PhD in Computer Science

Apply to the PhD Program

Admissions

Coursework

Financial Aid

Resources

Admissions

Minimum Requirements

  • TOEFL score of 79 or IELTS overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 5 on each subscale
  • Extensive experience in computing, programming experience in C++, and a course in Data Structures and Algorithms (CS 2420),
  • as well as a working grasp of calculus and statistics
  • 3.25 Cumulative GPA in your BS program or 3.5 Cumulative GPA in your MS program
  • To be accepted into the program you must find a faculty member to be your mentor.

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) January 1
Spring (Begins in January) October 1

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 into the program by finding a faculty member to be your mentor. Work with your faculty mentor.
  2. Register for courses.
  3. International students must register for International Graduate School Orientation their first semester.
  4. If you are a GTA, register for CEUS 7901 and CEUS 7902 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. Second Semester (due Nov. 30 or Apr. 20): Form your graduate committee and complete the Supervisory Committee Approval Form (SCAF)
  7. Second or Third Semester (due Apr. 1st or Nov. 1st): Submit your Program of Study (POS) by emailing the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC), Taryn Sommers taryn.sommers@usu.edu, to let her know it is ready for approval. If you submit your POS late you may lose your tuition award.
  8. Complete an Annual Review with your major professor each year. (due Apr. 30th). Satisfactory progress required in order to continue receiving funding.
  9. Within two years: Complete your Qualifying Exam.
  10. Within three years: Complete your Proposal and complete the Application for Candidacy (ACDD) form
  11. Take 18+ credits of CS 7970 and conduct your research. Take remaining credits of coursework, as listed on your POS.
  12. Write your dissertation and submit it to your major professor then committee.
  13. Schedule your defense with your committee and complete your Appointment for Examination (AFE) at least 2 weeks prior to your defense.
  14. Defend your dissertation then complete any edits requested by your major professor
  15. Complete post-defense forms: Format and Style, Authorship and Copyright, and Title Pages. Send finalized dissertation and title page to the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC), Taryn Sommers taryn.sommers@usu.edu, who will send them to the Graduate School for approval
  16. Complete the program when you have completed the coursework on your POS and your successfully defended dissertation has been approved

Supervisory Committee (SCAF)

  • Students formulate a research idea/topic and approach the identified professor.
  • Together, the student and the Major Professor decide the other members of the student’s Graduate Supervisory Committee. You will create a committee of five faculty members, one of whom needs to be outside of your area of research, and will be labelled as the outside member
  • 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 (GPC), Taryn Sommers taryn.sommers@usu.edu.
  • 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) with MS Requirement

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 department PhD degree requirements listed on the USU Catalog.

Program of Study (POS) with BS 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 department PhD degree requirements listed on the USU Catalog.

Course and Credit Requirements for PhD Programs

Credit Distribution PhD with a BS Requirement PhD with MS Requirement
CS 6000-level or 7000-level 21 12
Dissertation (CS 7970) 18 18
Remaining Courses/Dissertation 31 10
Minimum Total 70 40

GPA Policy

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.

The School of Computing Tuition Award Policy

Restrictions
  1. No student may receive a tuition waiver if they have been found to have violated the department Code of Conduct or the department 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 The School of Computing. 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.