Ph.D. in Computer Science

A student who wishes to study Graduate Computer Science must have the ability to develop and analyze software for their study. Understanding the interface between computer hardware and software is also required, as is some mathematical fluency. Students must demonstrate their potential for success in the program via strong previous academic work and demonstrated English proficiency as appropriate. Online PhD students must identify a research topic and identify a major professor; these must be identified in their statement of purpose (a limited list of topics and professors is allowed). Finally, a student must possess those qualifications and research interests that indicate to the Computer Science and Engineering Graduate Studies Committee that the applicant will be successful in the computer science doctoral program. Details for these requirements are provided here.

Admission and financial assistantships are separate decisions. For information on teaching & research assistantships, fellowships, and other scholarships, please refer here.

The GRE is not required of any graduate program at MSState; however, it is useful for consideration, especially with respect to potential assistantships.

In their first semester of study, a student should identify a major processor. For non-Thesis M.S. students, the major professor is usually from an area of interest—one of their breadth courses. For Thesis or Doctoral students, the major professor oversees the student's research. A major professor must Graduate Faculty within the Department.

The major professor is responsible for releasing a student to enroll in classes after their first semester of enrollment. Students that do not have a major professor by the end of their second term may be put on probation.

To form your committee, you must do the following:

1. A major professor needs to be identified before forming a committee. (see above)
2. Talk to your major professor to see which other faculty would be ideal candidates to be your committee members. Discuss with the proposed committee members and get verbal acceptance.
3. Request a Committee Request Form from CSE-Grad-Paperwork@cse.msstate.edu by sending along the names and departments of your major professor and committee members.
4. Once you receive the Committee Request Form from cse-grad-paperwork, obtain the signatures of your major professor and committee members. Submit the signed form to CSE-Grad-Paperwork@cse.msstate.edu for processing (to include getting the Graduate Coordinator's signature).
5. Cse-grad-paperwork will submit your fully executed document to the Graduate School for final processing.
6. Membership of the committee (including changes) must be communicated to the Graduate Coordinator via email to CSE-Grad-Paperwork@cse.msstate.edu

IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not attempt to get forms from the Graduate School website. You must CSE-Grad-Paperwork@cse.msstate.edu contact to request forms as they can keep track of all required signatures, contact required people and submit paperwork via proper channels.

A graduate committee should be formed by the student's second semester ideally, though membership may change. A committee must be formed before any Directed Individual Study or other forms or requests can be completed.

The Ph.D. CS degree is a 63 credit program designed to be completed in 4 years for traditional students. Students with a previous M.S. complete fewer hours, transferring some work from their previous degree. Working with a major professor and guiding committee, students will select appropriate core, specialization, and elective courses and develop a research program. Preparedness for research work will be measured via examinations, and finally defended before a body of peers in the dissertation defense.

Our program has two options:

• Direct Admit for students entering with only a B.S. or equivalent
• M.S. Admit/Online for students with a previous M.S. or equivalent. This is also our Online option.

Regardless of the program of study, certain policies apply to all coursework chosen. Please refer to our Graduate Handbook for these additional policies.

There are three examinations held during the course of PhD study, each with their own purpose:

• The Qualifying Exam demonstrates mastery of the breadth of computer science and preparation for further study. It must be completed before research is started and is generally performed before coursework is concluded.
• The Proposal Defense determines a student's readiness to execute their plan for their dissertation research. It is performed when coursework is concluded and advances the student to candidacy (Ph.D. research eligibility).
• The Dissertation Defense is before an audience of peers and is aimed to demonstrate the student's scholarship and contribution. It is the culmination of the student's efforts.

The specific timelines, format, and guidelines for each exam is provided elsewhere.