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COSCPHD - Computer Science

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Computer ScienceGraduate Degree SeekingPHD - Doctor of Philosophy
Completion requirement

64

Completion requirement

Complete six courses from the core curriculum - 18 units

Foundations of Systems – Must complete one course

  • CSC 525 Principles of Computer Networking, 3 units

  • CSC 552 Advanced Operating Systems, 3 units

  • CSC 553 Principles of Compilation, 3 units

  • CSC 576 Computer Architecture, 3 units

Foundations of Theory – Must complete one course

  • CSC 545 Design and Analysis of Algorithms, 3 units

  • CSC 573 Theory of Computation, 3 units

Applications of Computing

  • CSC 520 Principles of Programming Languages, 3 units

  • CSC 522 Parallel and Distributed Computing, 3 units

  • CSC 533 Computer Graphics, 3 units

  • CSC 535 Probabilistic Graphical Models, 3 units

  • CSC 536 Software Engineering, 3 units

  • CSC 537 Geometric Algorithms, 3 units

  • CSC 544 Advanced Data Visualization, 3 units

  • CSC 547 Green Computing, 3 units

  • CSC 550 Algorithms in Bioinformatics, 3 units

  • CSC 560 Database Systems Implementation, 3 units

  • CSC 566 Computer Security, 3 units

  • CSC 577 Introduction to Computer Vision, 3 units

  • CSC 580 Principles of Machine Learning, 3 units

  • CSC 583 Text Retrieval and Web Search, 3 units

  • CSC 585 Algorithms for Natural Language Processing, 3 units

  • CSC 588 Machine Learning Theory, 3 units

Minimum GPA in core coursework: 3.5 (only A's and B's)

Completion requirement

6 units of 5xx/6xx elective coursework selected from*:

  • CSC 520 Principles of Programming Languages, 3 units

  • CSC 522 Parallel and Distributed Computing, 3 units

  • CSC 525 Principles of Computer Networking, 3 units

  • CSC 533 Computer Graphics, 3 units

  • CSC 535 Probabilistic Graphical Models, 3 units

  • CSC 536 Software Engineering, 3 units

  • CSC 537 Geometric Algorithms, 3 units

  • CSC 544 Advanced Data Visualization, 3 units

  • CSC 545 Design and Analysis of Algorithms, 3 units

  • CSC 547 Green Computing, 3 units

  • CSC 550 Algorithms in Bioinformatics, 3 units

  • CSC 552 Advanced Operating Systems, 3 units

  • CSC 553 Principles of Compilation, 3 units

  • CSC 560 Database Systems Implementation, 3 units

  • CSC 566 Computer Security, 3 units

  • CSC 573 Theory of Computation, 3 units

  • CSC 576 Computer Architecture, 3 units

  • CSC 577 Introduction to Computer Vision, 3 units

  • CSC 580 Principles of Machine Learning, 3 units

  • CSC 583 Text Retrieval and Web Search, 3 units

  • CSC 585 Algorithms for Natural Language Processing, 3 units

  • CSC 588 Machine Learning Theory, 3 units

  • CSC 696A Advanced Topics in Programming Languages and Compilers, 3 units

  • CSC 696B Advanced Topics in Parallel, Distributed, and High-Performance Computing, 3 units

  • CSC 696C Advanced Topics in Computer Science, 3 units

  • CSC 696D Advanced Topics in Visualization and Graphics, 3 units

  • CSC 696E Advanced Topics in Algorithms, 3 units

  • CSC 696F Advanced Topics in Computer Systems, 3 units

  • CSC 696H Advanced Topics in Artificial Intelligence, 3 units

  • CSC 696I Advanced Topics in Security, 3 units

*Note: At most one elective course may be a CSC cross-listed course/non-department course from the approved electives list or an independent study (599/699) with prior approval. Internship credit will not count toward degree requirements.

12 units of CSC 900 Research (3 units max per semester)

CSC 695A Graduate Colloquium, 1 unit

18 units of CSC 920 Dissertation (9 units max per semester)

Completion requirement

Graduation Requirements

  • Meet all Graduate College Degree Requirements, including the submission of GradPath forms

  • A minimum of 12 units of regular grades taken at the University of Arizona are required to establish the Grade Point Average (GPA).

  • Earn A's and B's in the six required core courses, 3.5 cumulative GPA in the six required core courses

  • 3.33 cumulative GPA overall in all coursework

  • Courses with a C grade can only count as an elective. D or E grades do not count toward degree. While a grade of D or E does not earn units for a graduate student, they still count in the cumulative GPA.

  • For an internal minor, must have at least one course at the University of Arizona to establish a minor GPA; the minor GPA must be 3.0 or higher.

  • Complete and pass the 3rd Semester Portfolio5th Semester Portfolio (Qualifying Exam), and Comprehensive Exam

  • Complete 36 units of coursework in the area of the major subject (36 units includes required 12 units of 900) and 9 or more units in the minor subject. A Graduate College policy requires that at least 22 units (i.e. half the required coursework across the major and minor) must be in courses in which regular grades (A, B, C) have been earned.

  • Complete the 64 or more units required for the degree

  • Successfully defend the dissertation

  • Submission of Final Dissertation for Archiving

  • Verify current address via UAccess Student Center to receive diploma

Completion requirement

Ph.D. students must complete a minor. Students may select an internal minor in computer science or an external minor in another department. A minor program typically consists of 9 or more units of coursework. The minor department determines minor course work and the extent to which they participate in Ph.D. examinations. The minor and course work must be approved by the student’s advisor. Minor courses must be completed before Ph.D. students take the Comprehensive Exam.

Internal Minor

An internal minor consists of at least 9 units of coursework. Prior approval from a student's major advisor is required to select an internal minor and before beginning minor coursework. A student’s major advisor can also serve as the minor advisor, but must meet the Graduate College requirements for committees. A student cannot count a course as part of both their major and their minor. A student must have at least one course at the University of Arizona in the minor to establish a minor GPA; the minor GPA must be 3.0 or higher. D or E grades cannot be used in the minor.

The student works with their advisor to come up with a minor plan of study. At most two courses can be independent studies, and at least one course must be a graded/in-class CSC course or approved elective taught by a faculty member with a primary, shared, or joint (courtesy) tenure-track appointment in the Department of Computer Science.

Students completing an internal minor will need to discuss with their advisor how the minor will factor into the comprehensive exam.

Completion requirement