Computer Science Major, PhD

Admission
The PhD is offered with a major in computer science. A student seeking admission to the PhD program is expected to meet the following requirements. The student should have three letters of recommendation sent directly to the department head from individuals capable of assessing the student’s potential for advanced work in computer science (for example, college faculty or employers for whom the student has worked after earning a bachelor’s degree). The department reserves the right to contact these individuals or other knowledgeable people if additional information is deemed necessary or desirable. Applicants are required to submit scores from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within the past three years and to have these scores sent to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions. A TOEFL score of 550 on the written exam, 213 on the computer exam, or 80 on the Internet-based Test is required for non-native speakers of English, including those who have earned degrees at U.S. institutions. The score must be no more than two years old from the requested date of entry. Applicants who have received a degree from an accredited U.S. institution within the past two years are exempt from the TOEFL requirement. Applicants should satisfy the same background requirements as for the computer science master’s program.

Requirements
Original research reported in a dissertation of high quality is emphasized. The minimum hour requirements are 24 hours of COSC 600  Doctoral Research and Dissertation and 24 hours of graduate courses beyond the equivalent of a master’s degree (i.e., beyond 30 graduate hours) graded A-F. COSC 530 , COSC 560  and COSC 580  or COSC 581  are required for the degree. At least 6 hours of 600-level graded courses must be taken in computer science at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The student’s advisor and committee will establish the specific course requirements. The comprehensive examination consists of a departmental written examination and a subsequent oral examination conducted by the student’s committee.