Computer and Information Science: PhD

The computer and information science PhD program is structured to facilitate the process of learning how to do research. Students begin by taking the required courses to build a foundation of knowledge that is essential for advanced research.

Early in the program, the student gains research experience by undertaking a directed research project under the close supervision of a faculty member and the scrutiny of a faculty committee.

In the later stages of the program, students take fewer courses and spend most of their time exploring their dissertation area to learn how to identify and solve open problems.

The final steps are to propose an independent research project, do the research, and write and defend a dissertation.