Course Catalog: Ph.D Program

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. Every graduate student in the Department of Computer Science must follow a program approved by a faculty advisor in the department. The advisor assigned to a student may change, subject to the acceptance of the new advisor.

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 that they are full-time students in the program.

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. Courses in multiple areas may only be counted towards one requirement. A current listing of courses with area designators is provided on the departmental website. Students must also complete an additional two courses (chosen from any CS area, or from closely related departments such as Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cognitive Science, Mathematics, or Mathematical Sciences) for a total of eight graduate courses. 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 S can be counted towards the coursework requirement. Courses with grades of S will not be included in the grade point average calculation. Students are expected to complete the course requirements by the end of their second year of graduate study in the department.

Qualifying Project Requirements

A 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 the supervising faculty member to enter the initial stages of a Ph.D. research advisor/advisee relationship with the student. Students have at most two years to satisfy the project component of the Ph.D. qualifying requirements.

Upon completion of the Ph.D. qualifying course requirements and the first qualifying project, students are 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 attempted by the end of the third year of graduate study in the department. 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 entering the graduate program. Attempting to obtain a Ph.D. is a major committment and involves close coordination with a faculty advisor in the department. Part-time students must be able to establish and maintain these close links.

Departmental Seminar

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.

Dissertation and Defense

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 advisor, a second faculty member in the Department of Computer Science (who must have a primary tenure-track appointment in the Department if the advisor 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 referees' 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

Students will be reviewed annually by the department faculty and notified by their advisors 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 advisor 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. Stipends may be increased slightly when students complete a significant program requirement. 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.