The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering.
Students who are accepted into the graduate program are expected to meet requirements for a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science, and have minimum experience that includes the equivalent of the computer science minor. The department will consider applications from students lackin gthis background if they show exceptional promise. The GRE is required of all applicants and the TOEFL is required for international students. If admitted, students lacking sufficient background must complete prescribed prerequisite courses within the first year. More information about the graduate program is available on the department’s web page at http://www.cs.unr.edu
The Department of computer Science and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno offers an in-depth, cutting-edge curriculum for those graduate students seeking the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science and Engineering. Graduate students seeking the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science and Engineering are given the opportunity to focus on a specific area in computer science and engineering by taking advanced courses and becoming significantly involved in many aspects of original research, advancing scientific knowledge in their field of specialization. Students who wish to enter the Ph.D. program must possess a Master of Science degree (or equivalent) in either computer science or computer engineering. The department will consider applications from students lacking this background if they show exceptional promise.
Doctoral students are required to complete 72 credits of coursework beyond that of their bachelor’s degree. Of this coursework, the Graduate School requires that 700-level courses must account for 30 credits, while 24 credits will be earned through their dissertation work. If a student has completed a Master’s degree, then a total of 24 course credits can be transferred (with grades “B” or better) from the Masters degree to the Ph.D. degree. Out of these 24 credits, a maximum of 18 credits can be from 700-level courses. No more than two independent studies are allowed at the Ph.D. level.
To receive a Ph.D. in computer science and engineering, all students must show that they have taken at least one course, at the 400- level or above, in each of the areas listed below, earning at least a “B”. Students lacking sufficient background in these areas must complete prescribed prerequisite courses within the first year.
- Operating Systems
- Computer Architecture
- Computer Networks
- Artificial Intelligence
- Analysis of Algorithms
- Software Engineering
- Theory of Computing
All doctoral candidates must attend colloquia, participate in proposal writing and make presentations of their research. Doctoral students must complete the Master of Science in computer engineering, computer science, or electrical engineering or equivalent prior to advancement to candidacy.
Before candidates can receive their Ph.D. in computer science and engineering, the must pass the comprehensive exam by enrolling in CPE 795. The exam must be taken as soon as the student has completed 24 graduate credits of coursework in order to be admitted into candidacy. A student can take the exam up to two times. If he/she cannot pass the exam the second time, then the student will be dismissed from graduate studies. The exam has two requirements: written and oral.
Written Requirement:
- Thorough review of the literature for the student’s research area
- Research proposal (goals, methodology, research plan)
- Work in progress
Oral Requirement:
- Public colloquium covering the written exam
- Q&A by the student’s dissertation committee, covering the written exam
The student’s dissertation committee will decide whether the student passes/fails the written and oral portions of the comprehensive exam.
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