University of British Columbia (UBC)
  • Indiana University
  • University of Maryland
  • University College London
  • NC State University
  • UMass Boston
  • City University of Hong Kong

Postdoc research scientists:

  • University of Paris
  • Virginia Tech
  • Microsoft Research
  • GE Global Research

Senior software engineers and industry leaders:

Students graduating with a PhD in Computer Science will:

  • Gain a broad understanding of computer science fundamentals, spanning a substantial portion of the following core areas: artificial intelligence and data science, human-centered computing, software, systems, and theory
  • Gain significant expertise in at least one research area in computer science
  • Produce and defend original research in an area of computer science
  • Be able to communicate research results effectively in both oral and written forms

phd computer science eligibility

Our flagship campus in Boston is just minutes away from esteemed universities, exciting start-ups, and leaders in tech, finance, health care, and more.

phd computer science eligibility

FEATURED RESEARCH

phd computer science eligibility

August 1, 2025

Khoury Graduate Admissions Team

  • Financial support

January 1, 1066

January 1, 1492

Khoury Align Admissions Team

  • How to Apply
  • Cost & Financial Aid

Northeastern University - Khoury College of Computer Sciences

Khoury Social

Khoury College youtube link

Contact Khoury

phd computer science eligibility

I'm seeking information for

phd computer science eligibility

  • Menu  Close 
  • Search 

PhD Program

We are proud of the quality of PhD students we attract and the training they receive. All of our students receive support, including an annual stipend, in the form of external and internal competitive fellowships, research fellowships, or teaching fellowships. As a PhD candidate, you will share in the excitement of discovery as you collaborate with our faculty on cutting-edge research . You will also acquire strong independent research skills and begin to develop your own reputation as a member of the research community.

Because the advisor-graduate relationship is the cornerstone of a successful PhD experience, all new PhD candidates are carefully matched with faculty advisors based on mutual research interests. In addition, an active three-person PhD committee is created for each PhD student to provide cogent advice throughout your degree program.

You will find the work here challenging and personally rewarding. Students who complete our PhD program are well-prepared for careers in academia, research, government, and industry. Please visit the Graduate Admissions information page  for application requirements, deadlines, and other important information.

Application Deadlines:

  • The PhD deadline for fall is December 15th. (No recruiting for spring admissions.)
  • The application will be available for submission on or around August 15.

To learn more about the PhD admissions process, please visit our PhD Admissions FAQ page .

Apply today

Learn more about the graduate admissions process and start your application.

Two students adjust a robot arm.

For Current Students

Policies, resources, forms, course information, FAQs, and services for graduate students.

USC Viterbi School of Engineering Logo – Viterbi School website

Get connected with a faculty member or program advisor

Since the department's founding in 1968, faculty members have made pioneering contributions to fundamental and interdisciplinary fields of computing. Today, the department is a research and education leader in computation, information, and digital media, offering innovative environments for study and research.

Department newsletter: Fall 2021

phd computer science eligibility

It’s been an exciting year for USC’s Department of Computer Science! See some of our faculty and student highlights, learn more about our new hires and research funding awards in this handy fact sheet.

Student & Alumni Profiles

Image

Jingbo Wang

Image

Kegan Strawn

Image

Kushal Chawla

View more Doctoral Student & Alumni Profiles

Tour one of our research labs

Robotics Interaction Lab

Institute for Creative Technologies

Program Information and Resources

Research topics database, dissertation topics, phd alumni snapshot, funding & resources, how to apply, usc graduate application, recent department videos.

  • Master’s Programs
  • Programs for Non-Engineering Majors
  • Application Information & Steps
  • Tuition & Funding
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  • Academic Disciplines
  • Faculty/ Research Topic Search
  • Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)
  • Executive Education
  • All Degree Options
  • Funding and Support
  • The DEN@Viterbi Experience
  • Getting Started
  • Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings
  • Rankings and Awards
  • Next Steps for Newly Admitted Master’s Students
  • Next Steps for Newly Admitted Doctoral Students
  • Alternatives to Visiting Campus
  • Become a Partner
  • Certificate Options
  • U.S. Active Duty Military & Veterans
  • The Boeing Company
  • General Motors – Technical Education Program
  • Kuwait Oil Company
  • Raytheon Technologies
  • Saudi Aramco

Jingbo Wang PhD in Computer Science

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

What's your favorite impulse purchase from the past 12 months?

Nintendo switch! During COVID, most of the time, we have to stay at home. Playing some games (e.g. animal crossing) on Nintendo switch is really relaxing

Please describe a little about your research and what excites you about it.

If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be? 

I think I would like to pursue J.D. or LL.M in law school. For some of the code-based laws, it is well suited to apply formal methods and logic to represent them. Researchers have proposed a default logic to formalize the federal tex code and its accompanying regulations. What I’m currently doing is applying the logic to formalize the behavior of the software. In the future, I wish I could use that to formalize code-based laws, to detect ambiguities and drafting errors.

What are some factors that helped you decide to pursue your PhD at USC?

There are so many reasons:) First, the professor I want to work with is at USC. Second, there are many PL/SE researchers in USC and we could discuss, collaborate in many possible ways. The atmosphere here is really motivating. Third, USC has so many female clubs (e.g. WinCC, WiSE) where we could learn from each other’s experiences and try to encourage more females in the STEM area. Fourth, USC provides many valuable classes such as public speaking, creative thinking, arts performance and etc. It really broadens our horizons in addition to our own expertise. Last but not least, LA is such a special city with palm trees, skateboarding teens, oddball bohemians, and the occasional movie star. You will fall in love with it once you come here.

If you were to recommend to an incoming student 3 places to go in California/Los Angeles, what would they be?

Griffith observatory, Universal Studios, Getty center

What is a memory you'll cherish about your time at USC?

There are so many unforgettable memories at USC. The farmer’s market outside Leavey library, annual conquest rally, birthday celebrations for our lab-mates, and hanging out together in USC Village.

What's one thing about you that might surprise me?

Although I give public presentations in the premier conference and make friends with other researchers, I am a typical introvert and I dislike social activities. When attending the conference, people are expected to interact with each other over few days. To be frank, I enjoy talking with people and introducing my research. However, none of these could compare favorably to solitary. I always spend a lot of time learning and reflecting in solitude. It’s more like a meditation where I could relax and talk with myself.

What are your plans after graduation?

I plan to stay in academia and look for faculty jobs or other research-related jobs.

Hometown (city, country):

Nanyang, China.

Personal Website (if any):

http://scf.usc.edu/~ jingbow/

Faculty Advisor:

Prof. Chao Wang.

Kegan Strawn PhD in Computer Science

I subscribe to the "next right step" advice. Life can be overwhelming at times, especially during your studies, and focusing on the next right step rather than the entire mountain you are trying to hike up has really helped me every day.

I  come from a family where no one has been in academia and I was not exposed to anything close to it growing up. Research, and even college, felt like this scary gated community that only a certain few could participate in and I'm very grateful to those in my undergraduate studies who helped open the gate for me and showed me that anyone can do this. Don't get me wrong, I have many privileges in my life, but I'm very proud to be here at USC and working hard among some very smart peers every day. 

Last week I bought an LA Dodgers hat at the game against the Giants. I think this means I can officially say I live here now.

I work in multi-robot coordination and collaboration. I'm very interested in how robots can work together with other robots and humans as part of a team to help improve our lives. It's slightly different from the majority of current work that is about training a robot to beat us at a certain game or to replace a job completely. I spend a lot of my time thinking about how we can improve the algorithms they use and the way they learn to work together and I find it incredibly fun and rewarding work.

If you could choose any other profession outside of engineering or computer science, what would it be?

I always wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up. I love animals and find biology and genetics fascinating. So, I think I still want to be a vet when I finally grow up.

If they are looking to live somewhere I highly recommend the Culver City area. For things to see, I really like the Getty Center for not only the art but the cool architecture and outdoor garden. I also love cruising up and down the pacific coast highway and going to any of the beaches (although Hermosa beach down south is my favorite). Finally, I'd recommend some Korean BBQ in Koreatown. 

I only applied to drama colleges for college. I was fully expecting to only ever be in LA for acting, but now I'm here for my Ph.D. working in computer science and robotics. Life has a crazy way of working out!

Currently, I am interested in continuing in academia with a postdoctoral position.

Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.

https://sites.google.com/view/ kegan-strawn

Professor Nora Ayanian

Kushal Chawla PhD in Computer Science

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

One should never judge their own or someone else’s decisions based on the outcomes (that is, in hindsight). That’s just unfair! Instead, think about whether the decision made sense, given the situation you were in. If you are in a similar situation again, how can you make a better call?

That has to be the network of friends and colleagues that I could build from a variety of professional experiences in both academia and industry. Life is a bit easier with folks you can always turn up to for some advice and of course, for referrals!

Minion-shaped slippers with button eyes that move when you walk.

I am currently working on enabling human-machine negotiations in natural language such as in English. Think about buyer-seller price negotiations or salary negotiations. Automated systems that negotiate with humans can be really helpful in advancing conversational AI and for teaching social skills to humans. Most practical systems in this space are based on restrictive communication protocols such as a predefined menu of options. Instead, I am trying to incorporate more natural means of communication such as language so that these systems can be more useful in the downstream applications. This area opens up exciting avenues for interdisciplinary research between NLP, Affective Computing, and Psychology. For a glimpse of what I do, here is a TechXplore blog that covers our recent work published at NAACL-HLT 2021: https://techxplore.com/news/2021-05-casino-campsite-based-dialogs- automatic.html

A full-time host for grand cultural events! I just love the job and the feel that comes with it! Even now, I grab such opportunities with both hands.

First and foremost, my interactions with the lab that I am joining. I would definitely recommend that to all the prospective students. Secondly, the ever-increasing research opportunities and a helpful environment over here at USC. Lastly, it would be unfair if I don’t include this but the nice LA weather was always there at the back of my mind.

- Weekend getaway at Big Bear - Manhattan beach - Hikes in Malibu

I am a part of a religious organization at USC called the Bridges International. In Fall 2019, we went to Big Bear for a weekend, in a group of nearly 30. We rented out two huge houses near the lake, danced and sang songs from different cultures around the globe, and went for a hike! Amazing experience!

I have an OCD of repeatedly checking the locks and always making sure that everything is locked. It is so bad that once, during my undergrad, I preferred to calmly lock my door first, when everyone else was vacating the building due to a strong earthquake. As a side note, I later got to know that my friend ran with a laptop in her hand: the most expensive stuff that she could find in her room. People have weird priorities!

I am keeping it wide open for now, although I am slightly inclined towards joining the industry again, given my previous experience as a full-time researcher at Adobe for a couple of years.

Delhi, India.

https://kushalchawla.github.io/

I am jointly advised by Gale Lucas and Jonathan Gratch at ICT, USC.

phd computer science eligibility

Doctoral Program Requirements

Unless otherwise stated, all doctoral program requirements apply equally to PhD and DES students.  

ALGORITHMS PREREQUISITE

Analysis of Algorithms is the core of Computer Science, which unites the many disparate subfields.  All doctoral students are expected to complete an acceptable lecture course (graduate or upper-level undergraduate) in Analysis of Algorithms, with grade B+ or higher, prior to entering the program.  Sometimes new doctoral students are admitted without a prior Analysis of Algorithms course.  Those students are required to complete CSOR W4231 during their first or second semester in the program.  Further details about course requirements are posted here . 

BREADTH REQUIREMENT

A total of ten  distinct courses are required.  All ten courses should be completed by the end of the fifth semester, at the pace of two courses per semester.   An undergraduate Analysis of Algorithms course that satisfies the prerequisite does not satisfy the breadth requirement, only graduate lecture courses can be counted towards the breadth requirement.  B+ (“PhD pass”) is the minimum acceptable grade for doctoral students in all courses.  A grade of B or lower is considered failure and does not count towards the course requirement.  The same course may be repeated until the minimum B+ grade is obtained or a different course substituted. The average grade across all courses applied to the course requirement must be A- or higher. Further details about course requirements are posted here . 

DISTRIBUTION COURSES

Doctoral students must complete at least four graduate lecture courses from the approved distribution course lists, including at least one from each of the Artificial Intelligence and Applications, Systems and Theory lists, and the fourth from any of these three approved lists.  The currently approved distribution courses are as follows:

Area Approved Courses
AI & Applications All COMS 47xx courses  COMS 4721 and COMS 4776 All COMS 416x and COMS 417x
CBMF 4761
Systems All COMS 41xx courses   { COMS 4121, COMS 416x and COMS 417x }
All COMS 48xx courses
COMS 4444
CSEE 4119, CSEE 4823, CSEE 4824, CSEE 4840, CSEE 4868
EECS 4340 
Theory

All COMS 42xx courses CSOR 4246
CSOR 4231

Further details about doctoral course requirements are posted here . 

ELECTIVE COURSES

In addition to the four distribution courses, doctoral students must complete six elective graduate lecture courses approved by the student’s advisor.  Additional courses from the approved lists, beyond the four needed to satisfy the distribution requirement, may be taken as electives. Most other graduate lecture courses offered by the Computer Science Department (or offered by Computer Science jointly with other departments) may be taken as electives, including 4995 and 6998 topics courses.  At most two of the six electives may be graduate lecture courses offered by other departments besides Computer Science.  Further details about course requirements are posted here . 

All DES students and most PhD students arrange a research advisor during the admissions process prior to enrollment, and work closely with him or her on directed research from their first day in the program.  Some doctoral students have two or more co-advisors.  Almost all doctoral research advisors are tenured or tenure-track faculty members in the Computer Science Department.  But in rare cases a PhD student’s research may be advised by a research scientist or an affiliated faculty member from another department, in which case the PhD student must also have a departmental advisor who is a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in Computer Science.  The departmental advisor is responsible for tracking the student’s progress through doctoral program milestones, but is not responsible for the student’s research or funding.  Both advisors are expected to represent their students at the Semi-Annual Review of all doctoral students held near the end of the fall and spring semesters.  Further details on the department’s advising policy and Semi-Annual Review are posted here . 

DIRECTED RESEARCH

The primary focus of our doctoral program is research, with the philosophy that students learn best by doing – beginning as apprentices and becoming junior colleagues working with faculty on scholarly research projects.  All PhD and DES students are required to conduct productive research under the direction of their advisor throughout the program.  For PhD students, this should be half-time until completion of the coursework, teaching and candidacy exam requirements, and thereafter full-time until distribution of the dissertation.  PhD s tudents are also expected to participate in departmental and laboratory activities throughout all fall and spring semesters of the program.  The policy on outside activities by PhD students is here .   

The directed research requirement is indeed a requirement , never waived, regardless of funding source, including employer-supported DES students.  Insufficient or inadequate research progress is deemed unsatisfactory progress: the doctoral student is normally placed on probation and can be immediately dismissed from the program.  However, on appeal of the student’s advisor, one semester’s grace can be granted by the full faculty.  

CANDIDACY EXAM

The candidacy exam is an oral exam based on a syllabus prepared jointly by the student and his/her candidacy committee. Admission to candidacy (i.e., passing the exam) certifies that the student has demonstrated a depth of scholarship in the literature and the methods of the student’s chosen area of research, and has demonstrated a facility with the scholarly skills of critical evaluation and verbal expression. The candidacy exam should be completed by the end of the sixth semester or earlier, typically the semester after completing all courses, and must be completed prior to the thesis proposal. More detailed information, including the permitted composition of the candidacy committee, is  here .

Doctoral students are required to register at least two weeks in advance for their Candidacy Exam using the department’s Doctoral Program Milestones Registration Form .  Contact the PhD Program Administrator with any questions about the registration form. 

THESIS PROPOSAL

In the thesis proposal, the student lays out his or her intended course of research for the dissertation.  If the student passes the written and oral components of the proposal, the thesis proposal committee signs a form to recommend that the candidate proceed.  The proposal should be completed by the end of the eighth semester.  The university’s permitted composition of the dissertation prospectus committee and other requirements for the proposal are specified here .  Additional department-specific requirements are   here .

Doctoral students are required to register at least two weeks in advance for their Thesis Proposal using the department’s Doctoral Program Milestones Registration Form .  Contact the PhD Program Administrator with any questions about the registration form. 

DISSERTATION AND DEFENSE

The doctoral dissertation and defense is typically completed during the fifth or sixth year in the program. Some very highly motivated students, particularly in theoretical areas, may finish in less time.

Various forms and instructions for filling out the forms, composition of the dissertation committee, handling of remote participants in the defense, revision and deposit of the dissertation, and many other topics, are available from the  GSAS Dissertation Office .   Dissertation formatting requirements, including a latex template, are here .  It’s particularly important for both the student and the advisor to review the university’s detailed requirements here about forming the dissertation committee, distributing the dissertation, and scheduling the defense.  

Defenses are typically accompanied by a public seminar.  In CS, we always hold that public seminar immediately before the defense.  When a student schedules their “defense”, they should schedule enough time (~2 hours) for both that public seminar and the official defense.   The department’s Doctoral Program Milestones Registration Form and the university’s Application for the Dissertation Defense form for PhD ( Application for the degree of Doctor of Engineering Science for DES) must be submitted by the student to the department’s PhD Program Administrator at least six weeks in advance of the anticipated defense date.  

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

All doctoral students are required to fulfill two “teaching units”, ideally approximately the total workload of half-time for one semester, but the actual workload may vary widely.  Both teaching units must be for courses approved by the department’s Academic Committee as Computer Science courses, where the CS department is responsible for staffing ( assigning Instruction assistants ), and occur during a regular academic semester while the student is enrolled in the doctoral program. Most students complete their teaching units during their second or third year, but there are no timing restrictions on which semesters (prior to MPhil ) students can do their teaching units.  When students complete their teaching units is determined by their advisor.  More detailed information is here .

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Department of Computer Science takes pride in maintaining a well-developed sense of community, and sees as an essential part of its doctoral program the preparation of its students for this important aspect of their future careers.  It therefore strongly encourages students to contribute a year of service to the department’s professional, operational, or social needs, preferably during their second and/or third year in the program. A list of community service positions normally held by doctoral students is available in mice .

MPHIL FOR PHD STUDENTS

The en-course degree of Master of Philosophy is conferred upon a PhD student who has satisfactorily fulfilled all milestones except the proposal and dissertation. This includes all courses, teaching, and candidacy exam. The MPhil also requires completion of six Residency Units (RUs) and sixty graduate points beyond the undergraduate degree.  Two RUs and thirty points of advanced standing are granted for completing the masters degree. See the university requirements for the MPhil .

Last updated August 16, 2024.

Find open faculty positions here .

Computer Science at Columbia University

Upcoming events, hybrid employer info session: fti delta.

Tuesday 1:00 pm

, CS Careers

Employer Info Session: Millennium

Friday 10:30 am

Careers Walk-In Hours

Friday 12:00 pm

Coffee and Questions

Wednesday 2:00 pm

CS Advising, CS@CU

In the News

Press mentions, dean boyce's statement on amicus brief filed by president bollinger.

President Bollinger announced that Columbia University along with many other academic institutions (sixteen, including all Ivy League universities) filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York challenging the Executive Order regarding immigrants from seven designated countries and refugees. Among other things, the brief asserts that “safety and security concerns can be addressed in a manner that is consistent with the values America has always stood for, including the free flow of ideas and people across borders and the welcoming of immigrants to our universities.”

This recent action provides a moment for us to collectively reflect on our community within Columbia Engineering and the importance of our commitment to maintaining an open and welcoming community for all students, faculty, researchers and administrative staff. As a School of Engineering and Applied Science, we are fortunate to attract students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, from across the country, and from around the world. It is a great benefit to be able to gather engineers and scientists of so many different perspectives and talents – all with a commitment to learning, a focus on pushing the frontiers of knowledge and discovery, and with a passion for translating our work to impact humanity.

I am proud of our community, and wish to take this opportunity to reinforce our collective commitment to maintaining an open and collegial environment. We are fortunate to have the privilege to learn from one another, and to study, work, and live together in such a dynamic and vibrant place as Columbia.

Mary C. Boyce Dean of Engineering Morris A. and Alma Schapiro Professor

Add Event to GMail

{{title}} {{fullname}}

phd computer science eligibility

Courses This Semester

  • {{title}} ({{dept}} {{prefix}}{{course_num}}-{{section}})

Arizona State University

Computer Science, PhD

  • Program description
  • At a glance
  • Degree requirements
  • Admission requirements
  • Tuition information
  • Application deadlines
  • Career opportunities
  • Contact information

Algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Technology, approved for STEM-OPT extension, computing, database, enggradcs, systems

Take the next step in your journey to become an effective leader, innovator, entrepreneur or educator in your community and the world.

The PhD program in computer science prepares students to undertake fundamental and applied research in computer science. The program is available for those of high ability who seek to develop and implement their own research studies.

Students pursuing the doctorate in computer science learn to analyze, understand and apply key theories and algorithms used in the field and to generate and evaluate new theories, algorithms and software modules that can advance the field of computer science.

The program provides students with research opportunities in a wide variety of areas, including:

  • artificial intelligence, machine learning and statistical modeling
  • big data and data mining
  • computational biology
  • computer design and architecture, including nonvolatile memory computing
  • computer system security, cybersecurity and cryptography
  • cyber-physical systems and Internet of Things (commonly abbreviated as IoT), and robotics
  • distributed computing and consensus protocols
  • networking and computer systems
  • novel computing paradigms (e.g., biocomputing, quantum computation)
  • social computing
  • theory, algorithms and optimization
  • visualization and graphics

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website.

The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.

  • College/school: Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
  • Location: Tempe
  • STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation

Required Core Areas (9 credit hours) applications (3) foundations (3) systems (3)

Depth (3 credit hours) three additional credit hours in one core area (3)

Research (18 credit hours) CSE 792 Research (18)

Electives and Additional Research (42 credit hours)

Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) CSE 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information Courses that are used to satisfy the core area requirement cannot be used to satisfy electives or other requirements. A grade of "B" or better is required for core courses.

Eighteen credit hours of CSE 792 Research are required, and up to 54 credit hours are allowed on the plan of study. Students with research credit hours in excess of 18 add these credit hours to their electives and additional research.

Electives include:

  • additional CSE 792 Research credit hours (up to 36 credit hours allowed beyond the required 18)
  • computer science courses, of which up to 18 credit hours of CSE 590 and CSE 790: Reading and Conference are allowed
  • up to six credit hours of interdisciplinary electives in other academic units that are subject to program chair approval

When approved by the academic unit and the Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.

A maximum of three credit hours of 400-level coursework may be applied to the plan of study.

Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.

Applicants are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, computer engineering or a closely related area. Most applicants should have earned a master's degree, but exceptional undergraduate applicants may be admitted directly into the doctoral program.

Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program, or they must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.

All applicants must submit:

  • graduate admission application and application fee
  • official transcripts from every university attended
  • three letters of recommendation
  • a statement of purpose
  • curriculum vitae or resume
  • proof of English proficiency

Additional Application Information An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.

Submission of GRE scores is optional.

Students assigned any deficiency coursework upon admission must complete those classes with a grade of "C" or higher (scale is 4.00 = "A") within two semesters of admission to the program. Deficiency courses commonly taken include:

CSE 230 Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming CSE 310 Data Structures and Algorithms CSE 330 Operating Systems CSE 340 Principles of Programming Languages or CSE 355 Introduction to Theoretical Computer Science

The applicant's undergraduate GPA and depth of preparation in computer science and engineering are the primary factors affecting admission.

SessionModalityDeadlineType
Session A/CIn Person 12/31Final
SessionModalityDeadlineType
Session A/CIn Person 08/01Final

Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in research and education, including academia, government and industry.

Career examples include:

  • computer science professor or researcher
  • data scientist or engineer
  • machine learning, AI or computer vision scientist or engineer

Computer Science and Engineering Program | CTRPT 105 [email protected] 480-965-3199

click back to top

  • Research & Faculty
  • Offices & Services
  • Information for:
  • Faculty & Staff
  • News & Events
  • Contact & Visit
  • About the Department
  • Message from the Chair
  • Computer Science Major (BS/BA)
  • Computer Science Minor
  • Artificial Intelligence Minor
  • Machine Learning and Data Science Minor
  • Combined BS (or BA)/MS Degree Program
  • Intro Courses
  • Special Programs & Opportunities
  • Student Groups & Organizations
  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Senior Thesis
  • Peer Mentors
  • Curriculum & Requirements
  • MS in Computer Science
  • Master of Science in Computer Science
  • PhD in Computer Science
  • Admissions FAQ
  • Financial Aid
  • Graduate Programs
  • Courses Collapse Courses Submenu
  • Research Overview
  • Research Areas
  • Systems and Networking
  • Security and Privacy
  • Programming Languages
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Vision and Graphics
  • Groups & Labs
  • Affiliated Centers & Institutes
  • Industry Partnerships
  • Adobe Research Partnership
  • Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence
  • Submit a Tech Report
  • Tech Reports
  • Tenure-Track Faculty
  • Faculty of Instruction
  • Affiliated Faculty
  • Adjunct Faculty
  • Postdoctoral Fellows
  • PhD Students
  • Outgoing PhDs and Postdocs
  • Visiting Scholars
  • News Archive
  • Weekly Bulletin
  • All Public Events
  • Seminars, Workshops, & Talks
  • Distinguished Lecture Series
  • CS Colloquium Series
  • CS + X Events
  • Tech Talk Series
  • Honors & Awards
  • External Faculty Awards
  • University Awards
  • Department Awards
  • Student Resources
  • Undergraduate Student Resources
  • MS Student Resources
  • PhD Student Resources
  • Student Organization Resources
  • Faculty Resources
  • Postdoc Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • Purchasing, Procurement and Vendor Payment
  • Expense Reimbursements
  • Department Operations and Facilities
  • Initiatives
  • Student Groups
  • CS Faculty Diversity Committee
  • Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) Plan
  • Northwestern Engineering

PhD candidates choose and complete a program of study that corresponds with their intended field of inquiry.

Academics   /   Graduate PhD in Computer Science

The doctor of philosophy in computer science program at Northwestern University primarily prepares students to become expert independent researchers. PhD students conduct original transformational research in extant and emerging computer science topics. Students work alongside top researchers to advance the core CS fields from Theory to AI and Systems and Networking . In addition, PhD students have the opportunity to collaborate with CS+X faculty who are jointly appointed between CS and disciplines including business, law, economics, journalism, and medicine.

Joining a Track

Doctor of philosophy in computer science students follow the course requirements, qualifying exam structure, and thesis process specific to one of five tracks :

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Computer Engineering

Within each track, students explore many areas of interest, including programming languages , security and privacy and human-computer interaction .

Learn more about computer science research areas

Curriculum and Requirements

The focus of the CS PhD program is learning how to do research by doing research, and students are expected to spend at least 50% of their time on research. Students complete ten graduate curriculum requirements (including COMP_SCI 496: Introduction to Graduate Studies in Computer Science ), and additional course selection is tailored based on individual experience, research track, and interests. Students must also successfully complete a qualifying exam to be admitted to candidacy.

CS PhD Manual Apply now

Request More Information

Download a PDF program guide about your program of interest and get in contact with our graduate admissions staff.

Request info about the PhD degree

Opportunities for PhD Students

Cognitive science certificate.

Computer science PhD students may earn a specialization in cognitive science by taking six cognitive science courses. In addition to broadening a student’s area of study and improving their resume, students attend cognitive science events and lectures, they can receive conference travel support, and they are exposed to cross-disciplinary exchanges.

The Crown Family Graduate Internship Program

PhD candidates may elect to participate in the Crown Family Graduate Internship Program. This opportunity allows the doctoral candidate to gain practical experience in industry or in national research laboratories in areas closely related to their research.

Management for Scientists and Engineers Certificate Program

The certificate program — jointly offered by The Graduate School and Kellogg School of Management — provides post-candidacy doctoral students with a basic understanding of strategy, finance, risk and uncertainty, marketing, accounting and leadership. Students are introduced to business concepts and specific frameworks for effective management relevant to both for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Career Paths

Recent graduates of the computer science PhD program are pursuing careers in industry & research labs, academia, and startups.

  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Northeastern
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Rochester
  • University of Washington
  • Naval Research Laboratory
  • Northwestern University

Industry & Research Labs

  • Adobe Research
  • Narrative Science
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

More in this section

  • Engineering Home
  • CS Department

Related Links

  • The Graduate School
  • Graduate Funding
  • International Office
  • Graduate Housing
  • Meet Our Faculty

Contact Info

Admissions Questions

Help for Current PhD Students

Director of Graduate Studies for PhD Program

Brian Suchy

What Students Are Saying

"One great benefit of Northwestern is the collaborative effort of the CS department that enabled me to work on projects involving multiple faculty, each with their own diverse set of expertise.

Northwestern maintains a great balance: you will work on leading research at a top-tier institution, and you won't get lost in the mix."

— Brian Suchy, PhD Candidate, Computer Systems

Yiding Feng

What Alumni Are Saying

"In the early stage of my PhD program, I took several courses from the Department of Economics and the Kellogg School of Management and, later, I started collaborating with researchers in those areas. The experience taught me how to have an open mind to embrace and work with people with different backgrounds."

— Yiding Feng (PhD '21), postdoctoral researcher, Microsoft Research Lab – New England

Read an alumni profile of Yiding Feng

Maxwell Crouse

"My work at IBM Research involves bringing together symbolic and deep learning techniques to solve problems in interpretable, effective ways, which means I must draw upon the research I did at Northwestern quite frequently."

— Maxwell Crouse (PhD '21), AI Research Scientist, IBM Research

Read an alumni profile of Maxwell Crouse

Vaidehi Srinivas

The theory group here is very warm and close-knit. Starting a PhD is daunting, and it is comforting to have a community I can lean on.

— Vaidehi Srinivas, PhD Candidate, CS Theory

  • Skip to Content
  • Catalog Home

UW-Milwaukee Academic Catalog

Computer science.

Computer-Science-PhD-1500-x-400

Computer Science, PhD

The Doctor of Philosophy, the highest degree offered by the University, is conferred in recognition of marked scholarship in a broad field of knowledge as well as distinguished critical or creative achievement within a special area of the general field (the special area being the subject of the doctoral dissertation). The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer Science program in the College of Engineering and Applied Science (CEAS) is designed to meet the traditional high standards for such programs. The PhD in Computer Science is administered by the division of Computer Science in the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Some aspects of the program are delegated to the CEAS Graduate Office.

The program is flexible, allowing the student to develop a plan of studies tailored to meet individual needs. Evaluation of the study plan is based on its appropriateness as a computer science program, the availability within the University of appropriate course offerings, and the availability within the division of Computer Science of a faculty member who is qualified to serve as the student’s major professor.

The PhD degree requires a minimum of 66 credits beyond the baccalaureate, including a dissertation. The student must also satisfy a residence requirement.

Many of the courses leading toward graduate degrees in CEAS are offered in the late afternoon or evening. So, students can complete much of their coursework on a part-time basis.

Admission Requirements

Credits and courses, additional requirements, application deadlines.

Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars .

An applicant must meet  Graduate School requirements  plus these program requirements to be considered for admission to the program:

  • Applicants holding a MS degree in computer science will generally be admitted without deficiencies. Applicants holding a BS degree in computer science may be admitted only if they are exceptionally strong, such as with a record including successful completion of courses normally taken at the graduate level in computer science.
  • Applicants holding MS degrees from domains outside of computer science may be admitted with specific program-defined course deficiencies, provided that the deficiencies amount to no more than two courses. The student is expected to satisfy deficiency requirements within three enrolled semesters. The deficiencies are monitored by the Graduate School and the division of Computer Science. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree. The mathematics preparation must generally include mathematics equivalent to MATH 231 . Otherwise, the made-up deficiencies must be sufficient to assure that the applicant is able to proceed with advanced work directed toward the doctoral degree.
  • A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on the basis of 4.0, in the highest degree granted. An applicant with a master’s degree in engineering or computer science having a GPA of less than 3.0, but at least equal to 2.75, may be admitted if substantial evidence can be submitted demonstrating that the applicant has the capacity to perform satisfactory doctoral work.
  • All applicants are required to submit a brief (1 or 2 page) statement describing their professional goals and at least two letters of reference.
  • The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for all international and domestic applicants.
  • International students require proof of English language proficiency. Complete information is available at the  UWM Center for International Education .
  • Applicants with a relevant master’s degree who intend to complete an additional master’s in Computer Science at UWM should announce their plans at the time of admission, and not later than the start of their second year into the PhD program.

Reapplication

A student who receives a master’s degree at UWM must formally apply for admission to the Graduate School as a doctoral student before continuing studies that will be credited toward the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.

The minimum degree requirement is 66 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. The minimum credit  distribution of coursework to be undertaken must be as follows depending on the option selected.

Course List
Code Title Credits
Select 21 credits in the major area of concentration21
Select 9 credits in an approved minor area9
Select 6 credits in mathematics and/or quantitative methods6
Take for total of 18 credits:18
Doctoral Thesis
Select 9 credits of electives9
Effective Academic Writing1
Preparing Future Engineering Faculty & Professionals2
Total Credits66

The 6-credit requirement in mathematics and/or quantitative methods may be met by satisfactorily completing certain courses specified by the Department or by taking the minor in mathematics. When such courses also count for either the major or the minor area, the remaining credits may be taken as approved electives.

The student must achieve a 3.0 GPA separately in each of the following areas: the major area, the minor area, and the quantitative methods area.

The minor is normally in another area offered in the College or in the physical sciences or mathematics or in management sciences. Consideration of any other area as a minor requires the prior approval of the Department.

A minimum of 26 credits, excluding doctoral thesis, must be at the 700 level or higher.

Major Professor as Advisor

The Graduate School requires that the student must have a major professor to advise, supervise, and approve the program of study before registering for courses. The incoming student will be assigned to an initial Program Advisor at the time of admission. Prior to the completion of 12 credits (9 credits for part-time students), the student must select a major professor who will be the student’s thesis advisor. The student, in consultation with the major professor, develops a proposed program of studies which is submitted for approval. For subsequent changes, the student must file a revised program of study for approval.

Foreign Language

There is no foreign language requirement for the degree.

The program residence requirement is satisfied either by completing 8 or more graduate credits in two consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions, or by completing 6 or more graduate credits in each of three consecutive semesters, exclusive of summer sessions.

Qualifying Examination

Each student in the program must take and pass a Qualifying Examination to demonstrate that the student is qualified for doctoral-level work. The Qualifying Examination is a written exam and is structured in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2. The examination is offered twice a year during the regular academic year. 

Students entering with only a bachelor’s degree or with a master’s degree in an area unrelated to their major may take the Qualifying Examination for the first time after earning 12 credits of graduate work at UWM and must successfully pass the exam before earning 30 credits of graduate work at UWM.

Students admitted after completing an appropriate master’s degree must take this examination no later than the semester immediately after 18 credits of graduate work have been earned at UWM.

A student may take the Qualifying Examination twice. On the first attempt, the student must attempt both Part 1 and Part 2 of the examination.

  • If the student passes both parts, then the student has passed the entire examination and will be permitted to proceed toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree.
  • If the student fails both parts, then the student must take the entire exam again at its next offering.
  • If a student passes only one of the two parts, then the student must take the examination again at its next offering, but may choose to take only the part of the examination that was not passed on the first attempt.
  • If a passing grade is not obtained on the second attempt of the Qualifying Examination, the student will not be permitted to proceed toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

A student who fails the qualifying exam twice is subject to dismissal from the PhD in Computer Science program. A student may appeal the failure and dismissal within 30 days of being notified of the failure. If the student does not appeal or the appeal is not granted, the College will recommend to the Graduate School that the student be dismissed. A student who is dismissed from the PhD in Computer Science program because of failing the qualifying exam may not be enrolled in the PhD in Computer Science program for a complete calendar year. This does not preclude the student from being enrolled in any other degree program offered by the University. A student who wishes to re-enroll in the program after a calendar year has passed must apply as any other student would, including payment of fees. A student readmitted after having failed the qualifying exam twice must take the qualifying exam in the first semester of matriculation and this will count as the student’s first attempt at the exam. The student may appeal this requirement prior to the first scheduled day of classes. If the student fails the qualifying exam on this first attempt, the student is permitted the customary second attempt as described above. All appeals must be in writing and directed to the CEAS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Doctoral Program Committee

The Doctoral Program Committee is proposed by the major professor in consultation with the student and the department. The Committee must include at least five graduate faculty (three from major area, one from minor area, and one from any area, including the major and minor areas). The last member may be a person from outside the University (such as another university, a research laboratory, or a relevant industrial partner), provided that person meets Graduate School requirements. The Committee may have more than five members, provided that the majority of the Committee members are from the student’s major field.

Doctoral Preliminary Examination

A student is admitted to candidacy only after successful completion of the doctoral preliminary examination conducted by the Doctoral Program Committee. This examination, which normally is oral, must be taken before the completion of 48 credits of graduate work toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Computer Science and should be taken within the first seven years in the program. Prior to the examination, the student must present a proposal for a doctoral dissertation project. The examination may cover both graduate course material and items related to the proposed dissertation project.

Dissertation and Dissertator Status

The student must carry out a creative effort in the major area under the supervision of the major professor and report the results in an acceptable dissertation. The effort of the student and the major professor to produce the dissertation is reflected in the PhD in Computer Science program requirement that the student complete at least 18 credits of doctoral thesis. 

After the student has successfully completed all degree requirements except the dissertation, the student may enter Dissertator Status. Achieving Dissertator Status requires successful completion of the Doctoral Preliminary Examination and prior approval of the student’s advisor, the Doctoral Program Committee, and the Computer Science GPR of a dissertation proposal that outlines the scope of the project, the research method, and the goals to be achieved. Any proposal that may involve a financial commitment by the University also must be approved by the Office of the Dean. After having achieved Dissertator Status, the student must continue to register for 3 credits of doctoral thesis per semester during the academic year until the dissertation is completed.

Dissertation Defense

The final examination, which is oral, consists of a defense of the dissertation project. The doctoral defense examination may only be taken after all coursework and other requirements have been completed. The student must have Dissertator Status at the time of the defense.

All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.

Print Options

Print this page.

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

All pages in the 2024-2025 Catalog.

University of Pittsburgh logo

  • 1966-76: The Formative Years
  • 1976-86: The Enrollment Crunch
  • 1986-1996: Toward Excellence
  • Taulbee Award
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Award
  • Russell Howard Memorial Scholarship
  • CS 50 Fellowship
  • Graduate Poster Award
  • Graduate Research Award
  • Teaching Mentor Award
  • Full-time Faculty
  • Part-time Instructors
  • Emeritus Faculty
  • PhD Students
  • Undegraduate Students
  • Research Areas
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Admission Requirements
  • How to apply
  • Course Schedule
  • Course Descriptions
  • Eligibility for Major
  • Degree Requirements
  • Capstone Options
  • Sample Plan of Study
  • Minor in Computer Science
  • BS in Data Science
  • BS+MS in Computer Science
  • Undergraduate Advising
  • Graduate Advising
  • Student Clubs
  • Pitt Inclusion
  • SheInnovates
  • Grace Hopper Conference
  • Technology Leadership Initiative
  • High-School Academy
  • Computer Science Club (CSC)
  • Computer Science GSO (CS GSO)
  • Minority Association in Computing (MAC)
  • Women in Computer Science (WiCS)
  • Inclusive Classroom Resources
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Faculty News
  • Student News
  • Colloquium Talks
  • Current Students

PhD in Computer Science

The PhD program in computer science is designed to prepare students for careers in research and teaching in computer science.  Students will engage deeply with current research in computer science, and will learn to carry out original research and contribute to the expanding body of knowledge within their research area.  Completion of the PhD degree requires 72 credits of formal coursework, including courses designed to deepen understanding of computer science fundamentals, electives courses aligned with students’ research interests, seminars on emerging topics and recent research, independent studies, and supervised thesis research.   PhD candidates are required to author and publicly defend a dissertation describing the original research carried out during this program of study.  We note that an MS is not required prior to enrolling in the PhD program in computer science.

Ph.D. Program

Ph.D. student Lilian DeGreef and professor Shwetak Patel in the UbiComp Lab

The Allen School provides every student accepted to our Ph.D. program with full financial support in the form of teaching and research assistantships or fellowships, from program inception to degree. Students earn an integrated Master’s Degree on their path to the Ph.D. Key features of our program include:

  • Comprehensive, high-quality graduate computer science curriculum.
  • A vibrant academic and social community.
  • Welcoming and inclusive environment for international students, women, and other underrepresented groups.
  • Robust schedule of colloquia and lectures on current topics in research and technology.
  • Leading-edge interdisciplinary research opportunities, on and off campus.

Our students benefit from many collaborations and relationships that we have developed across the campus and in the region. In addition to being the headquarters of established technology leaders such as Microsoft and Amazon, Seattle is also home to an extensive (and ever-growing) list of engineering centers established by major industry players from outside the Pacific Northwest.

Admission to the Allen School’s Ph.D. program is competitive. Each year, we receive applications from approximately 2,500 prospective graduate students from around the globe for 50 - 60 positions. We accept applications once a year, for entrance in the following autumn quarter. Our application process opens on September 1, and all application materials are due December 15, or the next following business day, if the 15th falls on a weekend. The Allen School hosts its annual Grad Visit Days in March for applicants who have received an offer of admission. This event provides an opportunity for applicants to meet with faculty, get to know their prospective colleagues, and experience the Seattle area’s quality of life.

The Ph.D. Process

The Allen School's Ph.D. process consists of three components: coursework, research, and thesis preparation. At the beginning of the program, students will take graduate-level courses in an array of topics spanning theory, systems, programming, and applications. They will also develop and refine their research skills working with their faculty advisor and other collaborators. These skills include information analysis and synthesis as well as written and verbal presentation capabilities. Student progress is measured at multiple steps throughout the program: the Qualifying Evaluation (a.k.a. “quals”), the General Exam, and the Candidacy of Philosophy, leading to the preparation and defense of their dissertation to obtain their Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Course Guide

Students are required to complete approximately 90 credits on their way to obtaining a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science & Engineering from the Allen School, 60 of which must be earned at the University of Washington. Explore our online course guide to peruse available courses, teaching schedules, internship credit, and specialized degree tracks available to Ph.D. students.

Student Handbook

Visit our online student handbook for essential information and advice about being a Ph.D. student in the Allen School, from available fellowships and travel grants, to navigating the annual review of progress, to mentoring undergraduate researchers. This section also contains practical information such as allocation of office space and obtaining health insurance, as well as the forms students will need to complete at various points throughout the program.

The Allen School's graduate advising team is here to guide prospective and current students as they navigate the application and registration process and help tailor the Allen School experience to their education and career goals.

Skip to Content

Current Students

Current Students

Alumni

Interested in more? Search Courses

  • Search Input Submit Search

Admission Steps

Computer science - phd, admission requirements.

Terms and Deadlines

Degree and GPA Requirements

Prerequisites

Additional standards for non-native english speakers, additional standards for international applicants.

For the 2025-2026 academic year

See 2024-2025 requirements instead

Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

Priority deadline: February 14, 2025

Final submission deadline: June 16, 2025

International submission deadline: May 5, 2025

Winter 2026 quarter (beginning in January)

Final submission deadline: November 4, 2025

International submission deadline: September 8, 2025

Spring 2026 quarter (beginning in March)

Final submission deadline: February 3, 2026

International submission deadline: December 8, 2025

Summer 2026 quarter (beginning in June)

Final submission deadline: May 4, 2026

International submission deadline: February 23, 2026

Priority deadline: Applications will be considered after the Priority deadline provided space is available.

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Prerequisite courses for the PhD include: COMP 1671 Introduction to Computer Science I, COMP 1672 Introduction to Computer Science II, COMP 2673 Introduction to Computer Science III, COMP 2300 Discrete Structures in Computer Science, COMP 2370 Introduction to Algorithms & Data Structures, and COMP 2691 Introduction to Computer Organization (or equivalent).

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

Additional Information:

Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts, letters of recommendation.

Required Essays and Statements

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

Essays and Statements

Personal statement instructions.

A personal statement of at least 300 words is required. Your statement should include information concerning your life, education, experiences, interests and reason for applying to DU.

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should include work experience, research, and/or volunteer work.

Start the Application

Online Application

Financial Aid Information

Start your application.

Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $65.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.

  • Computing PhD
  • Future Students

Application Requirements – Ph.D.

Prepare your application, step 1 - eligibility.

Please note the application and funding  deadlines .

Before you start your application confirm that you meet the Program Requirements and Emphasis Area Requirements for the emphasis you are applying to.

Application Fee Waivers

No application fee waivers are being issued at this time. 

Program Requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

Applicants to all emphasis areas should have completed coursework in computer programming or be able to provide documented experience in programming.

Emphasis Area Requirements

Computational math science and engineering.

Upper-division undergraduate coursework in differential equations and linear algebra. (equivalent to MATH 333 and MATH 301 at Boise State)

Computer Science

Upper-division undergraduate coursework in data structures and algorithms. (equivalent to CS 321 and CS 421 at Boise State)

Cybersecurity

Upper-division undergraduate coursework in data structures and introductory systems programming. (equivalent to CS 321 and CS 253 at Boise State)

Data Science

Upper-division undergraduate coursework in linear algebra and calculus-based statistics. (equivalent to MATH 301 and MATH 361 at Boise State)

Content on this page is provided as a quick reference for planning. All official degree requirements are published on the Graduate Catalog site .

Step 2 - Collect your Application Materials

Applicants to the computing Ph.D. program must submit all of the items listed. All materials will be collected via the online application system, but we recommend reviewing the information on this page and collecting everything before you begin the application process.

Transcripts and GPA

  • Applicants without a Masters degree are recommended to have a GPA of 3.0 or above in the last 40 hours of undergraduate coursework.
  • Applicants with a Master’s degree are recommended to have a GPA of 3.3 or above in their Master’s degree program.
  • Official transcripts must be sent to Boise State by your previous school or an approved transcript service provider. Official transcripts must be received no later than the application deadline to be reviewed by International Admissions and our Computing PhD Admissions Committee. Applications with missing official transcripts will not be reviewed. Instructions for submitting official transcripts are provided here.
  • International Applicants – Visit the International Admissions page regarding the submission of international transcripts.

Questionnaire

All Computing areas of emphasis and certificate programs require applicants to have programming experience and meet certain pre-requisite course requirements. It is not always clear how those requirements have been met just by looking at transcripts so these questions will provide important context for the Computing Admission Committee. Some questions will refer to specific courses at Boise State as examples, so please refer to the undergraduate course catalog as you complete the form. View the undergraduate course catalog .

Additionally, the Computing Admission Committee expects that the questionnaire responses will confirm that the applicant has actively communicated with potential faculty advisors prior to submitting an application.

Complete the Questionnaire

Statement of Purpose

A Statement of Purpose is a statement of your research experience, interests, and goals.

The statement of purpose will be uploaded to a field in the application system.

Do not use templates. Instead, review these resources on how to write an effective statement of purpose, then begin writing your statement in a blank document.

  • How to write a statement of purpose for graduate school – The Princeton Review
  • 8 Tips for Writing a Statement of Purpose – AcademicPositions.com

The Computing Ph.D. Program has a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism, which includes using templates.  Applications that are found to contain plagiarized material will be denied. 

The Curriculum Vita (CV) should provide a detailed and comprehensive description of an applicants academic and professional credentials and achievements.

The CV will be uploaded to a field in the application system.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must provide three letters of recommendation.

We recommend requesting letters from a variety of sources including academic advisors, work supervisors or others who have served in a supervisory capacity.

Applicants will provide email addresses for each of their references via the application system, and references must electronically submit recommendation letters prior to the application deadline. Applications with fewer than three recommendation letters will not be eligible for review by the Computing Admission Committee.

View instructions for adding recommendation providers to your application. 

TOEFL, IELTS, and English Proficiency

For International Applicants Only:

  • International graduate applicants must demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to be considered for admission to Boise State. There are several approved ways for applicants to demonstrate English proficiency. Please refer to the International Admissions Office website for current test score requirements.
  • Test results should be sent as official copies directly from the testing agency. Boise State University’s school code for sending TOEFL scores is 4018.

Step 3 - Submit Your Application to the Graduate College

Now that you have collected your materials you can begin the application submission process.

Need additional information? Refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page!

PhD in Computing

  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
  • Follow us on Linkedin
  • Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to page content

Computer Science

  • Undergraduate Programs
  • Graduate Programs
  • Stackable Certificates
  • Class Schedules
  • Bison Advise
  • Course Descriptions
  • Student Organizations
  • Capstone Program
  • Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program
  • Scholarships
  • Software Tools
  • Future Students
  • Emeritus/Retired
  • In Memoriam
  • Institute for Cyber Security Education and Research

BS in Computer Science

  • BS in Cybersecurity
  • BS in Software Engineering
  • Bachelor of Arts (BA)
  • Dual Majors
  • Minor in Artificial Intelligence
  • Minor in Computer Science
  • Accelerated Master's

The Flagship Program

The Bachelor of Science program is the degree that most students pursue and addresses the more formal requirements for most Masters’ or Ph. D. Level programs. It provides the best all-around preparation for those intending to make a career in computing areas. View the BS Standard Track Flow Chart and full list of Computer Science Course Descriptions .

The learning outcomes of the program focus on the ability to;

  • identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
  • apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
  • communicate effectively with a range of audiences
  • recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments , which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
  • function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
  • develop and conduct appropriate experimentation , analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
  • acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.  

High School Preparation

You should have the basic college preparatory courses in high school. Courses that develop the ability to think logically, to organize and to analyze are especially recommended (e.g., algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and calculus) if you plan to pursue this degree.

Plan of Study

Those wishing to earn a BS degree typically start with the core computer science courses CSCI 160 and 161. For the most current and accurate degree requirements, please refer to the  university catalog  page. The major requires the courses from the following list;

: Computer Science I (fall and spring)
: Computer Science II (fall and spring)
: Modern Software Development (fall)
: Discrete Mathematics (fall and spring)
: Advanced Software Development (spring)
: Theoretical Computer Science (spring)
: Database Systems (fall and spring)
: Comparative Programming Languages (fall and spring)
: Computer Organization and Architecture (fall and spring)
: Software Projects Capstone (spring)
: Networking and Parallel Computation (fall and spring)
: Algorithm Analysis (spring)
: Operating Systems Concepts (fall and spring)
: Social Implications of Computers (fall)
: Calculus I (fall and spring)
: Calculus II (fall and spring)
: Probability (fall)
: Statistics (spring)

 Software Projects Capstone is typically taken during the last spring semester prior to degree completion and   Social Implications of Computers is typically taken during the last fall semester prior to degree completion.

Requirements for the STANDARD TRACK (view Standard Track Flowchart ) 

: Basic Linear Algebra
: Introduction to UNIX

: Students need to take an additional of CSCI 300-400 electives that are not part of the core requirement as well.

Requirements for the CYBERSECURITY TRACK (view Cybersecurity Track Flowchart ) 

: Introduction to UNIX

: Students need to take an additional of cybersecurity electives from Network Security, or Foundations of the Digital Enterprise

Requirements for the DATA SCIENCE TRACK (view  Data Science Track Flowchart ) 

: Basic Linear Algebra

: Students need to take an additional of data science electives from Intelligent Agents,  : Cloud Computing,  Introduction to Data Mining, or  Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Requirements for the SOFTWARE ENGINEERING TRACK (view Software Engineering Track Flowchart ) 

: Basic Linear Algebra
: Introduction to UNIX

: Students need to take an additional of software engineering electives from : Cloud Computing,  Foundations of the Digital Enterprise, or Human-Computer Interaction

Additional  university, college, and departmental requirements include;

:   credits 

: College Composition I 
: College Composition II
: Fundamentals of Public Speaking
 Upper Division Writing 

:    credits 
:     credits 
:   6 credits 
:   6 credits 
:   2 credits 

 

: credits 


May be satisfied by completing courses in another General Education category.

General education courses may be used to satisfy requirements for both general education and the major, minor, and program emphases, where applicable.  Students should carefully review major requirements to determine if specific courses can also satisfy these general education categories.

A list of university approved general education courses and administrative policies are available  here .

Students should consult the current general education requirements for specific courses in the NDSU Catalog . If you consult the General Education Requirements , or the College requirements for a B.S. as described in the NDSU Catalog , you may see requirements that appear to be slightly different from those described above, as well as other categories of requirements, such as Quantitative Reasoning and Science & Technology. However, if you satisfy the requirements described above, you should have any of these other requirements satisfied automatically. A grade of C or better is required in all Computer Science (CSCI) courses used toward the major. All core Computer Science courses must be taken at NDSU or transferred in when the student enters NDSU as a transfer student. Actual student schedules for each semester will vary depending on start year, education goals, applicable transfer credit, and course availability. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their academic advisor on a regular basis to review degree progress and customize an individual plan of study.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

With one successful application, you could expand your career options, earn $159,000 towards your graduate education and realize your dreams of becoming an accomplished social scientist, psychologist, scientist, STEM educator or engineer.

What is the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program?

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $37,000 and a cost of education allowance of $16,000 to the institution.

NSF GRFP in a nutshell (Infographic)   See this year's winners

What are the benefits of a GRFP Fellowship?

  • Five-year fellowship period with three years of financial support
  • Annual stipend of $37,000
  • Cost-of-education allowance of $16,000 to the institution
  • No post-graduate study service requirement
  • Access to supplemental funding to sustain research while on medical deferral (e.g. family leave)

Who is eligible?

GRFP welcomes applications from individuals who are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM Education and who meet the eligibility requirements. First and second-year graduate students are also welcome to apply, meaning students may apply up to three years in a row for funding.

Determine if you are eligible with Fellowship eligibility questionnaire

We want to help you prepare a competitive application.

The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association are co-sponsoring a workshop on the NSF GRFP application process.

This in-person workshop will be held Friday, September 6, 2024 from 12 to 1:15 p.m. in MIKC 107. Pizza will be served! 

The deadline for submitting the RSVP is 5 p.m., Wednesday, September 4, 2024. 

Soon after submitting an RSVP a confirmation email will be sent.

RSVP for GRFP workshop now

Workshop overview

The workshop will provide an overview of the GRFP application process, as well as a panel discussion by faculty who have served as GRFP panel reviewers and University students who have recently received NSF GRFP awards. A synopsis of the program is provided at the end of this email. To be eligible to receive one of these awards, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident by the application deadline.   

By attending the workshop , you will also receive access to supporting materials, such as examples of successful applications and tips on strengthening both the intellectual merit and broader impacts components of your application. In addition, if you are able to provide a complete draft of your application, the Office of Research and Innovation will provide expert reviews of your application in time for you to make revisions prior to the application deadline.

Please give serious consideration to attending the workshop and submitting a NSF GRFP application. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching. Past fellows include numerous Nobel Prize winners, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, Google founder, Sergey Brin and Freakonomics co-author, Steven Levitt.

More information about the GRFP and application process

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based masters and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply.  

Application deadlines are listed on the NSF website.

Major fields of study

Note: Applications are reviewed based on the selection of a Major Field of Study. As an example, Chemistry is a Major Field of Study, and Chemical Catalysis is a subfield under Chemistry .

NSF GRFP website

Chemistry category

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Chemical Catalysis
  • Chemical Measurement and Imaging
  • Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods
  • Chemistry of Life Processes
  • Computationally Intensive Research
  • Environmental Chemical Systems
  • Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry
  • Quantum Information Science
  • Sustainable Chemistry
  • Other (specify)
  • Computer and Information Sciences & Engineering category
  • Algorithms and Theoretical Foundations
  • Bioinformatics and other Informatics
  • Communication and Information Theory
  • Computational Science and Engineering
  • Computer Architecture
  • Computer Networks
  • Computer Security and Privacy
  • Computer Systems and Embedded Systems
  • Data Mining and Information Retrieval
  • Data Science
  • Formal Methods, Verification, and Programming Languages
  • Graphics and Visualization
  • Human-Computer Interaction
  • Machine Learning
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Quantum Computing and Communication
  • Robotics and Computer Vision
  • Software Engineering

Engineering category

  • Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Bioengineering
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Civil Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering
  • Energy Engineering
  • Environmental Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Materials Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Nuclear Engineering
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Optical Engineering
  • Quantum Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Wireless Engineering

Geosciences category

  • Atmospheric Chemistry
  • Biogeochemistry
  • Biological Oceanography
  • Chemical Oceanography
  • Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics
  • Geochemistry
  • Geodynamics
  • Geomorphology
  • Magnetospheric Physics
  • Marine Biology
  • Marine Geology and Geophysics
  • Paleoclimate
  • Paleontology and Paleobiology
  • Physical and Dynamic Meteorology
  • Physical Oceanography
  • Sedimentary Geology
  • Solar Physics

Life Sciences category

  • Biochemistry
  • Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Environmental Biology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Microbial Biology
  • Neurosciences
  • Organismal Biology
  • Structural Biology
  • Systematics and Biodiversity
  • Systems and Molecular Biology

Materials Research category

  • Biomaterials
  • Chemistry of Materials
  • Electronic Materials
  • Materials Theory
  • Metallic Materials
  • Photonic Materials
  • Physics of Materials

Mathematical Sciences category

  • Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Biostatistics
  • Computational and Data-Enabled Science
  • Computational Mathematics
  • Computational Statistics
  • Geometric Analysis
  • Logic or Foundations of Mathematics
  • Mathematical Biology
  • Probability

Physics & Astronomy category

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Nuclear Physics
  • Particle Physics
  • Physics of Living Systems
  • Plasma Physics
  • Solid State Physics
  • Theoretical Physics

Psychology category

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Computational Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Perception and Psychophysics
  • Personality and Individual Differences
  • Physiological Psychology
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Quantitative Psychology
  • Social/Affective Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology

Social Sciences category

  •  Anthropology, other (specify)
  • Archaeology
  • Biological Anthropology
  • Communications
  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Decision Making and Risk Analysis
  • History and Philosophy of Science
  • International Relations
  • Law and Social Science
  • Linguistic Anthropology
  • Linguistics
  • Medical Anthropology
  • Political Science
  • Public Policy
  • Science Policy
  • Urban and Regional Planning

STEM Education and Learning Research category

  • Engineering Education
  • Mathematics Education
  • Science Education
  • Technology Education

See the University's 2022 Fellows

Elijah Boardman

Elijah Boardman

Hydrology doctoral student

Jessica Buelow

Jessica Buelow

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology doctoral student

Otis Clyne

Ryan Pierce Coulter

Mechanical Engineering doctoral student

Elena Cox

Natural Resources & Environmental Science doctoral student

Lily Raymond

Lily Raymond

Jordan Zabrecky

Jordan Zabrecky

Natural Resources and Environmental Science doctoral student

Sure, our GRFP fellows are contributing in big ways to their respective fields through their research, but they are also helping to educate and inspire the next generation of scholars. They teach labs and classes, present posters and papers, and mentor up-and-coming undergraduate and master's students.

Learn more about our most recent GRFP Fellows

Texas A&M University Box Logo

Marine and Coastal Management and Science

Aerial view of several buildings in a sandy environment

About the Ph.D. in Marine and Coastal Management and Science

As coastal populations grow and development intensifies, the ecological and environmental systems are increasingly at risk. The 21st century presents escalating threats from natural hazards such as storms, coastal flooding, sea-level rise, and human-driven alterations of natural environments. Resilient coastal development is critical on a global scale. We need experts who can integrate coastal science, policy development, and sustainable management to address these multifaceted challenges.

The PhD in Marine and Coastal Management and Science in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary program that blends the social and physical sciences. It prepares students to address complex issues at the intersection of natural and built environments, particularly in coastal and near-shore areas.

Program Requirements

Areas of Study

  • Built Environment and Development: Understand how development impacts coastal ecosystems and learn strategies for sustainable management.
  • Research Methods and Analytical Procedures: Develop expertise in advanced research techniques essential for high-level academic and professional research.
  • Interdisciplinary Approaches: Engage with diverse fields of study to tackle complex coastal and marine issues from multiple perspectives.

Why Choose This Program?

Interdisciplinary focus.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of both the social and physical aspects of marine and coastal environments.

Research Excellence

Receive rigorous training in research methods and analytical procedures, equipping you with the skills to conduct cutting-edge research.

Real-World Impact

Explore the impacts and opportunities from the built environment and development, focusing on areas where the natural and built environments intersect.

Join the Aggie Family

Ready to be the next loudest, proudest fightin’ Texas Aggie? Find the application details and resources available to you at Aggie One Stop.

Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Integrated training across fundamental biomedical areas.

GMCB Program Guide

The Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology Program (GMCB) offers strong interdisciplinary training across a spectrum of fundamental biomedical areas, including classical and molecular genetics; structural & chemical Biology; and cell & developmental biology.

The GMCB program participates fully in the MS in Biomedical Research .

Our faculty of over 100 offer research opportunities applying these fundamentals to a wide range of disease areas, such as cancer, cardiovascular biology, musculoskeletal disorders, and eye disease.

working in the lab

Opportunities to train at different sites

GMCB offers students a unique mix of training sites. Many of our faculty are located on the Health Science Campus of Tufts University in downtown Boston. However, GMCB includes faculty on the Tufts Medford Campus in the College of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering as well as at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton, MA.

Our students also have the opportunity to train at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine through the Mammalian Genetics at JAX track

Students can also train at MaineHealth Research Institute in Scarborough, Maine.

GMCB Admissions

Students seeking admission to the  Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology program apply to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Most successful applicants have had significant research experience and completed courses in biology and related sciences in college.

Students interested in the Mammalian Genetics at JAX track must select this track when they apply.

student in the lab

GMCB Curriculum

Our curriculum is grounded in the fundamentals of genetics and molecular biology and cell biology. Students acquire a firm grounding in fundamentals while obtaining the knowledge to attack contemporary biomedical problems in these areas.

Students conduct three laboratory rotations and begin their thesis research by the end of May of their first year.

Students benefit from an interactive faculty, experienced in mentoring and are also advised by a thesis committee expert in their area of research.

Seminar-based Courses

GMCB students enjoy a robust seminar program with speakers from laboratories across the world.

Our students also receive training and mentoring in presenting their research and have opportunities to present their data in beginning in their first year.

Journal clubs supplement the learning experience and help students become familiar with reading the research literature.

student at the microscope

Meet Our Students

student in the lab

Our students come from across the US and the world and are pursuing a wide range of thesis projects.

GMCB Students

Student Publications

fluorescent cells

Publication of research is a key part of training and our students publish their work in excellent journals.

GMCB Student Publications

Program Outcomes

students at commencement

Over 93% of our students complete an advanced degree and go on to pursue a wide range of careers.

GMCB Graduation Stats and Career Outcomes

Contact Information

Phil Hinds , PhD Program Director

Peter Juo , PhD Admissions Director

Curtis Barber Program Coordinator

IMAGES

  1. PhD in Computer Science India: Overview, Program Structure, Eligibility

    phd computer science eligibility

  2. How To Select The Right Topic For Your PhD In Computer Science

    phd computer science eligibility

  3. IGNOU PhD in Computer Science Admission 2024

    phd computer science eligibility

  4. How To Phd In Computer Science

    phd computer science eligibility

  5. Ph.D in Computer Science Indore

    phd computer science eligibility

  6. PhD in Computer Science Admission 2020

    phd computer science eligibility

VIDEO

  1. EMRS PGT Computer Science Eligibility Criteria

  2. GRADUATION DAY!🎉 I completed my PhD in Computer Science! #graduation #shorts #phd #computerscience

  3. PhD Graduation Stage Clip 02, DePaul University, USA

  4. Get your PhD while doing a Job!

  5. Computer Fundamental Important Questions

  6. BPSC Computer Science Teacher

COMMENTS

  1. PhD Admissions

    The Computer Science Department PhD program is a top-ranked research-oriented program, typically completed in 5-6 years. There are very few course requirements and the emphasis is on preparation for a career in Computer Science research. Eligibility. To be eligible for admission in a Stanford graduate program, applicants must meet: Degree level ...

  2. CSE PhD

    The standalone CSE PhD program is intended for students who plan to pursue research in cross-cutting methodological aspects of computational science. The resulting doctoral degree in Computational Science and Engineering is awarded by CCSE via the the Schwarzman College of Computing. In contrast, the interdisciplinary Dept-CSE PhD program is ...

  3. Ph.D. Programs in Computer Science

    Why Get a Ph.D. in Computer Science? A Ph.D. program in computer science can prepare you for in-demand jobs: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that computer and information technology professions will grow much faster than average between 2022 and 2032, with about 377,500 projected job openings annually. The continued integration of technology into every facet of modern ...

  4. Computer Science Ph.D. Program

    The computer science Ph.D. program complies with the requirements of the Cornell Graduate School, which include requirements on residency, minimum grades, examinations, and dissertation. The Department also administers a very small 2-year Master of Science program (with thesis). Students in this program serve as teaching assistants and receive ...

  5. CS PhD Course Guidelines

    CS PhD Course Guidelines. The following program guidelines (a.k.a model pogram) serve as a starting point for a discussion with the faculty about areas of interest. This description of the Computer Science PhD course guidelines augments the school-wide PhD course requirements. Students should make themselves familiar with both.

  6. PhD

    This includes a cumulative list of requirements to be completed in order for students to confer their PhD degree in Computer Science. For any questions related to CS PhD milestone requirements, please email [email protected]. Form/s should be submitted as a PDF and emailed to [email protected].

  7. PhD in Computer Science

    Computer Science PhD Degree. In the Computer Science program, you will learn both the fundamentals of computation and computation's interaction with the world. Your work will involve a wide range of areas including theoretical computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, economics and computer science, privacy and security ...

  8. PhD Program Admissions

    We're thrilled that you are interested in our PhD program in computer science! This page provides an overview of the application process, some guidelines, and answers to specific questions. Please check our FAQ before emailing [email protected] with any questions not answered here. Our program accepts a large number of applicants each ...

  9. Doctoral Degree in Computer Science

    During the first two years of the program, you'll gain the foundation of knowledge that will allow you to become an expert researcher in computer science, primarily by. Mastering a body of graduate material, achieved by passing 96 university units worth of graduate courses (equivalent to eight full-time courses).

  10. Computer Science PhD

    The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) offers two graduate programs in Computer Science: the Master of Science (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Master of Science (MS) The Master of Science (MS) emphasizes research preparation and experience and, for most students, is a chance to lay the groundwork for ...

  11. Doctoral Program

    The PhD is the Computer Science Department's primary doctoral program. PhD students are expected to be during every fall and spring academic semester from initial enrollment until the dissertation has been distributed to their defense committee, except during leaves of absence approved by the university. PhD students spend at least half of ...

  12. Computer Science

    Computer Science. Working with faculty who are leaders in the field, our Ph.D. students conduct cutting-edge research, earning prestigious fellowships and awards. After graduation, they contribute widely to science, learning, culture and their communities. Brown's Computer Science Ph.D. program offers one of the best environments for research ...

  13. Ph.D. Program

    The Ph.D. program requirements include completing graduate-level coursework; passing a core and area qualifying exam; completing PhD seminar courses; completing an Apprenticeship in Teaching program; and proposing, writing, and defending a research dissertation. The information below is an overview of these requirements.

  14. Best Computer Science Programs in America

    Princeton University. Princeton, NJ. #10 in Computer Science (tie) Save. 4.4. Find the best graduate computer science program to fit your goals using the U.S. News rankings. Narrow your search ...

  15. PhD in Computer Science

    The PhD in Computer Science program provides students with the advanced coursework and groundbreaking research opportunities they need to contribute at the forefront of the world's fastest-growing fields. Forging knowledge in 15 core areas like artificial intelligence, data science, programming languages, and human-centered computing, you ...

  16. PhD Program

    PhD Program. We are proud of the quality of PhD students we attract and the training they receive. All of our students receive support, including an annual stipend, in the form of external and internal competitive fellowships, research fellowships, or teaching fellowships. As a PhD candidate, you will share in the excitement of discovery as you ...

  17. Doctoral Program in Computer Science

    Doctoral Program in Computer Science. Since the department's founding in 1968, faculty members have made pioneering contributions to fundamental and interdisciplinary fields of computing. Today, the department is a research and education leader in computation, information, and digital media, offering innovative environments for study and research.

  18. Doctoral Program Requirements

    Analysis of Algorithms is the core of Computer Science, which unites the many disparate subfields. All doctoral students are expected to complete an acceptable lecture course (graduate or upper-level undergraduate) in Analysis of Algorithms, with grade B+ or higher, prior to entering the program.

  19. Computer Science, PhD

    Degree awarded: PHD Computer Science. The PhD program in computer science prepares students to undertake fundamental and applied research in computer science. The program is available for those of high ability who seek to develop and implement their own research studies. Students pursuing the doctorate in computer science learn to analyze ...

  20. PhD in Computer Science

    The doctor of philosophy in computer science program at Northwestern University primarily prepares students to become expert independent researchers. PhD students conduct original transformational research in extant and emerging computer science topics. Students work alongside top researchers to advance the core CS fields from Theory to AI and ...

  21. Computer Science, PhD

    The PhD in Computer Science is administered by the division of Computer Science in the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Some aspects of the program are delegated to the CEAS Graduate Office. The program is flexible, allowing the student to develop a plan of studies tailored to meet individual needs.

  22. PhD in Computer Science

    The PhD program in computer science is designed to prepare students for careers in research and teaching in computer science. Students will engage deeply with current research in computer science, and will learn to carry out original research and contribute to the expanding body of knowledge within their research area. Completion of the PhD ...

  23. Ph.D. Program

    The Ph.D. Process. The Allen School's Ph.D. process consists of three components: coursework, research, and thesis preparation. At the beginning of the program, students will take graduate-level courses in an array of topics spanning theory, systems, programming, and applications. They will also develop and refine their research skills working ...

  24. PhD in Computer Science

    Welcome! Thank you for your interest in our PhD program. GMU is an excellent place to pursue a PhD in computer science. We have a world-class faculty with research expertise in a diverse set of computer science areas, and our department ranks among the Top 50 Computer Science Departments in the US.Additionally, George Mason University is located in the center of one of the largest computer ...

  25. Computer Science

    Degrees and GPA Requirements Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution. University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

  26. Application Requirements

    How to write a statement of purpose for graduate school - The Princeton Review; 8 Tips for Writing a Statement of Purpose - AcademicPositions.com; The Computing Ph.D. Program has a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism, which includes using templates. Applications that are found to contain plagiarized material will be denied.

  27. BS in Computer Science

    The Flagship Program. The Bachelor of Science program is the degree that most students pursue and addresses the more formal requirements for most Masters' or Ph. D. Level programs. It provides the best all-around preparation for those intending to make a career in computing areas.

  28. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

    What is the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program? The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees at accredited ...

  29. Doctor of Philosophy in Marine and Coastal Management and Science

    The PhD in Marine and Coastal Management and Science in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary program that blends the social and physical sciences. It prepares students to address complex issues at the intersection of natural and built environments, particularly in coastal and near-shore areas.

  30. Genetics, Molecular and Cellular Biology

    Students seeking admission to the Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology program apply to the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Most successful applicants have had significant research experience and completed courses in biology and related sciences in college.