PSU CSE PhD degree requirements

PSU의 CSE department에 게시된 내용.

Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science and Engineering

PLEASE NOTE: Students applying for and gaining admittance to the Ph.D. program will not be permitted to switch to the master's program at a later date, except under extenuating circumstances.

1. Students who are entering the Ph.D. program with a Master of Science degree can count up to 30 credits to satisfy item 2) below.

2. Graduate Courses--students must accumulate a minimum of 48 credits of non-thesis graduate level courses, with at least 27 credits of courses with numbers CSE 500-589 or CSE 598, and 21 additional credits of 400 level and above courses. This must include 3 credits of CSE 590 [colloquium; only 3 credits of CSE 590 can be counted towards the 48 minimum credits]. A maximum of 3 credits of X96 also can be counted. At most, 3 credits of background course work can be used to satisfy the degree requirements.

Background courses--students must demonstrate knowledge in:
CSE 411 (Operating Systems),
CSE 431 (Introduction to Computer Architecture),
CSE 428 (Programming Languages),
CSE 465 (Data Structures and Algorithms), and
CSE 471 (Logical Design...) or CSE 468 (Theory of Automata).

Group A--Architecture and Communication Systems
CSE 513 (Distributed Systems)
CSE 514 (Computer Networks)
CSE 515 (Reliable Data Communications)
CSE 517 (Performance Evaluation)
CSE 530 (Fundamentals of Computer Architecture)
CSE 554 (Error Correcting Codes for Computers and Communication)

Group B--Systems
CSE 511 (Operating System Design)
CSE 520 (Science of Computer Programming)
CSE 521 (Compiler Construction)
CSE 522 (Semantics of Programming Languages)
CSE 541 (Database Systems I)
CSE 543 (Computer Security)

Group C--Theory
CSE 550 (Numerical Linear Algebra)
CSE 561 (Sequential and Parallel Complexity Theory)
CSE 565 (Algorithm Design and Analysis)
CSE 568 (Theory of Formal Languages and Automata)
CSE 588 (Complexity in Computer Algebra)

Group D--Application
CSE 557 (Concurrent Matrix Computation)
CSE 583 (Pattern Recognition)
CSE 585 (Digital Image Processing II)
CSE 586 (Topics in Computer Vision)

Group E--Hardware Systems Design
CSE 571 (Switching and Sequential Machine Theory)
CSE 572 (Microprocessors and Systems Design)
CSE 575 (Architecture of Arithmetic Processors)
CSE 577 (VLSI Systems Design)
CSE 578 (VLSI Computer-Aided Design Tools)

3. Ph.D. candidacy examination--candidacy examination consisting of:
a) CSE 591 Research Experience in Computer Science and Engineering [1 credit]--must be completed within the first two regular semesters after entering the Ph.D. program; can only be taken once, and
b) Written examination--must be completed during the first three regular semesters after entering the program; explicitly, both Exam A and Exam B must be attempted (with a strong effort demonstrated in each Exam each time it is attempted), no later than the second regular semester, and completed no later than the third regular semester after entering the program. If you choose to take the candidacy exams during your first semester in the program, you will have an additional opportunity (three chances) to past the candidacy by the end of the third semester in residence.

4. Comprehensive examination--student must pass the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, and the English competency and communication requirements.

5. Dissertation--students must complete and defend a Ph.D. thesis.

6. English Competency Assessment--all incoming Ph.D. students will have their English competencies assessed. Students whose native language is English will have their writing and presentational speaking competencies assessed. International students will have their writing, oral, and presentational speaking competencies assessed. These assessments will take place in each fall and spring or summer semester. Based on the results of these assessments, students with documented deficiencies will be required to pursue one or several opportunities that are identified for appropriate skill enhancement.ExceptionIn very rare situations, petitions will be considered for acceptance of certain CSE 597 course offerings (or a related course from another department) as meeting the requirements for master's and doctoral degrees. These petitions can only be submitted with prior approval of and strong support from your advisor; they will only be entertained under extenuating circumstances such as the late cancellation of a required course. Petitions should be submitted to the graduate officer, for consideration by the graduate committee.