CSE PhD Program

Prof. Gagan Agrawal

Grad Studies Chair

Degree Programs

Masters non-thesis / coursework Masters thesis / research Ph.D

Admitted Groups

Masters non-thesis / unspecified Research Masters Direct Ph.D track

Type Conversions

Masters non-thesis students can switch to thesis option by finding an advisor for masters thesis

Masters students become Ph.D students if they take and pass Ph.D qualifying examination

Research masters students cannot switch to non-thesis option

– petition to grad studies in truly exceptional circumstances

Ph.D students cannot switch to masters program– petition to grad studies in truly exceptional circumstances

PhD Program

Three Stages – Qualification Process

Quals or Acceleration Optioin

– Post-quals – Pre-candidacy Research and Coursework

– Post-candidacy Dissertation Research

First Stage

Focus on breadth in core CS areas Demonstrate Suitability for PhD

– Master Core Topics – Show promise of doing research

Semester Rules for Core/Qualifying

Core Classes - 3 Semester Credits each– CSE 6321 - Theory– CSE 6331 - Algorithms – CSE 6341 - PL– CSE 6421 - Architecture– CSE 6431 – OS

For acceleration/quals, take – CSE 6331 (Algorithms)– CSE 6321 (Theory) OR CSE 6341 (PL) – CSE 6421 (Architecture) OR CSE 6431 (OS)

Acceleration: 3.6 in three courses (as above) within first 2 semesters Qualifiers: 2 hour exam in each area (6 hours total, over 1 ½ days)

More Details of Acceleration

If you take multiple tries in a course – We will count the first attempt only

Conditional pass only – Need to finish a research piece in second year!

Ph.D Qualifying

A max of two attempts are allowed Direct Ph.D track students are normally expected to take it after the first year Must pass within your second year to be eligible for support later

Timing for Comps/Quals

August (2012 onwards) – Just before Fall Classes start

March (2013 onwards) – During spring break (middle of spring semester)

2 days, 3 2-hour exams (August 2013 onwards)– Day 1 morning, Day 1 afternoon, Day 2 morning

Transition Plan for Quals

PhD quals/comps will follow old format for August 2012, March 2013 – 5 90 minute exams, take exam in 4 areas – Exams based only on material covered in quarter

courses

Transition to New Format in August 2013 – 3 2-hour exams, based on semester courses

Plan carefully if taking exam in March 2013

Types of Classes (Ph.D students)

Core Classes - 6xxx Primarily Undergrad Courses

– 5xxx, 2 credits – Meets with a 3 credit 3xxx courses– Mostly for making up deficiencies in background - could count for certain

minors Other 5000 and 6000 level letter graded courses

– 5xx9 replaces 788s, research-oriented but letter graded Research Credits

– 888s replaced by 6xx9 – Independent Study (793) is now 8193– 999s for MS students - 6998 and 6999 – 999s for PhD students - 8998 (Pre-candidacy) and 8999 (Post-Candidacy)

PhD Coursework (Semesters)

PhD Major will be 10 semester credits – Only letter graded courses– Can use a semester core class not used for

qualifying E.g. Semester Architecture, if Semester OS used for

qualifying

– Details for most areas are available online

PhD Coursework (Semesters)

PhD Minors will be 6 semester credits each– At most 1 S/U credit (e.g. 888 or 6xx9). – Can use a semester core class not used for

qualifying E.g. Semester Architecture, if Semester OS used for

qualifying

– Details for most areas available online

Stage 2 – Beyond Coursework

Candidacy Examination – Typically after 2.5 – 4 years in the program – Involves a thesis proposal and written and oral

examinations demonstrating knowledge of major area

– A clear research plan and substantial research progress required

– Most students have several publications at this stage

Stage 3 - ABD

Work on research, publications etc. Finish writing dissertation Oral Examination based on dissertation Submission of final approved dissertation

Research Progress Evaluation

Conducted every spring, for Ph.D students finishing two or more years in the program

Requires clear research plan and established relationship with an advisor

Expect research involvement and paper submissions after year 2, publications after year 3, …

A satisfactory rating is key for future funding

Normal Support Policies

Initial support for 2 years – Requires satisfactory GPA – Requires good performance on TA/RA duties – International students must pass the spoken English test to

be eligible for year 2 support

Third and Fourth Years – Must have passed the Ph.D qualifying examination – Satisfactory research progress, as judged by grad studies

committee – In most cases, as RA only

Normal Support Policies

Years 5 and 6 – Must have passed Ph.D candidacy examination – Satisfactory or better research progress– In most cases, as RA only

Limit on TA support – 4 academic year semesters over the length of your stay – Exception: 1 per advisor allowed as exception at anytime

All of the above entering the department guaranteed support

– If you are entering w/o support, case-by-case after passing quals

Some Other Tips

Focus on excellence, rather than meeting minimum requirements

Create good impression during any of your interactions – Graded classes, research credits, TAship duties

Show initiative, prove yourself to be reliable and capable

Transfer Credits

Only for graduate credits taken as a graduate student

Different rules for different requirements – 3 core classes for acceleration

Cannot count courses/grades taken elsewhere

– PhD Major and Minor Flexibly with major and minor advisors

Clarification/Questions

Documents Your academic advisor Your academic advisor Please do not e-mail me or ask to meet me

– 350 graduate students to be managed in 10% of my time !! – Already dealing with 3000 grad program related e-mails

annually– I can answer clarification questions if approached by

your advisor!