CS-PHD - Computer Science

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to satisfy the following:

1. (a) An M.S. degree in computer science or a related field, including computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or physics, from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association, or completion of an international degree that is equivalent to a U.S. master’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing.

   (b) In the case of direct admission without a previous M.S. degree, the baccalaureate degree in computer science or a related field must be conferred prior to the time the student begins classes as a graduate student.

2. (a) Excellent academic performance in all completed coursework, with a GPA of at least 3.000 on a 4.000 scale in the student’s baccalaureate coursework and master’s coursework

   (b) In the case of direct admission without a previous M.S. degree, the student’s GPA must be at least 3.400 on a 4.000 scale in the student’s junior and senior years.

3. A reasonable level of mathematical maturity.

4. Submission of a complete application, including a statement of purpose, official transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate studies and payment of appropriate application fee.

5. Submission of official GRE graduate school admission test scores.

6. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can judge the applicant’s potential success as a doctoral student.

7. Submission of a notarized financial certification form (graduates from foreign countries only). Before being considered for admission, all international students whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from an American university must submit a minimum TOEFL English language proficiency exam score as follows:

• 550 - paper-based examination.

• 213 - computer-based examination.

• 80 - Internet-based examination.

• ​A score of 6.5 on the IELTS English language proficiency examination is acceptable in place of the above scores for the TOEFL examination.

Direct Admission into the Ph.D. Program

The Computer Science Department offers direct admission to the Ph.D. program for highly qualified students having a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related degree. The combined minimum number of course and dissertation credits for the Ph.D. degree is 78 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A student directly admitted with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or related degree must successfully complete a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework and a minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation with the total coursework and dissertation hours reaching a minimum of 78 credit hours. The most common program of study would be for a student to take 36 credit hours of course work and 42 credits of dissertation.