PhD Requirements
Below is a brief overview of the doctor of philosophy degree requirements within the Department of Computer Science. For a full explanation of requirements, please visit the Graduate School’s Doctor of Philosophy requirements page.
Coursework
- A minimum of 60 credits of approved coursework and research (30 credits beyond a Master’s Degree) is required.
The Ph.D. student must complete an approved M.S. program in computer science, A Ph.D. credit requirement, and a graduate-level breadth requirement.
To complete the Ph.D. credit requirement a student must complete a total of 30 credits of course work and/or CS6990: Dissertation Research beyond the M.S. program requirement. These courses must be approved by the Advisory Committee on the Preliminary Program of Study form available from the Graduate School.
- You must earn a grade of B or better in all courses
Examination
- Pass the PhD qualifying exam
- The PhD qualifying exam consists of the PhD Technical Qualifying Evaluation (TQE) and the PhD Research Qualifying Evaluation (RQE)
- Pass the PhD Technical Qualifying Evaluation (TQE)
- Complete the graduate-level breadth requirement. If you are wishing to count non-Michigan Tech courses toward the requirement, complete the Breadth Requirement Form.
- Pass the TQE exam consisting of one exam in Computation Theory and one in Analysis of Algorithms. To pass, you need a pass grade in one subject and a pass or marginal grade in the other subject
- A student who receives an A in CS5311 is exempt from taking the exam in Computation Theory
- A student who receives an A in CS5321 is exempt from taking the exam in Analysis of Algorithms
- You are given two attempts to pass the exam in each subject
- A student with a BS or MS in CS or a closely related field must pass the TQE exam within 1.5 years from the start of enrollment of the CS PhD program. A student without a degree in a field closely related to CS will be given 2.5 years
- Pass the PhD Research Qualifying Exam (RQE)
- You must have an advisor before taking this exam
- Complete a research report
- Make a public oral presentation of your research results
- A student with a MS in CS or a closely related field must pass the RQE within 1.5 years from the start of enrollment of the CS PhD program. A student with a BS in CS or a closely related field must pass the RQE exam within 2 years from the start of enrollment of the CS PhD program. A student without a degree in a field closely related to CS will be given 3 years
- Submit the Report on Qualifying Exam
- Dissertation Research Proposal Defense:
- This is an oral presentation of the dissertation proposal and an oral examination on the proposed research by the advisory committee.
- The proposal defense must be passed within one year of passing the PhD qualifying exam
- Submit the Report on Research Proposal Exam
- Dissertation Defense:
- Make your public presentation and defense of the dissertation research.
- Submit the Verification of Final Degree Requirements
- Please consult the CS Graduate Handbook for additional information
Additional Requirements
- Official final transcripts showing proof of your previous degrees, if not from Michigan Tech.
- Fill out and complete a Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights form.
PhD Procedures
Please read this general overview of tasks you will need to complete by semester:
- First Semester
- Prepare for the PhD comprehensive exam including the Technical Qualifying Evaluation (TQE) and the Research Qualifying Exam (RQE).
- Submit final Official transcripts to the graduate school showing proof
of your previous degree (if not from Michigan Tech or unless done
previously). - Fill out Patent, Research and Proprietary Rights form.
- Register for second semester courses.
- Second Semester
- Choose an advisor.
- Prepare for the PhD comprehensive exam
- Take the Technical Qualifying Evaluation (TQE) between the second and the third semester if necessary
- Third Semester
- Complete RQE if entered the PhD program with a MS in Computer Science or a related field
- Complete TQE graduate-level breadth requirement (see the handbook (Section 2.3.1)
- Fourth Semester
- Complete RQE if entered the PhD program with a BS in Computer Science or a related field
- Fifth Semester
- Prepare for PhD dissertation proposal
-
Schedule Your Degree-Required Presentation.
Degree-required presentations include RQEs, dissertation proposals, and final oral reports (PhD defenses). Announcements should be built and sent at least two weeks prior to a presentation. Include an abstract of the presentation and the time, date, and location. First, contact the College Coordinator in 221 Rekhi Hall at 906-487-1597 or email tkcogswe@mtu.edu to reserve a room. Then, create a Zoom link and Google Calendar invitation. Send the invitation to: csgrad-presentations-l@mtu.edu. Creating and sharing detailed invitations is the responsibility of the graduate student, not College of Computing staff.
- Sixth Semester
- Complete RQE if you entered the PhD program with a BS or MS in an unrelated field.
-
Schedule Your Degree-Required Presentation.
Degree-required presentations include RQEs, dissertation proposals, and final oral reports (PhD defenses). Announcements should be built and sent at least two weeks prior to a presentation. Include an abstract of the presentation and the time, date, and location. First, contact the College Coordinator in 221 Rekhi Hall at 906-487-1597 or email tkcogswe@mtu.edu to reserve a room. Then, create a Zoom link and Google Calendar invitation. Send the invitation to: csgrad-presentations-l@mtu.edu. Creating and sharing detailed invitations is the responsibility of the graduate student, not College of Computing staff.
- Pass dissertation proposal defense
- Future Semesters
- Begin your dissertation/thesis/report
- This will be the most challenging document you have ever planned, organized, and written
- Follow the Graduate School guidelines
- Follow department and advisor guidelines (see handbook)
PhD Qualifying Exam
The Basics
- You must have an advisor before taking this exam.
- Approach it seriously, prepare rigorously, and pass it on the first attempt.
Sample PhD Qualifying Exams
- Sample of Past Ph.D. CS Qualifying Exams Spring
- Sample of Past Ph.D. CS Qualifying Exams Fall
Codification of Procedures
- The PhD Qualifying exam is composed of a Written exam, typically administered in the 4th week of the semester, followed by an Oral exam.
- A student may attempt the Qualifying exam twice.
- All students must attempt the Qualifying exam by their 3rd semester.
- Upon passing the Written exam, the Research exam can be scheduled and must be taken in the same semester of passing the Written.
- A failed Research exam does not require retaking of the Written portion.
- A failed Written exam must be retaken and passed upon the next offering of the exam.
- A failed Research exam must be retaken and passed by the end of the following semester.