Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

Curriculum

The graduate programs in computer science offer intensive preparation in design, programming, theory, and applications. Training is provided for both academically oriented students and students with professional goals in the many businesses, industrial, and governmental occupations requiring advanced knowledge of computing theory and technology.

Courses and research opportunities are offered in a variety of subfields of computer science, including operating systems, computer architecture, computer graphics, pattern recognition, automata theory, combinatorics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, database design, computer networks, programming languages, software systems, analysis of algorithms, computational complexity, parallel processing, VLSI, virtual reality, internet of things, embedded and real-time systems, computational geometry, computer vision, design automation, cybersecurity, information assurance, and data science.

The University maintains a large network of computer facilities including specialized computers for research within the program. In addition to computer science faculty, many other individuals at the university are involved in computer-related work in the physical and social sciences and in various areas of business and management. Computer science students with an interest in these important application areas may have opportunities to consult and work with talented faculty from a wide range of disciplines.

Career Options

Graduates of the program seek academic positions at universities, as well as positions as researchers, senior software engineers, data scientists. Graduates often become industry experts in fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or natural language processing.

Objectives

The Department of Computer Science offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.

The doctoral program is tailored to the student. The student must arrange a course program with the guidance and approval of a faculty member chosen as his/her graduate advisor. Adjustments can be made as to the student's interests develop and a specific dissertation topic is chosen.

Application Requirements

A student may be admitted under one of two possible options. The student must have:

Admission Option One

• A master's degree in computer science or its equivalent, and
• A GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.5, and
• GRE revised scores of at least 315, 156, 159, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Admission Option Two

• A BS in a related area that includes two semesters of calculus and linear algebra with
• GPA of at least 3.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours, and
• GRE revised scores of at least 315, 156, 159, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis.

Application Deadlines

UT Dallas encourages applicants to submit their application and supporting documents as early as possible to be considered for admission to a graduate program. Applicants must submit their application and supporting documents by the deadlines below.

Degree Requirements

Core requirements:

The core requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science are the same as the ones listed on the Master of Science in Computer Science page or on the Master of Science in Software Engineering page.

Also required are:

• Pass a qualifying examination.
• Pass CS 6382 Theory of Computation with a grade of B or better
• Two CS or SE 7000 and above level courses
• Sufficient CS electives for a total of at least 75 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. At least 9 semester credit hours of organized advanced Computer Science electives must be taken at UT Dallas. The student is encouraged to consult with an advisor in choosing electives.

Dissertation

A dissertation is required and must be approved by the graduate program. A student must arrange for a dissertation advisor willing to guide this dissertation. The student must have a dissertation supervising committee that consists of no less than four members of whom at least three must be from the Computer Science faculty. Students must enroll in a minimum of 3 dissertation semester credit hours in the degree plan. The dissertation may be in computer science exclusively or it may involve considerable work in an area of application.