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The PhD degree program is sufficiently flexible to prepare candidates for
careers in industry, government, or academia. Course work provides a strong
background in computer science. Students may specialize in a variety of areas,
including Sensor Networks, Simulation, Computer Vision and Image Processing, Ad
Hoc Networks, Data Mining, Applied Algorithms and Data Structures, VLSI Design
Automation, Parallel Computing, Computer Graphics, Scientific visualziation,
Computer Aided Geometric Design, Applications of Machine Learning, and
Cognitive Modeling. A course of study leading to the PhD degree can be
designed either for the student who has completed the MS degree or for the
student who has completed the bachelor's degree.
Following is a summary of the Doctor of Philosophy Program with an emphasis
in Computer Science. Additional information on Graduate School Requirements can
be found in the
Graduate Bulletin.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants must have a Bachelor's or Master's degree, equivalent, from an
accredited institution. Students are expected to have completed two semesters
of calculus, along with courses in Data structures, Block structured languages,
and upper level courses in at at least three of the following areas: Software
engineering, Numerical analysis, Machine architecture/assembly language,
Comparative languages, Analysis of algorithms, and Operating systems.
Applicants without the prequisites stated above may occasionally be admitted
with deficiencies.
Course Requirements
The following core courses are required of all students. Students who have
taken equivalent courses at another instituition may satisfy these requirements
by transfer.
| Required Courses |
- CSCI 406 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms
- CSCI 442 - Operating Systems
- SYGN 501 - The Art of Science
- CSCI 561 - Theoretical Foundations of Computer Science
- CSCI 564 - Advanced Computer Architecture
- Two of:
- CSCI/MATH 542 Simulation
- CSCI 563 Parallel Computing for Scientists and Engineers
- CSCI 565 Distributed Computing
- CSCI 568 Data Mining
- CSCI 572 Networks II
- CSCI 575 Machine Learning
- CSCI 598x Middleware Support for Distributed Sensor Networks
- CSCI 598x Advanced Pattern Classification
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Course descriptions of both graduate level courses and
senior level courses are available for you to review.
Qualifying Examination
Students desiring to take the PhD Qualifying Exam must have
- taken SYGN 501 The Art of Science (previously or concurrently),
- taken at least four CSCI 500-level courses at CSM, and
- maintained a GPA of 3.5 or higher in all CSCI 500-level courses taken.
The PhD Qualifying Exam will be offered once a semester; see the timeline for the
exam in each step below. Students should complete the PhD Qualifying Exam within
two years after enrolling in the PhD program.
Step 1. A student indicates interest in taking the CS PhD Qualifying
Exam by choosing TWO research interest areas from the following list (which is
subject to change based on the faculty research profile): algorithms, education,
graphics, high-performance computing, and networks.
(Each PhD Qualifying Exam must comprise TWO research areas.) To indicate interest
in taking the exam, the student must inform the MCS Graduate Director no later than
the first class day of the semester.
Step 2. The MCS Graduate Director creates an exam committee of (at
least) four appropriate faculty. The exam committee assigns the student
deliverables for both research areas chosen. The deliverables will be some
combination from the following list:
- read a set of technical papers, make a presentation, and answer questions
- complete a hand-on activity (e.g., develop research software) and write a report
- complete a set of take-home problems
- write a literature survey (i.e., track down references, separate relevant from
irrelevant papers)
- read a set of papers on research skills (e.g., ethics, reviewing) and answer questions
Note: The student does not need to be outstanding in all components of the exam to pass.
Step 3. The student must complete all deliverables no later than the Monday
of Dead Week.
Step 4. Each member of the exam committee makes a recommendation on the
deliverables from the following list:
- strongly support
- support
- do not support
To pass the PhD Qualifying Exam, the student must have at least TWO "strongly supports"
and at most ONE "do not support"s. The student is informed of the decision no later than
the Monday after finals week. A student can only fail the exam one time. If a second
failure occurs, the student has unsatisfactory academic performance that results in an
immediate, mandatory dismissal of the graduate student.
Doctoral Dissertation
A doctoral dissertation, comprising original work in computer science, must
be completed and defended in an oral examination.
Students should find a thesis advisor and form a thesis committee by the end of
their second year. For more information, please see the
detailed requirements or a
sample timeline for the PhD program.
How to Apply
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- an application form, available online from the
Graduate Admissions home page.
- transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work
- a statement of purpose (short essay) from the applicant briefly describing background, interests,
goals at CSM, career aspirations, etc;
- three letters of recommendation; and
- the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
The Graduate School may require additional materials from some applicants,
for example, applicants whose native language is not English may be required to
provide proof of English proficiency by submitting TOEFL scores.
Variations from these requirements may be allowed in rare cases
where exceptional promise is clear from other evidence provided.
Please visit the
Online Graduate Information
Request Form to request more information from the Graduate School.
If you are interested in our program, we'd like to learn more about you. Please complete our
Online Request Form and we'll
send you additional information about our program.
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