Ph.D. in Computer Science

A doctorate in computer science builds on prior knowledge, education, and experience in the field. The degree typically takes four to five years to complete and involves independent study and research in a focused area of interest. Doctoral programs include coursework and research that culminate in a final dissertation.
Students may apply for the Ph.D. program after completing their M.S. degree in computer science or proceed directly to Ph.D. program after completing their B.S. degree in computer science. Students without an M.S. will typically spend an extra year learning the basic research skills prior to begin working on their dissertation.
Candidate selection for the doctoral program is a very a competitive process, considering GPA, performance in computer-related classes, TOEFL or IELTS (for non-English-speaking candidates), GRE, and reputation of the university where you did your undergraduate and graduate studies. Relevant recent work experience is considered in cases where educational credentials are dated or not in the computer science field.