Ph.D. in Computer Science

• Overview
• Curriculum
• Comprehensive Exam

Comprehensive Examination

Students must take a comprehensive examination, which is composed of a written examination and an oral examination.

The written examination, which will be held at least once a year, covers the three core areas: Mathematical Foundations, Programming Languages, and Architecture and Systems. Success in the written examination is conditional upon obtaining passing grades in all areas and is a prerequisite for taking the oral examination. Typically, a student would be expected to take the comprehensive examination within two years after joining the program.

The objective of the oral examination is for the student to present an intended research program and demonstrate satisfactory knowledge and understanding of the scientific literature of the corresponding research domain. A candidate whose comprehensive exam performance is deemed as failing by the Computer Science Graduate Committee may, with the recommendation of the committee and the approval of the Graduate School, be permitted one re-examination, to be taken no sooner than four months and no later than one year after the initial examination.