The master of science in engineering (M.S.E.) is a full- or part-time day program offered by the Department of Computer Science. Those interested in part-time evening study should refer to the Engineering Programs for Professionals at www.epp.jhu.edu. Entering students are expected to have completed a program of study equivalent to that required by the B.S. in computer science. Applicants from other disciplines are required to have course work (or equivalent experience) in intermediate programming (C++ and Java), data structures, and automata theory. Upon admission to the master of science in engineering program, a student is assigned a graduate adviser from the Department of Computer Science who must approve the courses to be applied to the M.S.E. degree.
The Department of Computer Science classifies its courses into three sub-areas: Analysis, Applications, and Systems. All M.S.E. candidates must complete at least two graduate courses (6 credit hours, 400-level and above) from each of these three areas. Each upper-level course description in this catalog includes its area for reference. A course in multiple areas may only be counted toward one requirement. A current listing of courses grouped by area is provided on the departmental Web site. While this listing includes a few highly relevant courses outside the Department of Computer Science, only one such course may be applied toward the area requirements. M.S.E. students must also complete an additional two elective graduate courses (chosen from any CS area or from closely related departments such as Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, or Applied Mathematics and Statistics) for a total of eight graduate courses. The course work program must be approved by the student’s faculty adviser and the department.
In addition to the eight courses, a student must elect one of the following options in order to fulfill the degree requirements:
Two consecutive semesters of residence as a full-time graduate student are required. All M.S.E. degree candidates should regularly attend the department seminars, and are required to enroll in and maintain satisfactory attendance in Computer Science Seminar 600.601-602 for at least two semesters. Although seminar attendance is required, the seminar may not be counted toward the course requirements.
Course Requirement Details
Tuition Support
Students studying for an M.S.E. degree may be eligible for partial tuition support in the Department of Computer Science. There are also course assistant positions (paid by the hour) available for qualified students who are seeking financial support. Those interested must apply at the start of each semester for specific courses in need.
The goal of the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in the Department of Computer Science is to prepare first-rate scholars in the analysis, systems, and applications areas of computer science. Successful graduates may assume significant positions in academia, research institutes, industry, or government laboratories.
Applications for admission to the Ph.D. program in Computer Science are reviewed by a faculty committee. Although the specific criteria are not rigid, all students admitted will exhibit exceptional intellectual achievements and promise. Applicants must submit letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and (for foreign applicants) TOEFL scores.
In keeping with Hopkins’ traditions, program requirements are flexible, as described below.
University Residency
Two consecutive semesters of residence as a full-time graduate student are required.
Seminar Attendance
All Ph.D. degree candidates are required to enroll and maintain satisfactory attendance in Computer Science Seminar 600.601-602 each semester for the duration of their enrollment in the program. Although seminar attendance is required, the seminar may not be counted toward the qualifying course requirement
Qualifying Course Requirements
The Department of Computer Science classifies its courses into three research areas: analysis, applications, and systems. All Ph.D. candidates must complete at least two graduate courses (400-level and above) from each of these three areas. Each upper-level course description in this catalog includes its area for reference. A courses in multiple areas may only be counted toward one requirement. A current listing of courses grouped by area is provided on the departmental Web site. While this listing includes a few highly relevant courses outside the Department of Computer Science, only one such course may be applied toward the area requirements. Ph.D. students must also complete an additional two elective graduate courses (chosen from any CS area or from closely related departments such as Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, or Applied Mathematics and Statistics) for a total of eight graduate courses. The course work program must be approved by the student’s faculty adviser and the department. The overall grade point average for these eight courses must be at least equivalent to a B+. No course with a grade of less than C- may be counted toward this Ph.D. qualifying course requirement. Other than independent study courses and 600.464/664, no courses with grades of P can be counted towards the course work requirement. Courses with grades of P will not be included in the grade point average calculation. One of the courses required for the degree, but only one, may be replaced by 3 credits from comparable short courses. With approval of the student’s faculty adviser, up to two courses can be transferred from graduate programs of other institutions; more than two such courses can be transferred with approval of the department. It is the obligation of the student to provide all necessary data to the Department of Computer Science regarding the course(s) for which transfer credit is being requested. Students are expected to complete the course requirements by the end of their second year as a Ph.D. candidate.
Qualifying Project Requirements
A Ph.D. student must complete two projects, each under the supervision and with the written agreement of a different faculty member in the Department of Computer Science. Upon conclusion of each project, the student must write a “Project Report” describing the project in detail. This report will be a public document and will be kept on file in the department office. The supervising faculty member must approve the project report. Departmental approval of a given project will be determined collectively by the faculty of the Department of Computer Science following the spring semester of each academic year. A factor taken into account in the departmental review of a project is the stated willingness of each supervising faculty member to enter the initial stages of a Ph.D. research adviser/ advisee relationship with the student. Students are expected to complete the qualifying projects by the end of their second year as a Ph.D. candidate.
Upon completion of the Ph.D. qualifying course requirements and the first qualifying project, students are ordinarily eligible to receive a master of science in engineering degree. The degree will be awarded upon student request.
Graduate Board Oral Examination (GBO)
This examination is a university requirement, to be taken within one year of passing the Ph.D. qualifying requirements. The oral exam is administered by a panel consisting of the research sponsor, two faculty members from the Department of Computer Science, and two from outside the department. The exam seeks to establish the student’s readiness to conduct original research in the area of his or her “Preliminary Research Proposal,” which should be distributed to the examiners in advance and presented by the student at the start of the exam.
Part-Time Ph.D.
Two consecutive semesters of residence as a full-time graduate student are required by the university. Part-time students must pass both the Ph.D. qualifying requirements and the Graduate Board oral exam within four years of being admitted to the program. Attempting to obtain a Ph.D. is a major commitment and involves close coordination with a faculty adviser in the department. Part-time students must be able to establish and maintain these close links.
Departmental Seminar
Ph.D. students must give an official departmental seminar on their research area. This is to be done after the GBO and prior to the dissertation defense, or as part of the dissertation defense.
Dissertation and Defense
Ph.D. students must write a dissertation consisting of original research in their chosen area. They must deliver a public presentation of the dissertation before a dissertation committee consisting of the faculty adviser, a second faculty member in the Department of Computer Science (who must have a primary tenure-track appointment in the Department if the adviser does not), and one or more other members with Ph.D. degrees. In conformity with University requirements, the members of the dissertation committee must submit a referee’s letter to the Graduate Board recommending that the dissertation be accepted. Completed dissertations will be bound and submitted to the Milton S. Eisenhower Library.
Student Progress Review
Ph.D. students will be reviewed annually by the department faculty and notified by their advisers as to their standing in the program. Beginning in the third year of graduate study, this annual review is conducted primarily by the dissertation committee. The committee may establish milestones such as a written thesis proposal. While the membership of the committee may change, in general it should be chosen by the student, in consultation with the adviser and subject to the consent of the committee members.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available for candidates of high promise. Fellowships provide a student with a stipend plus tuition. Teaching assistantships normally consist of tuition plus a stipend commensurate with the teaching or grading duties assigned. Research assistantships are available on sponsored research projects directed by members of the faculty. Students determined to have significant deficiency in spoken English may be required to take one or more semesters of English as a Second Language in order to qualify for employment as a teaching or research assistant.