The Computer Science PhD program prepares students in the highest level of theory and practice of Computer Science, aiding with the development of research and instruction skills for positions in academia, industry, and government sectors.
The Computer Science PhD program produces professionals trained at the highest possible academic level in the theory and practice of Computer Science in order to meet current and projected market demands for Computer Science experts. Students graduate with proven abilities in research and instruction and have expertise suitable for positions in industry, academia, and government.
Applicants to this track must have already earned an MS degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher in Computer Science or a closely related discipline and are seeking higher-level graduate education and research training.
Total Credit Hours Required: 42 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Master’s Degree
Track Prerequisites
Master’s degree in Computer Science or a closely related discipline.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: 5000- or 6000-level formal coursework with a grade of 'B' (3.0) or better. Courses must have a prefix of CAP, CDA, CEN, CGS, CIS, CNT, COP, COT, or EGN. Of these, a minimum of 6 credit hours must be at the 6000-level.
Elective Courses
12 Total Credits
- Earn at least 12 credits from the following types of courses: each course with a prefix of CAP, CDA, CEN, CIS, CNT, COP, COT, or EGN: (1) Graduate Research (XXX 7919), and/or (2) Independent Study (XXX 6908).
Dissertation
15 Total Credits
- Earn at least 15 credits from the following types of courses: XXX 7980, where the course prefix must be one of the following: CAP, CDA, CEN, CIS, CNT, COP, COT, or EGN.
Qualifying Review
0 Total Credits
- The QR will be offered twice a year in the Fall (sometime in October) and the Spring (sometime in March) semester. The Graduate Committee will meet twice a year to evaluate the results. Each student must apply for the qualifier before completing their 28th credit hour in the PhD program, excluding credits hours taken during summer semesters and doctoral research credit hours taken under a previous advisor. Hence, most students must apply for the qualifier before completing their fourth semester of the PhD program. To pass the qualifier, the student must demonstrate satisfactory progress in their coursework, must secure an advisor, and must show acceptable progress on a mutually agreed-upon research topic with the advisor.
Dissertation Committee
0 Total Credits
- The Dean, through the Chairs and Directors, is responsible for committee formation, additions, and deletions. The doctoral committee must consist of a minimum of four members; three must be graduate faculty members from within Computer Science, and one must be from outside the Computer Science faculty. Joint faculty members may serve as school-faculty committee members. The Computer Science Graduate Committee may specify additional membership. The College of Graduate Studies reserves the right to review appointments to advisory committees, place a representative on any advisory committee, or appoint a co-adviser. Joint faculty members may serve as committee chairs, but graduate faculty scholars may not, although they may serve as co-chairs. All members vote on acceptance or rejection of the dissertation proposal and the final dissertation. The dissertation proposal and final dissertation must be approved by a majority of the advisory committee.
Candidacy Examination
0 Total Credits
- After passing qualifiers, students are required to successfully complete the candidacy examination to demonstrate readiness for preliminary research in a chosen field of study. This exam requires the acceptance of a professional paper by a peer-reviewed conference or journal that is deemed acceptable to the student's advisory committee as a major contribution to student's area of research. Candidacy is normally taken near the completion of required course work and must be passed before registering for doctoral dissertation hours (XXX 7980). Continuous enrollment in at least 3 hours of doctoral dissertation hours is required once a student starts taking 7980 credits. The candidacy status change form and any associated paperwork (advisory committee form, program of study, etc.) must be submitted for processing by the last day of classes of the semester prior to enrolling in dissertation credits.
Admission to Candidacy
0 Total Credits
- The following are required to be admitted to candidacy and enroll in dissertation hours. Evidence of successful completion of these requirements must be received in the College of Graduate Studies by the day before the first day of classes in which the student wishes to enroll in dissertation hours: • Completion of all course work, except for dissertation hours. • Successful completion of the candidacy examination. • The dissertation advisory committee is formed, consisting of approved graduate faculty and graduate faculty scholars. • Submission of an approved program of study.
Time Limitation
0 Total Credits
- Students have seven years from the beginning of regular graduate status in the PhD program to complete all requirements for the degree, although most students finish within 4 to 5 years.
Dissertation Proposal
0 Total Credits
- After passing the candidacy examination, the student will write a dissertation proposal and present it orally to the dissertation advisory committee for approval. The proposal must include a description of the research performed to date and research plans.
Dissertation and Oral Defense
0 Total Credits
- Students must write a dissertation on their research that describes a significant original contribution to the field of computer science. The oral defense of the dissertation is reviewed by the research committee. The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that all dissertation defense announcements are approved by the student's adviser and posted on the college's website and the Events Calendar at the College of Graduate Studies website at least two weeks before the defense date. The dissertation must be approved by the dissertation adviser and committee, the school director or designee and the dean of the college or designee. Format approval from the Thesis and Dissertation Editor and final approval of satisfaction of degree requirements by the College of Graduate Studies is required.
Grand Total Credits: 42
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
Plan of Study
A plan of study for each student must be filed within the first two weeks of the student's second semester in the program.
This plan must satisfy the following:
- A minimum of 42 credit hours (including 6 credit hours of formal course work with a grade of “B” (3.0) or better). No external credits can be transferred. No courses below the 5000-level, with no 5000-level CGS prefix coursework.
- A minimum of 21 credits of research (either 7919 or 6908).
- No more than 12 credit hours of independent study (6908).
- A minimum of 15 credit hours and a maximum of 24 credit hours of PhD dissertation (CAP, CDA, CEN, CIS, CNT, COP or COT 7980).
Equipment Fee
Students in the Computer Science PhD program pay a $34 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $17 per semester.
Independent Learning
The Independent Learning requirement is met by successful completion of the student's candidacy and dissertation defense examinations.
