Computer Science, PhD

Program Description

The objective of the PhD in Computer Science is to prepare exceptionally qualified individuals for research careers in academia and industry. The program is designed for students who offer evidence of exceptional scholastic ability, intellectual creativity, and research motivation. The PhD degree is viewed as a certification by the faculty that the student has a solid foundation in computer science and has performed original research in the area.

To receive full admission to graduate study in computer science, a student must have taken intermediate level undergraduate computer science, including computer organization, data structures, operating systems, either algorithms or theory of computation, and either compilers or survey of programming languages; and basic mathematics including discrete mathematics. An applicant with minimal deficiencies may be admitted with prerequisites, while one with several deficiencies may be required to satisfactorily complete prerequisite work as a non-degree student prior to admission as a graduate student.

For more information, please visit https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/computing/academics/graduates/programsofstudy/phdincs.html.

Summary of Degree Requirements

The PhD in Computer Science is awarded based on the student’s completed coursework and portfolio requirements, as well as their competence in planning and conducting research and ability to express themselves adequately and professionally both orally and in writing. Ultimately, only the student’s advisory committee can certify that the student has earned this degree. This degree requires a minimum of 30 credits beyond the master’s degree, and at least 60 credits beyond the bachelor’s degree. A minimum of 12 credit hours of non-research coursework and a minimum of 18 hours of dissertation research are required.

Core Coursework

Coursework requirements for the PhD vary depending on whether the student enters with a BS or MS degree. Courses are intended to demonstrate breadth in computer science as well as experience in research. All PhD students are required to complete:

• One credit of a new PhD student seminar (a CPSC 9500  course offered in the student’s first semester)
• at least six additional credits of doctoral seminar courses (CPSC 9500 )
• at least 21 credits of research hours ( CPSC 8880 - Directed Projects in Computer Science 1-6 Credits  , CPSC 9500 - Selected Topics in Computer Science 1-3 Credits , or CPSC 9910 - Doctoral Dissertation Research 1-12 Credits ), at least 18 of which must be Doctoral Research (CPSC 9910 )

In addition to the requirements above, students must meet the minimum credit hours for graded coursework and for total credit hours as defined by the University.

For students entering with an MS, the required 12 credit hours of non-research coursework must be satisfied by taking four 8000-level or higher courses within the School of Computing (exclusive of CPSC 8810, 95X0, 9810, 9910, and any DPA prefix).

For students entering with a BS, up to 12 credit hours of 6000-level or higher coursework at Clemson may be counted toward the minimum 42 non-research credit hours required by the University. Of the remaining 30 non-research credit hours, 18 must be 8000-level or higher courses within the School of Computing (exclusive of 8810, 95X0, 9810, 9910, and any DPA prefix).