Dec 27, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
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2023-2024 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Computer Science, PhD

The doctoral program in Computer Science is open only to students who have shown exceptional promise in their previous academic work. This program of study is designed for persons who seek faculty positions in colleges and universities or who desire senior designer research or development positions in industry, government, or universities. Areas of emphasis in the program are: Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Science, Database Systems, Information Retrieval and Data Mining, Software Systems and Engineering, Multimedia Systems and Architectures, Computer Graphics Information and Coding Theory, Distributed and Parallel Computing, Networks and Mobile Computing, Internet Computing and Security.

Admissions

Admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science is normally granted to persons with a baccalaureate degree in computer science or some other related field and a number of undergraduate-level credits in mathematics. A master’s degree or significant graduate work is desirable. Remedial work will be required of students who enter with an inadequate background in computer science or mathematics.

To be considered for admission to the program, an applicant must meet the minimum application and admission requirements of the Graduate School and provide:

  • a curriculum vitae
  • a statement of purpose describing their interest in the program and applicable research/publication/professional work experience
  • support from a potential dissertation advisor who is a member of the graduate faculty member in the School of Computing and Informatics

Research experience, scientific conference presentations, and publications are valued highly in admission decisions.

For more information, prospective students should contact the Graduate Coordinator and consult the website for the School of Computing and Informatics.

General Requirements

A minimum of 72 semester hours above the bachelor’s degree is required. At least 48 of these hours must be in course work.

For more specific information as to prerequisite and required courses and the comprehensive examination, prospective students should consult literature available from The Center for Advanced Computer Studies. 

Language Requirements

The knowledge of topics in mathematics and statistics and computer programming languages required of all Ph.D. students in computer science may be used to satisfy the language requirement.

General Comprehensive Examination

A student must complete selected courses designed to test the student’s breadth of knowledge of fundamental concepts of computer science and written Ph.D. comprehensive examinations to test depth of knowledge in chosen areas. A student may attempt this examination no more than twice.

Dissertation

A minimum of 24 hours must be earned in dissertation research. The research may be an original contribution to theory in the student’s field of specialization, or it may involve new applications of theory.

Final Examination

A final oral examination devoted to the defense and evaluation of the Ph.D. dissertation will be administered to the student after the dissertation has been completed and approved by the dissertation committee.