General Overview of the Ph.D. Degree
The Ph.D. program is designed to provide students with advanced coursework and substantive research experience to prepare graduates to be the leaders in industry and academia. There is an emphasis on producing original work to present at conferences or published in peer-reviewed journals. Students who successfully complete the Ph.D. program go on to take leadership, entrepreneurial, and scholarly positions.
PhD students progress through four phases in their study. Initially, students are required to begin coursework while identifying a faculty mentor to serve as their research advisor. As students progress in coursework and research, they will be evaluated each semester on their progress towards their Qualifying Exam by the completion of a Portfolio (initially evaluated in the 3rd semester and completed by their 5th semester). Students are required to complete a minor either as a CS internal minor or in another degree program at the UA (see PhD Planning Sheet). As research progresses and coursework is completed, students next identify their committee and propose their dissertation work during their Comprehensive Exam, completed by their 7th semester. Finally, once students complete their research, they will defend their Dissertation.
Progress Through the Degree
Students should become familiar with the Graduate College Policies and CSC Graduate Program Policies and refer to them throughout the program. Submission of Ph.D. GradPath Forms are required throughout the program starting with the first semester.
Students are evaluated for satisfactory progress every fall and spring semester. Semesters are counted from when students enter the Ph.D. program. The table below indicates when evaluations take place, along with what benchmarks are used to determine satisfactory progress.
Semester | General Benchmarks | Action if Unsatisfactory |
|---|---|---|
3 | Third Semester Portfolio (Portfolio Check Sheet) GPA above 3.33 and passed at least one 900 | Warning and recommendations; if unsatisfactory after both semesters two and three, possible dismissal from Ph.D. program |
5 | Fifth Semester Portfolio (Portfolio Check Sheet) The Fifth Semester Portfolio is considered to be the Qualifying Exam. GPA above 3.33, passed at least three 900s, completed six required core courses with a 3.5 GPA (only A's and B's), earned at least one A in UA CSC core courses, has doctoral advisor | Recommended for dismissal from Ph.D. program after sixth semester |
7 | The written dissertation proposal and oral presentation on the dissertation proposal are considered to be the Comprehensive Exam. All major and minor coursework satisfactorily completed, including all 900s | May petition the Graduate Affairs Committee for second attempt; if not approved, will be recommended for dismissal at end of current term |
8 Through Completion | Progress towards dissertation | If not satisfactory by next review, recommended for dismissal from Ph.D. program at end of that semester |
The table below shows what the ideal progression through the Ph.D. program looks like. View the Ph.D. Curriculum for a more in-depth look at the required courses.
Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fall | Coursework Graded/ In-class
Ungraded | Major Major
900 | Major Major
900 |
Major* Minor* |
900*** |
920 |
Milestones | 3rd Semester Portfolio | 5th Semester Portfolio | Comp Exam | |||
Spring | Coursework Graded/ In-class
Ungraded | Major Major
900 | Major Minor
900 |
Minor* Minor** |
920 |
920 |
Milestones | Dissertation Defense | |||||
Note: The timeline can be shifted earlier; shifting later requires approval of faculty.
*Students may elect to replace one elective course in the major and up to two courses in the internal minor with independent studies (CSC 599/699).
**4th minor course only required if minor requires four courses.
***Students cannot register for 920 until they pass their comp exam.