Graduate Info
Ph.D. Minor
Admission/Qualification
Doctoral students intending to minor in Computer Science must apply for
admission to the minor. The admission process is used to ensure that students
are qualified to undertake graduate-level courses in Computer Science.
Prospective doctoral minors are required to have undergraduate preparation in
computing necessary to attempt first-year graduate courses in the department. A
well-prepared applicant should be proficient in a high-level programming
language such as C or C++, and have a solid background in the following areas:
(1) mathematics, including calculus and discrete mathematics; (2) machine
architecture; (3) programming languages, including exposure of high-level
languages (e.g., Java, LISP, Icon); (4) data structures; (5) algorithm
analysis; (6) theory of computation; and (7) software systems, including
compilers and operating systems. Applicants lacking preparation in one or two
of these areas may qualify for the minor with the stipulation that they remedy
these deficiencies, if such missing background would be prerequisite for
courses in their proposed minor program. Deficiencies are normally remedied by
auditing undergraduate courses in the department.
The student should consult the Graduate Advisor in Computer Science regarding admissions requirements and a proposed minor program of studies prior to enrolling in courses or applying to the minor. The PhD minor Faculty Advisor is Associate Professor Alon Efrat. To begin the admission process, complete the form PhD Minor Application for Admission/Qualification (PDF, also available in the Computer Science Department Academic Office).
Decisions on admission to the minor are made by the departmental Graduate Admissions Committee. A student who has been admitted and who has completed any deficiency courses designated by the Admissions Committee is considered to have passed the minor Qualifying Examination in Computer Science, and the Qualifying Examination is waived.
Course Requirements
A Ph.D. minor consists of twelve units of CSc home-department courses. At least 9 units must be from courses among the Comprehensive Examination Core Topics in systems (CSc 452, 552, 553 and 576), theory (CSc 473, 520, 545 and 573) and applications (522, 525, 533, 560). The remaining 3 units are an unrestricted Computer Science elective. More advanced courses can be substituted for courses covering the Comprehensive Exam Core Topics, as long as the student is adequately prepared for examination in three of the core course areas tested in the Minor Written Comprehensive Exam. The Graduate College permits at most six units of 400-level courses to be part of the degree program in the minor. A grade of `A' or `B' must be earned in all minor courses.
Examinations
The minor department participates in the Qualifying, Comprehensive, and Final examinations.
The Qualifying Examination in Computer Science is automatically waived provided a student has been admitted to the minor and has removed any admission deficiencies.
The Comprehensive Examination has written and oral components in both the major and minor fields of study; it is taken when essentially all course work has been completed. The Minor Written Comprehensive Examination is given as a colloquium requirement (C SC695B) to be taken during the last semester of minor coursework or the semester immediately following completion of the minor coursework. The student must attend five research colloquia held in the Department of Computer Science to successfully pass this class. C SC695B must be completed prior to the Oral Comprehensive Exam being completed in the minor and major. Doctoral minor students are required to successfully answer questions based upon both core and elective courses in their minor program of study.
The Oral Comprehensive Examination must take place within two regular terms following completion of the written prelims in the major and minor. It is administered by the student's doctoral committee, consisting of faculty from both the student's major and minor.
When all degree requirements are met, and research ability has been demonstrated, the candidate stands a Final Oral Examination which includes a defense of the dissertation, as well as general questioning related to the candidate's field of study. Members of the student's committee from the minor department may attend the Final Oral or may waive attendance.