A&S—Computer Science
The Department of Computer Science offers the degrees of Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy through programs within the department as well as through joint programs with other departments.
Contact Information
- Department Chair: Rami Melhem
- Main Office: 6133 Sennott Square
- 412-624-8493
- Fax: 412-624-8854
- E-mail: grad_info@cs.pitt.edu
- www.cs.pitt.edu
Additional information concerning the department’s graduate program may be obtained from the University of Pittsburgh, Department of Computer Science, Graduate Secretary, 6117 Sennott Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. Phone: 412-624-8495. Fax: 412-624-8854. E-mail: grad_info@cs.pitt.edu.
Students holding any higher-education academic degree (BS, MS, or PhD) are invited to apply to either the MS or PhD programs. Students holding closely-related degrees may be admitted provisionally first, before joining the MS or PhD programs. A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required to be admitted to either program. International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit a Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
A number of financial aid opportunities are available on a competitive basis. Some of these positions are teaching assistantships or fellowships requiring approximately 20 hours of work per week in conjunction with the department’s curriculum. International applicants whose first language is not English are required to submit a TOEFL score of at least 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based). Other opportunities, occurring with varying frequency, include graduate research assistantships and special fellowships.
For the MS, students must complete 30 credits of course work and either an MS project or an MS thesis. Of the 30 credits, 9 must be in the following core courses: CS 1510 or 1511, CS 2210 or 2710, and CS 2410 or 2510. All formal courses must be taken for a letter grade. The student must receive a grade of C or better for each course, and maintain an overall average of B or better.
It is not the intention that students would be admitted to the program as terminal MS students. Instead, this degree is designed as a "milepost" in the program of study for a student pursuing a PhD. This degree requires 30 credits, including eight courses or project courses and 6 thesis credits.
- Four core courses required (12 credits minimum)—Each student must complete at least one course chosen from each of the following three areas, and one additional course from any one of these areas.
Computer Architecture
CS 2541 Computer Architecture
ECE 2162 Computer Architecture
Software Systems
CS 2210 Compiler Design
CS 2510 Computer Operating Systems
CS 2310 Software Engineering
ECE 2186 Software Engineering
Hardware Systems
ECE 2160 Embedded Systems
ECE 2192 Introduction to VLSI Design
ECE 2120 Hardware Design Methodologies
- Four courses (12 credits minimum) must be chosen from the list above, or from preapproved CS or ECE courses. One of these four courses may also be a research project course (2998).
- Master's Thesis (6 credits): Each student must write and defend a master's thesis. The thesis should be an in-depth investigation of a research topic in computer engineering. This requirement also includes the submission of a paper to a refereed conference or journal.
The total set of mathematics and computer science courses taken to satisfy the dual degree program must include a subset of the course requirements for an MA in mathematics and an MS in computer science, as specified by the Departments of Mathematics and Computer Science, respectively.
Credit Requirements: This degree requires at least 72 credits of formal course work, independent study, directed study, and dissertation research. Of the 72 credits required for the degree, 12 must come from core courses: CS 2210, 2710, 2410, 2510, 2110, and 2150. A student must complete four out of the six courses. A student interested in earning the PhD must be admitted directly into the PhD program.
PhD Preliminary Examinations: This set of examinations is designed to determine that a student in the PhD program has the breadth of knowledge to undertake independent research in computer science. Preliminary exams are offered early in the fall and spring terms. A student must pass three out of the six core-area exams.
Comprehensive Examination: This oral examination is designed to determine that a student has sufficient depth of knowledge in a specialized area of computer science to undertake dissertation research on a topic within that area.
A student must pass this exam within three calendar years of passing the last one of the preliminary exams. Normally, the comprehensive exam should be completed within one to two years of completing the preliminary exams.
Dissertation Proposal: After passing the PhD comprehensive examination, the student prepares a proposal for dissertation research, under the direction of a faculty advisor. A dissertation committee, which includes the advisor, is selected and the student presents the proposal to this committee. After obtaining approval of the dissertation proposal from the dissertation committee, and the approval of the assistant dean of graduate studies, a student gains the official status of a PhD candidate.
Dissertation Defense: Upon the completion of the dissertation and subject to agreement from the dissertation committee, the candidate schedules and announces a presentation, open to the University community, at which the research results are presented and defended.
Requirements for the PhD—Computer Engineering
This degree requires at least 72 credits. These credits must include the following categories:
- Four core courses required (12 credits minimum). Each student must complete at least one course chosen from each of the following three areas, and one additional course from any one of these areas.
Computer Architecture
CS 2541 Computer Architecture
ECE 2162 Computer Architecture
Software Systems
CS 2210 Compiler Design
CS 2510 Computer Operating Systems
CS 2310 Software Engineering
ECE2186 Software Engineering
Hardware Systems
ECE 2160 Embedded Systems
ECE 2192 Introduction to VLSI Design
ECE 2120 Hardware Design Methodologies
- Nine courses (27 credits minimum) must be chosen from the list of CoE graduate courses, or from pre-approved CS or EE courses not cross-listed as CoE courses.
- Seven courses (21 credits minimum) are elective and may be CS or ECE courses, courses from other disciplines, or research project courses (2998).
- The specific program of study should be approved in advance by the Student's Research Committee (described below).
- Dissertation (12–18 credits).
Examinations: Each student must pass the following examinations:
- Preliminary Examination: This is an oral examination conducted by the Student's Research Committee. The Master of Science Thesis Oral Examination will satisfy the Preliminary Examination requirements.
- Comprehensive Examination: On completion of the core course work, each student must pass a written examination covering the three core areas listed above. A student will not be allowed more than two attempts at each exam.
- Dissertation Proposal: Each student must present a plan for dissertation research to be approved by the Student's Research Committee. This is after the student has completed all other PhD requirements.
Dissertation Defense: Students must orally defend their dissertation research to be approved by the Student's Research Committee.
Composition and Role of the Student's Research Committee—Computer Engineering
The Student's Research Committee will consist of a primary advisor and at least three graduate faculty members from the computer engineering graduate faculty. One additional graduate faculty member from outside of the CS and EE areas will also serve on the committee. The Student's Research Committee has two responsibilities: the approval of the program of study and the oversight of the dissertation research.
The CS graduate degree has its basis on a solid research program. Faculty participate in several research centers, with many different research projects that cover several research areas, are funded by government and industry. The research interactions span other Departments and Schools at the University as well as research labs at other academic, governmental, and industrial locations.
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