The Doctor of Philosophy Program

Computer Science Department

Colorado State University

The Computer Science Department at Colorado State University offers a program of study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science. Possible areas of interest are detailed in the "Research Page".

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

ADMISSION PROCEDURES

Once the Department receives a complete application, the admissions committee reviews the application and promptly notifies the applicant of their decision.

Students may be admitted for fall or spring semesters.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND FEES

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PH.D. DEGREE

• Course work must include a minimum of 72 credit hours beyond the Bachelor of Science degree.
• At least nine credit hours should be included from a supporting area outside the CS department.
• A minimum of 32 credit hours must be earned at Colorado State University.
• A Master of Science degree from an accredited college or University may be accepted for up to 30 credit hours.
• Up to 10 credit hours earned after completion of a Master of Science degree may be accepted for transfer if recommended by the candidate's graduate committee.
• Unless previous experience has been gained, each Ph.D. student must teach at least one course while in the program.
• Work done more than 10 years before the completion of the Ph.D. program cannot be used to satisfy any degree requirement.
• Each full-time Ph.D. student will enroll in CS692 (seminar) for at least two semesters for one credit each time. One credit hour from CS692 may apply toward degree requirements. Satisfactory performance requires at least 70% attendance in all lectures given each semester. Each Ph.D. student should prepare and present a seminar while in the program.
• Students should obtain and review the University requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy program upon entering graduate study. Each Ph.D. candidate is responsible for adherence to all Colorado State University regulations for graduate study.

Each Ph.D. student must satisfy the Breadth Requirement (see below).

Each Ph.D. student is required to take the written Research Examination (see below). This examination determines critical thinking skills and background knowledge.

Each Ph.D. student is required to take the oral Preliminary Examination (see below). This exam centers on, but is not limited to, the student's proposal for dissertation research. Passing this examination admits the student to Ph.D. candidacy.

Each Ph.D. candidate is required to write a dissertation representing a significant contribution to the chosen field of research. A properly typed copy of the dissertation must be submitted to each committee member at least two weeks prior to the final examination. University regulations concerning format and disposition of additional copies must be observed.

The final examination (see below) of a Ph.D. candidate is the defense of the dissertation and related subject areas. Regulations concerning the format and conduct of the final examination are contained in the Colorado State University Bulletin.

Evaluation and feedback on a student's progress are important to both the student and the department. Near the end of each academic year, the entire faculty meets to evaluate the progress of each Ph.D. student. Prior to this meeting each student should meet with his/her advisor to prepare a report describing the student's progress, including course work, research, teaching, and thesis. The faculty sends each student a written report of their evaluation.

The Graduate School reviews all graduate students each semester to assure that satisfactory progress is being made toward completing the degree requirements. A cumulative GPA that falls below 3.0 will place a student on probation. The cumulative GPA must be raised above a 3.0 by the end of the following semester to avoid dismissal from the University.

BREADTH REQUIREMENT

A student who has taken graduate course work at another institution prior to admission may apply to the Graduate Committee to have some of this course work applied toward the above breadth requirement. In such cases the graduate committee will prorate the above requirements as appropriate to the individual case, but at least half of the above requirements must be completed at Colorado State University.

EXAMINATIONS

RESEARCH EXAMINATION

A detailed description of the PhD Research Examination can be found by following this "link".

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Passing this examination admits the student to Ph.D. candidacy. The dissertation proposal should be prepared in close consultation with the student's advisor, and should be available to all committee members at least one week prior to the examination. It should reflect an extensive critical literature survey, and contain an accurate assessment of the state-of-the-art in the area of research, a precise statement of the problem to be solved, motivation for pursuing the research, and evidence to the effect that there is a good likelihood the problem is solvable with reasonable effort.

It is expected that a student will take the Preliminary Examination within 2 years of passing the Research Examination. To extend beyond 2 years, the student must request a waiver from the Graduate Committee. To extend beyond 3 years, the student must receive a waiver from the entire department faculty.

Successful completion of the Preliminary Examination results in agreement between the student and the committee as to what will constitute successful completion of the dissertation research. The committee may choose to reconvene the examination to allow the student to further research the problem, complete additional course work, or revise the dissertation proposal document.

Graduate School regulations govern the Preliminary Examination. The Graduate School must be notified of the scheduling of the examination at least two weeks in advance, GS Form 16 is used to report the examination results to the Graduate School, and failure to successfully complete the examination on the second trial mandates dismissal from the program.

DEFENSE OF DISSERTATION (Final Examination)

The Defense of Dissertation, which primarily concerns the results described in the dissertation, is conducted by the student's Graduate Advisory Committee with the advisor as chair.  It is open to the public, and typically follows the format of a seminar presentation, followed by questions and answers.  A part of the exam and the deliberations of the committee may then be conducted in private.

Candidates who fail their Defense of Dissertation may present themselves, with permission of the committee, for one additional reexamination not earlier than two months, nor later than twelve months, after the date of the failure.

ROUGH SCHEDULE GUIDELINES

Students entering without a Masters first earn a Masters and their schedule might be:

• First 2 years, Masters
• Year 3, Breadth requirement, Research Exam Complete
• Year 4, Proposal and Preliminary Exam
• Year 5, Complete Dissertation

• Year 1, Course work/Breadth Requirement
• Year 2, Research Exams Complete
• Year 3, Proposal and Preliminary Exam
• Year 4, Complete Dissertation