2011-2012 University Catalog 
  
2011-2012 University Catalog

Computer Science, PhD


Banner Code: VS-PHD-CS

School: Volgenau School of Engineering 

Department: Computer Science 

The PhD program requires course work, qualifying and comprehensive examinations, and a doctoral dissertation that is first proposed and eventually defended. Mason’s general doctoral requirements apply to this program.

Admission Requirements

All applicants must have an undergraduate degree, and their prior academic work must show a strong academic background in computer science. In addition, they must have taken the GRE exams: the General Test is required from every applicant; the Subject Test in Computer Science is not required but is recommended. Finally, each applicant must provide a brief statement of career goals and personal aspirations, as well as three letters of reference. Each application receives careful consideration from the PhD Admission Committee.

Qualifying Exams

Students must demonstrate breadth of knowledge in computer science by passing written qualifying exams. The exams are offered once every semester (usually in the week before the semester begins). To qualify, each student must pass exams in four areas, one of which is foundations of computer science. The other three areas are chosen from these eight areas: operating systems, networks, compilers and languages, object-oriented software specification and construction, software modeling and architectural design, artificial intelligence,  database systems, and information systems security. The four exams must be attempted in the same semester, and a failed exam may be retaken once only in the next semester. A student who fails to pass the four exams in two consecutive semesters is subject to termination from the program. Each student must take a set of four exams no later than the first opportunity following the completion of 18 credits. If a student enters the program without a master’s degree in computer science or a related area, then the exams must be taken no later than the first opportunity following the completion of 30 credits.

Dissertation Committee Selection

Each student must form a dissertation committee, comprising four or five individuals. Three members of the committee must be tenured or tenure-track faculty in the Computer Science Department. The fourth member must be from outside the department. The chair of the dissertation committee, who must also be the dissertation director, must be tenured or tenure-track faculty in the Volgenau School. The committee must be approved by the chair of the Computer Science Department and the associate dean for graduate studies of the Volgenau School.

Comprehensive Exam

Students must pass an oral comprehensive exam in which they demonstrate depth of knowledge in their intended area of research and ability to perform original research in that area. The scope of the oral exam is defined by a reading list prepared by the student and the dissertation director. The list should include research papers and textbooks that adequately cover the basic tools used in the research area, the fundamentals of the research area, and state-of-the-art knowledge in the specific focus of research. The reading list must be accompanied by a one-page description of the intended research. This document must be approved by the dissertation committee prior to the exam and becomes part of the student’s record. The duration of the oral exam is typically two hours.

Students who fail the exam are allowed to retake it once. Failure in the second attempt results in dismissal from the program.

Dissertation Proposal

Each student must prepare a written dissertation proposal. While preparing this proposal, the student enrolls in CS 998 Doctoral Dissertation Proposal. The proposal must be presented to and approved by the dissertation committee. The committee determines whether the proposal has merit and can lead to significant contributions to the area and whether the student has the knowledge and skills to complete the proposed work successfully and in a timely manner. On completing this requirement successfully, the student is advanced to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Dissertation Preparation and Defense

While preparing the dissertation, the candidate enrolls in CS 999 Doctoral Dissertation. When the work is deemed complete, the dissertation is defended. The public defense is preceded by a predefense meeting in which only the candidate, the dissertation committee members, and possibly the director of the PhD in Computer Science Program (or his or her representative) are present. If the committee approves, the candidate may then schedule the final public defense. There should be at least one month between the predefense meeting and the defense, and the defense must be announced at least two weeks in advance. The dissertation must be made available to the committee at least two weeks in advance of the defense. The entire dissertation committee must be present at the defense, unless an exception is approved by the director of the PhD in Computer Science Program in advance of the defense. The dissertation must make significant contributions to its area and be publishable in refereed journals or conferences. If the candidate defends the dissertation successfully, the dissertation committee recommends that the final form of the dissertation be completed under the supervision of the dissertation director and the graduate faculty of Mason accept the candidate for the PhD degree. If the candidate fails to defend the dissertation, the candidate may request a second defense, following the same procedures as for the initial defense. There is no time limit for this request other than general time limits for the doctoral degree and an additional predefense is not required. A candidate who fails a second attempt to defend the dissertation is dismissed from the program.

Degree Requirements


A minimum of 72 graduate credits is required for the PhD degree which may be reduced by, at most, 30 credits from an approved MS degree. Courses that constitute a student’s plan of study will be chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor and/or dissertation committee.

The following courses, totaling 30 credits, are required from all students:

Note:


Students must enroll in two sections of CS 800 for a total of 2 credits.

Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits of CS 998 and CS 999, with a minimum of 12 credits of CS 999 (only 24 credits of CS 998 and CS 999 may be applied toward the degree).

Students may enroll in CS 998 only after passing the qualifying exams, and they may enroll in CS 999 only after advancing to candidacy.

The remaining 12 credits must be obtained in advanced graduate courses (an advanced graduate course is a graduate course that requires another graduate course as a prerequisite).


Total: 72 credits