Ph.D., Computer and Cyber Sciences

 

The Ph.D. program in Computer and Cyber Sciences will prepare students for advanced research, academic and technical leadership positions in research-based companies, universities, government agencies, and technology-based start-up companies.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Computer and Cyber Sciences is designed to prepare students for a career in research and advanced development. Students will obtain the necessary skills to create new knowledge in their chosen area of computer and cyber sciences. As a Computer and Cyber Sciences doctoral student, you will have the opportunity to participate in a unique training and research ecosystem, combining core areas of computer and cyber sciences. The doctoral program emphasizes small class sizes and pairs students with our outstanding faculty to increase knowledge and skills through mentorships and participation in ongoing research programs.

Some of the research topics interested graduate students can collaborate with our faculty on include distributed, parallel and quantum computing, security and privacy, formal methods, software engineering, programming languages, cyber-physical, IoT and edge systems, algorithms, artificial intelligence/machine learning, virtual reality, information systems and more.

PhD Curriculum Catalog (coming soon)

Why Pursue a Computer and Cyber Sciences Ph.D.?

Students graduating with doctoral degrees in computer and cyber sciences will have distinct advantages. Doctoral degrees are increasingly included in minimum hiring requirements for technical leadership and research positions at high-tech companies and technology-oriented government agencies. The disciplines of computer science and cybersecurity continue growing in their strategic importance in our information age. Each segment of our society, from education to industry and military, is becoming a sophisticated component of the overall digital enterprise. A doctoral degree in computing disciplines opens many new avenues of employment in any of these segments of society.

 

Application Deadlines

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Prospective Computer and Cyber Sciences Ph.D. students will be admitted based on the following criteria:

• Competency: Knowledge of Computer Science at the undergraduate level is essential for continuing education.
• English proficiency: Sufficient proficiency in English is an essential prerequisite to be admitted into the program. Non-native English speakers must additionally demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following three ways:

- Graduation with a baccalaureate degree (or higher) earned in residence from an accredited English-medium university, in a country in which English is a native language. 

- Official TOEFL scores.

- Official IELTS scores

Prospective students must submit the following items for admissions consideration:

• CV/Resume
• At least two letters of recommendation
• A one-page personal statement
• Additionally, prospective students will need to demonstrate they are reasonably well prepared for graduate studies in Computer and Cyber Sciences on the basis of the following:
  • • A Bachelor of Science in Computer Science or a related field (Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Software Engineering, Mathematics, etc.) from an established program or an evaluation of their relevant courses.
    • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale.
    • A minimum TOEFL score of 213 (computer-based), or 79 (internet-based) OR a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 for candidates who need to additionally demonstrate English proficiency.

Funding is limited, competitive and not guaranteed. Some students receive faculty-sponsored research assistantships or other graduate assistantships that may include a stipend and/or tuition support. Applicants seeking funding should identify faculty whose research aligns with their interests and contact them directly. Unless funding is included in a written offer, admitted students should be prepared to fund their studies.

Students meeting only some of these conditions may be conditionally accepted upon successful completion of coursework.