Computer Science
Computer Science, Ph.D.
Because research in computer science at George Mason is distributed across
the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Information and Software
Engineering, the Ph.D. program is coordinated by a committee drawn from these
two departments.
The program is designed for breadth, depth, flexibility, and interaction. In
recognition of the diverse forms of preparation and experience that students may
possess, the foundational breadth requirement takes the form of a qualifying examination
rather than specified course work. Standard courses are available to help prepare
for these exams but not all students need all the courses. In the next phase,
individuals pursue unique combinations of courses, including individual study,
selected with the guidance of their advisory committees. This advanced work leads
to a comprehensive examination and culminates in a dissertation. The general doctoral
requirements of George Mason University apply to this program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are evaluated on an individual basis by the Ph.D. Admissions Committee.
A master of science degree with a very strong background in computer science or
a closely related field, such as software engineering or information systems,
is required. The admission process involves submitting the application for admission,
all postsecondary transcripts, Graduate Record Examination scores in computer
science, three letters of reference, a resume, and a short statement of career
goals and aspirations. Application forms are available online at www.admissions.gmu.edu.
Qualifying Examination
Students take a written qualifying examination, given twice a year, in the
fall and spring semesters. This must be done before continuing beyond 36 credits.
Students must choose four areas in which to be examined, one of which must be
algorithms and theory. The other three are chosen from among the following: language
processing and formal models, artificial intelligence, computer systems, software
engineering, and information engineering. The exams are pass/fail. To qualify,
a student must pass all four examinations. A student who passes three of four
at the first attempt is permitted to retake the one failed examination. A student
who passes fewer than three examinations must retake an entire set of examinations.
Any retaking must occur within a year of the original examinations. Failure after
two attempts is grounds for dismissal from the program.
Course Requirements
In addition to courses taken to prepare for the qualifying exam, students must
take at least eight courses, including two computer science courses at the 600
level or above; CS 700 Quantitative Methods and Experimental Design in Computer
Science; and five other courses in computer science at the 700 level or above,
chosen from a list maintained by the program.
Planning and Advising
The student forms a faculty advisory committee to advise in establishing and
carrying out a plan of study that meets the above requirements and will prepare
the student properly for the dissertation phase. The members and chair of this
advising committee must qualify as a dissertation committee, as specified below.
Normally some or all of the members will later belong to the student's dissertation
committee, so these individuals will be able to ensure relevance of the plan of
study to an emerging dissertation topic.
Seminar
Each Ph.D. student is required to attend a seminar series in the first year,
at which faculty members present their own computer science research. The purpose
of the seminar is to provide common experiences for new students, to familiarize
new students with the computer science research done in the school, and to help
them choose a dissertation director and committee.
Comprehensive Examination
Each student must take a combined written and oral comprehensive examination
after completion of all course requirements. The purpose of this examination is
to evaluate the student's knowledge and ability to complete a Ph.D. dissertation.
The student must pass both the written and oral parts. Each can be retaken no
more than once if it is failed.
Dissertation Committee Selection
The student forms a dissertation supervisory committee consisting of four or
five appropriately qualified individuals, three of whom must be tenured or tenure-track
faculty members in the Computer Science Department and/or Information and Software
Engineering Department. Committee membership must transcend a single department.
It is recommended that the committee include a member outside the two departments.
The chair of the supervisory committee, who is also the dissertation director,
must be tenured or tenure-track in the School of Information Technology and Engineering.
The committee must be approved by the chair of the Computer Science Department
and the associate dean for graduate studies of IT&E.
Dissertation Proposal Defense
Each student prepares a written dissertation proposal, which is presented to
the supervisory committee. The student may enroll in CS 998 Doctoral Dissertation
Proposal to complete this effort. The committee assesses the proposal and assists
the student in fulfilling his/her responsibility to have a clear topic with the
potential to make a significant contribution to the field, along with a clear
methodology. The committee also assesses whether the student has the intellectual
background and the resources to have a good chance of completing a successful
dissertation in a timely manner. After successfully completing this requirement,
the student is formally advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
Dissertation and Defense
The Ph.D. dissertation corresponds to a maximum of 24 credits from CS 998 and
CS 999, at least 12 of them in CS 999, after advancement to candidacy. The work
must represent an achievement in research; must be a significant contribution
to its field; and should be deemed publishable in refereed journals or refereed
conferences. The document must meet format guidelines specified by the Guide
for Preparing Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Projects.
The student prepares to defend the dissertation in consultation with the dissertation
director. Normally, there is a predefense with only the committee members present.
There must be a public defense at a date that is agreed upon by all members of
the committee and is preceded by at least two weeks of public announcement by
the program. The dissertation must be made available to the committee at least
two weeks in advance. If the candidate successfully defends the dissertation,
the committee recommends that the final form of the dissertation be completed,
and that the graduate faculty of George Mason University accept the candidate
for the Ph.D. degree. |
