PhD in Computer Science

Apply to the PhD Program

Admissions

Coursework

Financial Aid

Resources

Admissions

Application Materials

Note: Application materials may be submitted after paying the $55 nonrefundable application fee. For more information on application materials, visit the School of Graduate Studies' Steps to Apply and Admissions Policies. If you have an error on your application such as the start date, contact the School of Graduate Studies to adjust this before you complete the application.

Application Deadlines

Semester Date
Fall (Begins in August) November 1

No spring admissions unless the student is recommended by a faculty member as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA).
No summer admissions
*Please be aware that for many international students, it can take up to 6 months to secure a student visa even after they've had their interview.

Coursework

Program Pathway

  1. Be accepted to the Computer Science PhD program and work with your temporary advisor: the Graduate Program Coordinator
  2. Register for courses. CS 6900 Seminar must be completed during your first Fall semester. In this course you will meet all the faculty and become familiar with their research.
  3. International students must register for International Graduate School Orientation their first semester.
  4. If you are a GTA, register for USU 7920 your first semester. Registering is a requirement to receive funding. Questions? Contact erika.beckstrand@usu.edu.
  5. Complete the RCR training for research by 2nd semester.
  6. Complete the Individual Development Plan (IDP) on Canvas yearly (due Feb. 20th).
  7. Second Semester (due Nov. 30 or Apr. 20): Form your graduate committee and complete the Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF)
  8. Second or Third Semester (due Apr. 1st or Nov. 1st): Submit your Program of Study (POS) by emailing the Graduate Program Coordinator, to let her know it is ready for approval. If you submit your POS late you may lose your tuition award.
  9. Complete an Annual Review with your major professor each year. (due Apr. 30th). Satisfactory progress required in order to continue receiving funding.
  10. Within two years: Complete your Qualifying Exam.
  11. Within three years: Complete your Proposal and complete the Application for Candidacy (ACDD) form
  12. Take 18+ credits of CS 7970 and conduct your research. Take remaining credits of coursework, as listed on your POS.
  13. Write your dissertation and submit it to your major professor then committee.
  14. Tentatively schedule your defense with your committee and complete your Appointment for Examination (AFE) at least 2 weeks prior to your defense.
  15. Defend your dissertation then complete any edits requested by your major professor
  16. Complete post-defense forms: Format and Style, Authorship and Copyright, and Title Pages. Send finalized dissertation and title page to the Graduate Program Coordinator, who will send them to the Graduate School for approval
  17. Complete the program when you have completed the coursework on your POS and your successfully defended dissertation has been approved

Supervisory Committee (SCAF)

  • New students are assigned a temporary advisor.
  • After having attended CS 6900, students should know their research area and have identified a professor to supervise said research.
  • Students formulate a research idea/topic and approach the identified professor.
  • If the identified professor agrees to accept the new student, the professor becomes the student’s permanent advisor for your PhD Supervisory Committee (also called your Major Professor).
  • Together, the student and the Major Professor decide the other members of the student’s Graduate Supervisory Committee. See the webpage for your specific degree for information on who is eligible to serve on a committee.
  • For students joining the department in Fall semester, they will need to submit a Supervisory Committee Form (SCAF) by April 20 of the next semester. For students joining the department in Spring semester, they will need to submit a SCAF by November 30 of the next semester.
  • PhD students don't usually change their initial, temporary advisor until they form their Supervisory Committee. If you already have a major professor and want to change because you are not making progress, or if you have additional questions, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator.
  • If your advisor leaves USU, it is your responsibility to get a new advisor. The advisor cannot, in general, direct your progress from another university (exceptions may be made for students who have passed the PhD proposal or are otherwise nearing completion of their degree).

Program of Study (POS) without MS Requirements

The Program of Study (POS) is a contract among the student, committee members, and the School of Graduate Studies outlining which courses the student will take to meet the School of Graduate Studies' requirements and complete their degree program.

Students joining the department in a Fall semester will need to submit a Program of Study by April 1st of their second semester if they are on an assistantship or by November 1st of their third semester if they are not on an assistantship. Students joining the department in a Spring semester will need to submit a Program of Study by November 1st of their second semester if they are on an assistantship or by April 1st of their third semester if they are not on an assistantship.

In order to be approved, the POS must follow the Computer Science PhD degree requirements listed on the USU Catalog. Requirements for a Computer Science PhD POS without a previous MS are as follows:

Program of Study (POS) with MS Requirements

The Program of Study (POS) is a contract among the student, committee members, and the School of Graduate Studies outlining which courses the student will take to meet the School of Graduate Studies requirements and complete their degree program.

Students joining the department in a Fall semester will need to submit a Program of Study by April 1st of their second semester if they are on an assistantship or by November 1st of their third semester if they are not on an assistantship. Students joining the department in a Spring semester will need to submit a Program of Study by November 1st of their second semester if they are on an assistantship or by April 1st of their third semester if they are not on an assistantship.

In order to be approved, the POS must follow the Computer Science PhD degree requirements listed on the USU Catalog. Requirements for a Computer Science PhD POS with a previous MS are as follows:

Course and Credit Requirements for PhD Programs

Credit Distribution PhD without MS Requirement PhD with MS Requirement
CS 6000-level or 7000-level 18 12
Additional Courses 12 0
Seminar CS 6900 1 1
Dissertation (CS 7970) 18 18
Credits from MS 0 0 – 30
Remaining Courses/Dissertation 21 9 – 39 (depending on credits transfered from MS)
Minimum Total 70 70

GPA Policy

Before Fall 2020
  • Students must maintain a 3.50 GPA on all courses shown on his or her Program of Study Form
  • Students must maintain a 3.0 on all courses taken as a matriculated graduate student and all CS courses numbered 5000 or above.

Fall 2020 to Present
  • Ph.D. students are required to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA for degree-program courses. Grades of B- or lower will not be accepted for a graduate degree.

Info! Students with an overall GPA below 3.5 at the completion of fall and spring semesters will be issued an academic warning. If a student’s institution or Program of Study GPA remains below 3.5 for two consecutive semesters, then they will be dismissed from the program. If their GPA is above a 3.0, then they may opt to transfer to a master’s program in the department in lieu of dismissal.

Qualifying Exam

Pass a set of written examinations and an oral examination showing depth and breadth of knowledge in computer science and their area(s) of emphasis. While there is some flexibility in the scheduling of the qualifier, it is important that it be completed early in one’s program. For that reason, the following timelines are given:

  • Those without an MS must have completed 18 credits and have a 3.5 GPA in order to take the qualifier.
  • Those with an MS must have completed 12 credits and have a 3.5 GPA in order to take the qualifier.
  • Students may complete (register for) a maximum of six credits of CS 7970 (dissertation credits) before successfully completing the qualifier.

Students must complete this exam within a maximum of 24 credits or two years. Extensions beyond the 24 credits or two years require approval of the student’s graduate committee.

Qualifying Exam Policy

Financial Aid

Graduate students frequently wonder whether they can get financial assistance from the Department. This is available to qualified students in a variety of forms:

  • Fellowships provide a stipend to our best entering students.
  • (GTA) Teaching assistantships provide a stipend in return for 20 hours work per week.
  • (GRA) Research assistantships are awarded by individual professors who have research funds to support graduate students; consult the web pages of individual faculty to determine whether they are seeking research assistants.

In addition to the stipend, students receiving financial aid usually qualify for a waiver of up to 9 credits non-resident and resident portion of tuition.

Students who accept the offer of admissions by April 15 will be eligible to apply for financial aid for the following Fall semester.

Some students are able to find campus employment with other departments or research groups.

Computer Science Tuition Award Policy

Restrictions
  1. No student may receive a tuition waiver if they have been found to have violated the Computer Science Code of Conduct or the Computer Science Cheating Policy and been reported to Student Services.

  2. Students who were previously a GTA must receive satisfactory review from their previous supervisor in order to be considered for a GTA  position in future semesters.

  3. Students who are employed outside of the Department will not be awarded tuition waivers from the Computer Science Department. They will need to petition the Department where they are working.

Priorities for Tuition Awards
  1. First priority will be given to students who are supported by research grants.
  2. Second priority will be given to students selected for specific tasks by the Department.
  3. Third priority will be given to Ph.D. students and MS Plan A students who are recommended by their major professor
  4. If any tuition waivers remain, they will be assigned based on the discretion of the Department.

Constraints on Teaching and Research Assistantships
Department support is not unlimited or unconditional. The following constraints apply for both MS and Ph.D. students.
  1. If you are a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), you must do well as a GTA. Consistently poor GTA reports may result in end of support.
  2. You must have a CS faculty advisor (excluding adjuncts). Department support does not go to students supervised by faculty in other departments.
  3. You must have a current CS faculty advisor. If your advisor leaves, get a new one. The advisor cannot, in general, direct from another university (exceptions are made for students who have passed the Ph.D. proposal or are otherwise nearing completion of their degree).
  4. You must continuously be making progress towards your degree in classes and research.
  5. MS students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 for degree-program courses and Ph.D. students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.5 for degree-program courses.