Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science

Curriculum

The graduate programs in computer science offer intensive preparation in design, programming, theory, and applications. Training is provided for both academically oriented students and students with professional goals in the many businesses, industrial, and governmental occupations requiring advanced knowledge of computing theory and technology.

Courses and research opportunities are offered in a variety of subfields of computer science, including operating systems, computer architecture, computer graphics, pattern recognition, automata theory, combinatorics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, database design, computer networks, programming languages, software systems, analysis of algorithms, computational complexity, parallel processing, VLSI, virtual reality, internet of things, embedded and real-time systems, computational geometry, computer vision, design automation, cybersecurity, information assurance, and data science.

The University maintains a large network of computer facilities including specialized computers for research within the program. In addition to computer science faculty, many other individuals at the university are involved in computer-related work in the physical and social sciences and in various areas of business and management. Computer science students with an interest in these important application areas may have opportunities to consult and work with talented faculty from a wide range of disciplines.

Career Options

Graduates of the program seek academic positions at universities, as well as positions as researchers, senior software engineers, data scientists. Graduates often become industry experts in fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or natural language processing.

Objectives

The Department of Computer Science offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science.

The doctoral program is tailored to the student. The student must arrange a course program with the guidance and approval of a faculty member chosen as his/her graduate advisor. Adjustments can be made as to the student's interests develop and a specific dissertation topic is chosen.

Application Requirements

A student may be admitted under one of two possible options. The student must have:

Admission Option One

• A master's degree in computer science or its equivalent, and
• A GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.5, and
• GRE revised scores of at least 315, 156, 159, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Admission Option Two

• A BS in a related area that includes two semesters of calculus and linear algebra with
• GPA of at least 3.5 in the last 60 semester credit hours, and
• GRE revised scores of at least 315, 156, 159, and 4 for the combined, verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing components, respectively, are advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.

Applicants are admitted on a competitive basis.

Application Deadlines

UT Dallas encourages applicants to submit their application and supporting documents as early as possible to be considered for admission to a graduate program. Applicants must submit their application and supporting documents by the deadlines below.

Degree Requirements

Core requirements:

The core requirements for the Ph.D. degree in Computer Science are the same as the ones listed on the Master of Science in Computer Science page or on the Master of Science in Software Engineering page.

Also required are:

• Pass a qualifying examination.
• Pass CS 6382 Theory of Computation with a grade of B or better
• Two CS or SE 7000 and above level courses
• Sufficient CS electives for a total of at least 75 semester credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. At least 9 semester credit hours of organized advanced Computer Science electives must be taken at UT Dallas. The student is encouraged to consult with an advisor in choosing electives.

Dissertation

A dissertation is required and must be approved by the graduate program. A student must arrange for a dissertation advisor willing to guide this dissertation. The student must have a dissertation supervising committee that consists of no less than four members of whom at least three must be from the Computer Science faculty. Students must enroll in a minimum of 3 dissertation semester credit hours in the degree plan. The dissertation may be in computer science exclusively or it may involve considerable work in an area of application.

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Mission

The University of Texas at Dallas provides the State of Texas and the nation with excellent, innovative education and research.

The University is committed to graduating well-rounded citizens whose education has prepared them for rewarding lives and productive careers in a constantly changing world; to continually improving educational and research programs in the arts and sciences, engineering, and management; and to assist the commercialization of intellectual capital generated by students, staff, and faculty.

Vision and Goals

At UT Dallas, our vision is to be one of the nation’s best public research universities and one of the great universities in the world. We are ideally positioned to accomplish this goal as a global leader in innovative, high-quality science, business, and engineering education and research.

As president, every decision I make is intended to further this vision and to support UT Dallas’ mission to produce graduates prepared for life, work, and leadership; to advance our educational and research programs; and to transform ideas into actions that benefit the citizens of Texas.

UT Dallas’s exponential growth has put us on a trajectory to achieve several key goals that will also help us to fulfil our greater vision.

We aspire to be:

• A first-rank public research university with focused centres of excellence that is prepared to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing, technology-driven global society.
• A global force in innovative, transdisciplinary research and education in emerging areas of technology, science, and learning.
• A groundbreaking leader both in framing and answering the questions faced by business, policymakers, and the public.
• A synergistic partner with local industry, government, and cultural organizations as well as local K-12 schools, colleges, and universities.
• One of the most creative, innovative universities in the nation and world.

UT Dallas can achieve these goals because we are a young, agile university located in one of the nation’s largest, most vibrant metropolitan areas. Our talented students and faculty have the benefit of many innovative programs, and they are surrounded by businesses that have a track record of collaboration with the University. We are also backed by the strength and reputation of The University of Texas System, and we enjoy collaboration opportunities with our nearby sister organizations, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and UT Arlington.

This combination of focus, youth, quality, location, and collaboration makes UT Dallas an ideal candidate to evolve from a small, young, very good university into a nationally pre-eminent, top-tier research university — an asset that the Dallas area urgently needs.

We must respond to new opportunities and challenges without limitations, explore new ways to engage our community, and further these goals, which will enrich life for us all.

“UT Dallas is different by design. The differences are our defining characteristics. We are the school where the ‘rock stars’ do things like make animated films, build robots and play chess. We’re the school where students regularly win at the national level in the debate, engineering design, and competition for business ideas. And UTD is the proud home to fine student-athletes, more than a few of whom have achieved Academic All-American status. For those reasons and many more, students are choosing UTD in ever-increasing numbers.”

Dr. Richard C. Benson, President of UT Dallas