PhD in Computer Science

The Doctor of Philosophy is a degree that is conferred on a student who has demonstrated proficiency in some broad area of learning, and who has proven that he or she has the capability to evaluate work in the field critically. In addition, the student must have demonstrated the ability to work independently and make original contributions to the field. No single prescribed set of courses can be established that, when completed, guarantee that the student has attained this high level. Rather, the degree is conferred after the student has satisfied both a course work and an independent study requirement under the supervision of a committee. Minimum course work and independent study requirements and the composition of the advisory committee for the Ph.D. program are described below.

Graduate students are encouraged to participate in the professional activities of the department. This includes attending seminars and colloquiums, suggesting improvements in curriculum (both undergraduate and graduate), suggesting new teaching techniques and participating in the enhancement of computer hardware and software facilities within the department.

• The candidate must have a broad knowledge of science, math and engineering
• The candidate must have in-depth knowledge of the specific area in which the dissertation research will be conducted
• The candidate must be able to read, understand, and evaluate professional literature on advanced topics in engineering and applied science.
• The candidate must be able to write technical reports and project documentation.
• The candidate must be able to make oral presentations of technical information.
• The candidate must demonstrate the capability to make fundamental and significant contributions in the area of engineering and applied science, mathematics, and engineering disciplines, along with the tools of research, to perform analysis and synthesis and to visualize potential areas of application.

PhD in Computer Science Guidelines

Degree Requirements

• A total of 60 credit hours are required for the degree.
• For candidates entering the program with a bachelor's degree in computer science, a minimum of 30  credit hours of course work at the 5000-level or above is required. For candidates entering with an M.S. degree in computer science, up to 24 credit hours of course work from a previously earned Master's degree may be transferred to the PhD program to meet the 30 credit hour course requirements.  Four courses are required for students who have not taken these courses or their equivalents before. These are CS 5500 (Operating Systems), CS 5300 (Advanced Software Engineering), CS 5720 (Design and Analysis of Algorithms), and CS 5200 (Computer Architecture).
• In all cases, 30 semester hours of dissertation credits are required.
• All PhD students must also take CS 6000, Intro to Computer Science Research as part of their course work.
• An Oral Qualifier is required.
• Written Qualifiers are required. Undergraduate coursework in the specified areas (Operating Systems, Advanced Software Engineering, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, and Computer Architecture) does NOT qualify to waive their respective exams. These courses must be taken at the graduate level and have a grade of an A- or better to qualify for a waiver.
• A paper publication is required.
• No more than 24 credit hours of dissertation can be taken prior to the semester in which the Proposal Examination is passed.
• A final defense is required.

For details on degree requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog.

For details on program coursework, please visit the Academic Catalog.

As this degree is housed in the Computer Science Department, knowledgeable background in the industry, or a closely related field is desired. This degree is on campus, attendance is required. Typically classes are offered Monday through Thursday in the afternoon, however, classes may be scheduled at any time. The PhD committee will review all applicants for admission and will be looking for these specific classes on transcripts:

• CS 1150 Principles of Computer Science'
• CS 1450 Data Structures and Algorithms
• CS 2080 Programming in UNIX
• CS 2060 Programming in C
• CS 2160 Computer Organization and Assembly Language Programming
• CS 3160 Concepts of Programming Languages
• CS 3300 Software Engineering
• MATH 1350 Calculus 1
• MATH 1360 Calculus 2
• MATH 2150 Discrete Math
• MATH 3130 Linear Algebra
• MATH 3810 Probability and Statistics

A student can be admitted as a regular degree student if the student satisfies the following conditions:

• The student holds a bachelor's degree in computer science or a master's degree in computer science or closely related field from a college or university of recognized standing. A student who is admitted without a master's degree may earn that degree as a part of the Ph.D. studies.
• The student has at least a 3.3 grade point average (on a scale of 4.0) in all undergraduate and graduate work attempted or who has achieved a 3.3 or better in masters degree from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado.
• The student has taken at least two semesters of calculus and a course each in discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, and linear algebra.
• Complete a personal statement and within that personal statement name a potential advisor and justify your choice. Please visit our faculty website for research interests. CS Faculty
• The student's resume is required.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Applicants with any foreign post-secondary course work should also submit a course by course evaluation by a NACES member.
• International students applying for the program should have all application materials into the Admissions Office at UCCS by March 1st for Fall Semester and by October 1st for Spring Semester. Applications received later than these dates or incomplete by these dates may be considered for the following semester. It is the student's responsibility to follow up to make sure all materials are received on time.
• All sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required, with at least 148 on the quantitative portion, unless one of the following conditions is satisfied:
  • The applicant has a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or above from an ABET-accredited Computer Science or a closely related program from within the U.S.
  • The applicant has a master’s degree in Computer Science or a closely related field with a GPA of 3.0 or above from an R1 or R2 institution from within the U.S.
• A TOEFL score of 80 of higher, an ILETS of 6.5 or higher, or a Duolingo exam score of 115 will be required for proof of English Proficiency. If the student has completed a degree in the US, this requirement may be waived.
• Course by Course Evaluation: Upon the successful completion of your online application, you will receive a private link to upload each foreign post-secondary transcript from institutions you have attended. These transcripts must include all courses and grades, must be issued in the original language, and be accompanied by certified English translations when applicable. This service is provided at no cost for UCCS applicants. More details will be communicated to you via email after we received your completed application. Please make sure to check your email for the uploading instructions

Students who do not meet requirements for admission as regular students may be admitted as provisional students upon recommendation of the Computer Science PhD Committee. With the concurrence of the Graduate Dean, the Graduate Studies Committee may admit provisional students for a probationary period.

Financial Aid Information

For financial aid consideration we encourage you to apply by March 1st. Most scholarships and fellowships are given to Fall applicants, not Spring applicants. If you are an international student who will need a visa, we recommend you complete the application process by March 1st to give enough time for application review and visa processing. If your application comes after the posted semester deadline, it will be considered for the following term.

Application Deadlines:

Fall Start: April 1st

Spring Start: November 1st

Our Fall application deadline is April 1st. For scholarship consideration we encourage you to apply by March 1st. If you are an international student who will need a visa, we recommend you complete the application process as early as possible to give enough time for application review and visa processing.

To learn more about admission requirements and the application process, please visit the UCCS Admissions page.

Additional resources for Admissions:

• Tuition Rate
• Cost of Tuition Estimator
• Financial Aid
• Scholarships