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PhD Computer Science: Course, Admission 2024, Eligibility, Syllabus, Fees, Career

PhD Computer Science is a three to a five-year-long full-time research degree programme that instructs students in computer science and associated fields. Algorithms, machine learning, bioinformatics, network administration protection, database management systems, data mining, distributed algorithms, and computer science topics are taught in the PhD Computer Science programme.

Highlights: Ph.D Computer Science

Eligibility criteria for ph.d computer science, admission process for ph.d computer science, top ph.d computer science entrance exams, cutoff for top colleges, skills required for ph.d computer science, syllabus for ph,d computer science, fee structure of ph.d computer science, scope of ph.d in computer science, career options after ph.d computer science, benefits of studying ph.d in computer science, salary after ph.d computer science, list of top 10 ph.d in computer science colleges in india with fees, top private ph.d computer science colleges in india with fees, top government ph.d computer science colleges in india with fees.

The Doctor of Philosophy, or PhD , is the highest level of an academic programme that can be achieved. The study of computers and computation, encompassing their conceptual and mathematical principles, hardware and software, and applications for processing data, is known as computer science.

Applicants wishing to pursue a Ph.D Computer Science course must satisfy some eligibility requirements. These eligibility requirements play a very important role in providing the admission to the students in Ph.D Computer Science course at their desired institute. The average salary of a Computer Science Engineer in India Rs. 17 LPA, the average salary varies depending on the company.

Several private as well as government institutes offer Ph.D Computer Science courses, candidates can check the admission details by either visiting the college physically or on the official website of the same. Students after completing the course can pursue various job roles such as Software Developer, Computer System Engineer, Software Engineer, and Web Developer.

Students wishing to appear for the Ph.D Computer Science course must meet certain eligibility requirements of the course before applying for the admissions. Eligibility criteria for the Ph.D Computer Science course may vary depending on the institute but the general eligibility requirements remain the same for most of the engineering institutes.

• Applicants must have a Master’s degree in the field of Computer Science or related discipline with valid aggregate marks as specified by the institute.
• Students must pass the entrance examinations. Some of the top entrance exams in the Ph.D Computer Science field are UGC NET and CSIR UGC NET exams.
• Students must meet the cut-off specified by the institute to be eligible for admissions to the Ph.D Computer Science course.

The admission criteria for admission to a Ph,D Computer Science course vary depending on the institute. The admission is based on the recent qualifying marks and master’s degree results, students get admitted to their desired institute. Many institutes prefer students who have already completed research projects and received recommendation letters.

• Candidates have to apply for PhD Computer Science admission at the higher education institution directly by visiting there, filling out the request form, and providing the required documents.
• Candidates can also apply by going to the college's website, filling out the online PhD Computer Science degree application, and mailing in the relevant documents.
• They can also apply directly to the UGC NET exam, and based on their rank they can choose the most suitable institute for them.

UGC NET: University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test popularly known as UGC NET is a national-level entrance examination for many courses related to lectureship and doctorate. The examination is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) twice a year. The exam is conducted in various languages and is conducted in online mode.

• UGC NET Admit Card
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CSIR NET : CSIR UGC Test for JRF and Eligibility for Lectureship or CSIR UGC NET is a national-level entrance examination administered by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to various courses in the Lectureship such as Life Sciences, Chemical Sciences, and Mathematical Sciences, the exam is conducted in Online mode in English and Hindi languages.

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A PhD Computer Science cut-off is a group of criteria for judging an applicant's merit or entrance exam score. Admission to the college is granted to those who score below the cut-off percentage, rank, or grades. The number of candidates and difficulty level of the entrance exam decide the PhD Computer Science cutoff for each college.

Those interested in applying for a PhD in Computer Science degree must have a diverse skill set in order to comprehend ideas and improve their academic experience. These skills are also necessary for future work and a successful career. Some of the skills required in the field of Ph.D Computer Science course are listed below:

• Interest and Aptitude for Computer and Technology
• Researching Skills and abilities
• Decision-Making skills
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Critical Thinking

The syllabus for a Ph.D Computer Science course depends on the institute, some of the important subjects included in the course curriculum of Ph.D in Computer Science are Research Methodology, Review of Literature and Computer Applications. In the table below, we have mentioned the syllabus of Ravenshaw University for their Ph.D Computer Science course.

• Paper- 1 Research Methodology and Computer Applications
• Paper- 2 Elective Courses (from Research Topics)
• Paper- 3 Research and Publication Ethics
• Paper- 4 Review of Literature

The fee structure of Ph.D in Computer Science depends on the institute, fee varies depending on the institute, type of the institute, and its location. Students can check the fee details on the website of the college or they can visit their preferred institute and know in detail about the course including the fee details of Ph.D Computer Science. The fee generally ranges from Rs. 83,690 to Rs. 2.11 Lakhs.

Computer science is one of the fastest-growing careers in the world today, because of advancements in technologies and the increasing use of automation. Individuals who can manage complicated networks and handle problems on the go are needed by a huge number of firms as they want to place their products and services into the digital arena.

After earning a Ph.D., you will have a plethora of job options. It varies on whether they want to pursue academics, perform in a corporation, or simply continue with existing research initiatives. Some of the career options in the field of Ph.D Computer Science are Teacher, Professor, Software Developer, and Web Developer.

Several Indian firms are looking for Ph.D Computer Science students; the graduates' career and work options are determined by their educational achievements, talents, and the job profile chosen by the institute. The following are some of the job opportunities for PhD Computer Science graduates.

Software Developer : A software developer is a person who is in charge of creating and maintaining software that is used for various purposes. During the development of software, a software developer handles requirements analysis, prototype development, product development, testing, and maintenance.

Computer Systems Engineer : A computer systems engineer is a person who is in charge of determining how technology is being used to meet the personal and professional needs of users by applying their knowledge of programming, computer science, and mathematical principles. The software and hardware programmes in a computer system are then modified, updated, installed, and evaluated by a computer system engineer.

Computer Hardware Engineer : A computer hardware engineer is a professional who inspects and reviews technical specifications, accuracy, and design conformity. A computer hardware engineer is in charge of conducting technical investigations into media material as well as designing and building equipment like servers, network circuits, electrical components, and microprocessors.

Web Developer : A web developer is a person who is in charge of creating a website from the ground up. A web developer creates a website using several programming languages and platforms for a variety of purposes, including instructional websites, e-commerce, online interaction platforms, social networking, and more. Django, HTML, CSS, and JAVA are some of the most popular web development languages.

Top Recruiters:

A Ph.D in Computer Science degree provides the students with the required knowledge and expertise to make their careers in the field of Computer Science or Academics. Students can work in companies and understand the practical applications of Computer Science which will be very useful in their careers as a professor or a lecturer.

Students who have received the doctorate degree in the field of Computer Science must know the salaries associated with the in-demand career options. The salary can vary depending on the location of the company, job profile applied by the candidate, and the skills and expertise of the graduates. Mentioned in the following table are the popular career options along with their salaries.

Source: AmbitionBox

Several educational institutions throughout India offer PhD programmes in computer science and in various different specialisations, entrance to these institutes is based on prior academic achievements and admission exam score. The following is a list of India's top private and government institutes offering Ph.D in Computer Science courses.

PhD Computer Science programmes are available at a number of private academic universities and colleges across India. The admission to these institutes is based on prior academic achievements as well as the marks scored in the entrance examination. In the following table we have listed some of the top private Ph.D Computer Science colleges.

Many government institutes in India offer Ph.D Computer Science courses, government institutes are slightly less expensive than a private institute and often charge affordable fees while providing quality education. In the table below we have mentioned the top government institutes offering Ph.D. in Computer Science degree programmes in India:

Ph.D in Computer Science is an excellent course for those who want to learn Computer Science at an advanced level. There are many career options available after graduating with a Ph.D in Computer Science course such as Web Developer, Software Developer, Computer Software Engineer, and Computer Hardware Engineer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For most students, pursuing the field of Computer Science is a challenging and time-consuming task. Most students, however, can acquire the discipline and pursue good careers in Computer Science fields if they are prepared to invest the time and learn significant time management skills.

Studying Computer Programming or Computer Science necessitates a significant amount of arithmetic, which is not required in the domain.

Depending on the type of institution, a PhD Computer Science programme costs between Rs. 83,690 to Rs. 2.11 Lakhs.

For a PhD in Computer Science, students must get a master's degree in Computer Science from a recognised university.

For PhD Computer Science, students must complete a 10+2 exam from a recognised board.

The PhD Computer Science is a three to five-year-long programme.

To gain knowledge and improve their learning experience, students need a wide range of abilities. Computer and Technology Knowledge, Communication Skills, Data Analysis, Creativity, Software Development, Technical Skills are only a few examples.

Several colleges offer Ph.D Computer Science courses such as GITAM Institute of Technology, VIT Pune, Christ University Bangalore, NIMS University, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IISc Bangalore, and NIT Goa.

There are various career options after a PhD Computer Science degree. Some of the careers are Teacher, Professor, Software Developer, Computer Systems Engineer, Computer Hardware Engineer, Web Developer.

Some of the top organizations that hire PhD Computer Science graduates include Google, Amazon, Flipkart, Netflix, Facebook, TCS, Infosys, Accenture, Cognizant, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Tech Mahindra, Snapdeal, Delhi University, Jamia Millia, Islamia University, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Jawaharlal Nehru University.

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Ph.D Computer Science Syllabus and Subjects

PhD in Computer Science duration is 3 to 5 years long doctorate course. PhD Computer Science syllabus is divided semester-wise with a yearly based exam. By the end of the PhD Computer Science doctorate program, students will be prepared for careers in banking, IT Companies, educational institutions, research and development, architecture, and many more. PThe syllabus of PhD Computer Science doctorate program offers both theoretical and practical knowledge through its core courses and electives. The PhD Computer Science syllabus covers topics such as computer architecture, data field and structures, complexity and advanced algorithms, statistical methods in AI, and programming language principles.

Semester Wise PhD Computer Science Syllabus

The PhD program in Computer Science has a duration of 3-5 years. The PhD Computer Science syllabus is divided into six to ten semesters with an annual exam. PhD Computer Science syllabus has been designed to prepare students to learn techniques and methods commonly used in the IT sector.

As part of the curriculum, students study a range of topics, including computer architecture, data field and structures, complexity and advanced algorithms, statistical methods in AI, programming language principles, design and analysis of algorithms, optimization methods, principles of information security, operating systems, and distributed systems.

In addition, students should enroll in courses related to computer science in addition to the standard curriculum. Students develop specialized expertise by taking elective courses in advanced computer science techniques. Students can earn PhD Computer Science degrees that meet both their professional and academic needs. The PhD Computer Science curriculum emphasizes the latest developments in research. The PhD Computer Science syllabus PDF can be downloaded online for free. The following is the PhD Computer Science syllabus semester-wise: 

PhD Computer Science Course Subjects 

Doctoral Programs in Computer Science last for 3-5 years. The PhD Computer Science syllabus is divided into six to ten semesters with an annual exam. PhD Computer Science course subjects allow students to learn computer science techniques that can be applied to the workplace. PhD Computer Science subjects are highly regarded in the IT field. Students enrolled in PhD Computer Science courses gain a thorough understanding of computer scientists' skills and techniques.

The PhD Computer Science includes subjects such as computer security, database systems, compilers, software engineering, computational theory, along with the topics related to the Doctorate of Philosophy in Computer Science. In order for students to become familiar with PhD Computer Science and build their knowledge, the curriculum is semester-based. In addition to classroom lectures, students will take part in lab sessions to gain experience in advanced options. The three to five-year program offers more diverse electives and academic core subjects. The following are the PhD Computer Science subjects list: 

• Database Systems
• Computer Networks
• Advanced Algorithms for Graph and Combinatorial Optimization Problems
• Advanced Database Theory and Applications
• Advanced Image Processing
• Advanced Operating Systems
• Computer Vision
• Data Mining
• Database Management Systems
• Computational Algebra
• Information and Coding Theory
• Pattern Recognition and Image Processing
• Machine Learning: Theory and Practice

PhD Computer Science Course Structure 

A PhD Computer Science takes three to five years to complete. During a PhD in Computer Science, the curriculum is divided by six to ten semesters and the exam is held annually. There are several elective and core courses offered in the PhD Computer Science program. The first year of PhD subject study focuses on introducing students to the fundamentals.

During the second year, students study a specific subject within a PhD Computer Science course related to their specialization. Additional laboratory sessions are available in the PhD Computer Science courses to enhance theoretical understanding.

Doctorate of Philosophy in Computer Science students study design and analysis of algorithms, optimization methods, principles of information security, operating systems, and distributed systems. Students will be prepared for greater responsibilities in their careers upon completion of the PhD Computer Science course. A research project must be completed by the end of the semester in order to gain practical and theoretical skills. As a general overview, we have the following structure: 

• VI to X Semesters
• Core Subjects
• Elective Subjects
• Practical Workshops
• Research Project/Thesis Submission

PhD Computer Science Teaching Methodology and Techniques 

In the PhD Computer Science curriculum, new technologies are integrated into the teaching of computer science. As well as lectures and practicals, students have the opportunity to take electives from a wide range of specializations. Students are required to complete internships or training in their areas of study as part of their core curriculum. By teaching methodologies, skills for the workplace can be developed. Alternatives to traditional classroom instruction include using emerging technologies. Teaching methods include the following in general: 

• Traditional Classroom Method
• Class Projects
• Problem Solving Approach
• Computer Assisted Learning
• Brainstorming
• Audio Visuals
• Virtual Lab Exercises
• Discussion Method
• Industrial Visit

PhD Computer Science Projects 

The PhD Computer Science curriculum includes research projects that help students gain experience managing projects in IT companies. PhD Computer Science projects will teach students about factors that influence the success of research projects and strategies for implementing them. PhD Computer Science students have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by networking with IT companies. To gain practical and theoretical skills, students must complete a research project by the end of the semester. These are some of the most popular PhD Computer Science project topics: 

• Development of Graph- Embedding Techniques for Biomedical Knowledge Graphs.
• Impact of Visual Images on Verbal Fluency in People Living with Dementia.
• Causal Models for Mental Health Interventions that are Interactive.
• The Learning of User Models in Human-in -the Loop Machine Learning.
• Automated Experimental Design with Humans in the Loop.
• Secure and Privacy-Preserving FAIR Data Vault Aggregation and Analysis.
• Masters by Research Sponsored by Business with SDG Changemakers.
• Studying Fall Risk in Parkinson’s Disease Patients in Real-Life Settings.
• Robert Gordon University Presents Natural Language Generation for the ISee Explainable AI Platform.
• The Foundational Theories of Effective Types.
• The Development of an Intervention to Protect Older People from Cybercrime.

PhD Computer Science Course Reference Books 

Both online and offline book stores offer a variety of titles and publishers for PhD Computer Science books. All major topics are covered in PhD Computer Science course books, along with background information on various computer science fields. These reference books can be downloaded online for free in PDF format and are meant to clarify concepts. Students enrolled in a PhD Computer Science program may have different coursebooks depending on the edition. Purchasing reference books is a wise investment after thorough research. The following books would be helpful to students pursuing a PhD Computer Science course: 

Computer Science & Engineering

Doctoral Programs in Computer Science and Engineering

Updated August 2024

PhD Program Overview

The following requirements are for students who entered the program starting Fall 2018 or later. If you entered Doctoral Program  prior to Fall 2018  see our  Former Curriculum Requirements .

CSE offers Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Computer Science and in Computer Engineering, providing a research-oriented education in preparation for a research, industrial, or entrepreneurial career. These programs explore both the fundamental aspects and application of computation, spanning theory, software, hardware, and applications.

The 37-unit coursework requirement is intended to ensure that students are exposed to (1) fundamental concepts and tools, (2) advanced, up-to-date views in topics outside their area (the breadth requirement), and (3) a deep, up-to-date view of their research area (the elective requirement). Doctoral students are expected to complete the breadth and elective requirements within the first three years of the program. All required coursework must be taken for a letter grade, with the exception of CSE 292 (Faculty Research Seminar), which is only offered S/U.

To access the CSE PhD Program Course Planner worksheet:   click here

Units obtained from a single course cannot count towards both the breadth and the elective requirements; they may only be applied towards one or the other. Doctoral students who have taken similar courses elsewhere may petition for a waiver of the required courses or for substitution by alternative courses.

The breadth requirement ensures that doctoral students share knowledge of fundamental concepts and tools from across broad areas of computer science and computer engineering. Each doctoral student must take each of these courses for a letter grade and maintain an overall breadth course GPA of 3.3 (except for CSE 292, for which a letter grade is not assigned). A student will typically complete all breadth courses within the first two years of graduate study.  Breadth courses are categorized into ten areas and are listed here alphabetically:

• Artificial Intelligence 
• Bioinformatics
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Systems & Security
• Database Systems
• Graphics & Vision
• Human-computer Interaction 
• Programming Languages, Compilers, and Software Engineering
• Theoretical Computer Science

To fulfill the breadth requirement, students will select four out of the ten areas and take a single course from each of these four areas.

For courses approved to fulfill the breadth requirement, please see the CSE Graduate Course Structure for PhD Students.

Additionally, students are required to take CSE 292, a 1-unit Faculty Researcher Seminar, where CSE faculty present one-hour seminars of their current research work in their areas of interest.  This course is only taught in Fall quarters and offered for S/U grade only.

The elective requirement ensures that doctoral students acquire some depth of knowledge in a general research area early in their career, but it also does not preclude them from pursuing a breadth of topics, if it serves their research interests. The elective requirement is designed to be flexible and nimble enough to respond to the rapidly and constantly evolving dynamic disciplines of computer science and computer engineering. 

The elective requirement is also designed with heavy faculty mentorship in mind.  Students will consult with their faculty advisors to develop an academic plan that will include four courses from the aforementioned four separate breadth areas and five elective courses that may be selected from an approved set of courses featured in the  CSE Graduate Course Structure for PhD Students.

Electives are chosen from graduate courses in CSE, ECE and Mathematics or from other departments as approved:  Electives Exceptions List.

Units obtained in the CSE 209 series, 229 series, 239 series, 249 series, 259 series, 269 series, 279 series, 289 series, 219, 290, 292, 293, 294, 298, 299, 500, and 599 do not count toward the elective requirement.

Petitions allow you to request exceptions to the Ph.D. program’s course requirements.  There are several reasons an exception might be appropriate:

1. You took a course as a graduate student at another institution that you would like to fulfill one of the Ph.D. program’s requirements.

2. You would like to use a course that does not appear on the approved list of CSE Ph.D. courses to fulfill one of the program’s requirements.

You may submit multiple petitions and you must submit a separate petition for each non-standard course you would like to use to meet the program requirements.

The only way to submit petitions is via the Online Petition Tool (Despite ‘ugrad’ appearing in the url, this is the correct link).

Follow these instructions when submitting your petition:

For “Petition Type”: choose either “Course Substitution” or “Pre-Approval”

• Submit your petition as a “Course Substitution” if you took a course at UCSD or at another university and you want to use this course in place of breadth course or as an elective.  
• Submit your petition as a “Pre-approval” if there is a course you want to take (but have not yet taken) and the course not on the “course structure” document to satisfy a breadth or elective.
• Fill in the course(s) you took at another institution that you would like to use in place of the UCSD course you entered above
• e.g. BREADTH:  CSE 276A - Robotics
• e.g. ELECTIVE:  CSE 202 - Theory 
• e.g. BREADTH:  Systems
• e.g. ELECTIVE:  Graphics
• The course description of the course you want to use
• The course syllabus, including topics covered
• The textbook for the course
• The grade you earned.
• A link to the course web page (if possible)
• How the class aligns with the UCSD course and/or
• Rationale for taking this course as part of your Ph.D.

The research exam in the first milestone in the Ph.D. program.  It has three goals:

• Depth . The research exam verifies the student's ability to identify challenges and open problems in a focused area.  The exam should teach students how to navigate, acquire depth of knowledge, and perform critical analysis in a given research area; the exam should verify such abilities.
• Communication . The research exam will verify the student's ability to communicate past and proposed research, orally and in writing.
• Provide diverse feedback . The research exam provides the student with feedback on their research synthesis, analysis, and communication skills from CSE faculty beyond their advisor and outside their immediate research area.

As part of the exam, the student prepares and makes a presentation to their research exam committee.  The presentation can present results of their research and must also place that work in the context of related work in the field.

The exam committee comprises three faculty members (not including the student’s advisor), and the committee evaluates the student based on the goals above.

Student should complete the exam before the end of their second year of study.

For more information on CSE graduate exams, please see this website .

Teaching is an important part of a doctoral student’s training. All students enrolled in the doctoral program must have one quarter of training as a teaching assistant. This is a formal degree requirement and must be completed before the student is permitted to graduate. The requirement is met by serving as a 50 percent teaching assistant and taking CSE 500 (Teaching Assistantship). CSE 599 (Teaching Methods in Computer Science) examines theoretical and practical communication and teaching techniques particularly appropriate to computer science, and students usually take it prior to or concurrent with the teaching assistantship.

The qualifying examination is a requirement for advancement to candidacy. Prior to taking the qualifying examination, a student must have satisfied the departmental course and research exam requirements and must have been accepted by a CSE faculty member as a doctoral thesis candidate. All doctoral students are expected to advance to candidacy by the end of their third year, and advancement is mandatory by the end of the fourth year. The examination is administered by a doctoral committee appointed by the dean of the Graduate Division and consists of faculty from CSE and other departments. More information on the composition of the committee can be obtained from the CSE graduate office. The examination is taken after the student and his or her adviser have identified a topic for the dissertation and an initial demonstration of feasible progress has been made. The candidate is expected to describe his or her accomplishments to date as well as future work.

The dissertation defense is the final doctoral examination. A candidate for the doctoral degree is expected to write a dissertation and defend it in an oral examination conducted by the doctoral committee. 

Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of four years. Total university support cannot exceed seven years. Total registered time at UC San Diego cannot exceed eight years.

PhD students may obtain an MS Degree along the way or a terminal MS degree by completing the PhD coursework requirements (see details in the section “Doctoral Degree Program”); AND completing four units of CSE 299/298/293 OR an additional 4-unit, letter-graded, approved course from the CSE Graduate Course Structure; AND passing the PhD Research Exam.  Please note that completion of CSE 292 is not required for PhD students to earn the MS along the way or a terminal MS.

Financial support is available to qualified graduate students in the form of fellowships, loans, and assistantships. For questions about financial support, please see our website: http://cse.ucsd.edu/graduate/financial-opportunities .

Overview of the PhD Program

For specific information on the Computer Science PhD program, see the navigation links to the right. 

What follows on this page is an overview of all Ph.D. programs at the School; additional information and guidance can be found on the  Graduate Policies  pages. 

General Ph.D. Requirements

• 10 semester-long graduate courses, including at least 8 disciplinary.   At least 5 of the 10 should be graduate-level SEAS "technical" courses (or FAS graduate-level technical courses taught by SEAS faculty), not including seminar/reading/project courses.  Undergraduate-level courses cannot be used.  For details on course requirements, see the school's overall PhD course requirements  and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Program Plan (i.e., the set of courses to be used towards the degree) approval by the  Committee on Higher Degrees  (CHD).
• Minimum full-time academic residency of two years .
• Serve as a Teaching Fellow (TF) in one semester of the second year.
• Oral Qualifying Examination Preparation in the major field is evaluated in an oral examination by a qualifying committee. The examination has the dual purpose of verifying the adequacy of the student's preparation for undertaking research in a chosen field and of assessing the student's ability to synthesize knowledge already acquired. For details on arranging your Qualifying Exam, see the exam policies and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Committee Meetings : PhD students' research committees meet according to the guidelines in each area's "Committee Meetings" listing.  For details see the "G3+ Committee Meetings" section of the Policies of the CHD  and the individual program pages linked therein.
• Final Oral Examination (Defense) This public examination devoted to the field of the dissertation is conducted by the student's research committee. It includes, but is not restricted to, a defense of the dissertation itself.  For details of arranging your final oral exam see the  Ph.D. Timeline  page.
• Dissertation Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination, a committee chaired by the research supervisor is constituted to oversee the dissertation research. The dissertation must, in the judgment of the research committee, meet the standards of significant and original research.

Optional additions to the Ph.D. program

Harvard PhD students may choose to pursue these additional aspects:

• a Secondary Field (which is similar to a "minor" subject area).  SEAS offers PhD Secondary Field programs in  Data Science and in  Computational Science and Engineering .   GSAS  lists  secondary fields offered by other programs.
• a Master of Science (S.M.) degree conferred  en route to the Ph.D in one of several of SEAS's subject areas.  For details see here .
• a Teaching Certificate awarded by the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning .

SEAS PhD students may apply to participate in the  Health Sciences and Technology graduate program  with Harvard Medical School and MIT.  Please check with the HST program for details on eligibility (e.g., only students in their G1 year may apply) and the application process.

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Computer Science Ph.D. Program

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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.