A Ph.D. in computer science builds on earlier education, experience, and understanding in the discipline. The degree takes around 4-5 years to complete and includes independent study and research in a specific field.
Coursework and research are combined in doctoral programs, culminating in a dissertation.
Electrical engineering, computer engineering, and computer science are all offered as master’s and doctoral degrees at EECS.
MS degrees typically take three semesters of full-time study or two to three years of part-time study to accomplish. A completely online master’s degree in computer science-oriented working professionals will be available in 2022.
For students who start with a BS degree, obtaining a Ph.D. requires four to five years of full-time study, and for students who begin with an MS degree, it takes roughly three years. In each of the three fields, the department also offers an MS-MBA curriculum.
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The University of Tennessee Ph.D. Program in Computer Science
Contact Jens Gregor, director of graduate studies, with any queries about the graduate programs and/or graduate school rules that apply to EECS. Alternatively, arrange a visit with the department.
Email eecs-gradinfo@utk.edu or contact Jinyuan “Stella” Sun, graduate admissions coordinator, with inquiries about graduate school admission.
It’s worth noting that GRE scores aren’t required for MS candidates at EECS. For Ph.D. candidates having a BS, MS, or Ph.D. from a US university, GRE scores are not required. GRE scores are required for international Ph.D. candidates.
Qualified individuals may pursue a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the Tickle College of Engineering. A Bachelor of Science or Master of Science degree in Computer Science or a related discipline is required for admission to the Ph.D. program.
Students in the Ph.D. program will be expected to show basic computer science competency by completing courses in key areas that meet the academic criteria outlined below.
Eligibility & Qualifications
Without initially getting a master’s degree, exceptional individuals with a bachelor’s degree may be accepted to the Ph.D. program.
Applicants must provide results from the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the previous three years, which must be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Non-native English speakers, including those with degrees from U.S. universities, must have a TOEFL score of 550 on the written test or 80 on the Internet-based Test.
The score must be less than two years old as of the entry date requested.
Applicants who have earned a degree from a recognized US university within the last two years are excluded from taking the TOEFL.
Applicants must have the same prerequisites as those for the master’s program in computer science.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade point average of 3.00 out of 4.00, both overall and in their final year.
Admission to the program requires two semesters of calculus, two semesters of collegiate mathematics (e.g., linear algebra, differential equations, probability), and a formal language and systems programming course.
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in an area other than computer science will be needed to complete a limited number of undergraduate courses based on their past knowledge and experience.
The student will be accepted on a non-degree basis until all requisite undergraduate courses have been completed satisfactorily with a 3.00 GPA.
A non-degree student cannot be an international student.
Non-Course Requirements
In consultation with their advisor, students may select one of the following concentrations. Concentrations reflect the research focus area and do not include specific course requirements:
- Computational Imaging
- Computer-Human Interaction
- Cybersecurity
- Cyberinfrastructure
- Data Analytics
- Data Mining
- Data Visualization
- Discrete Optimization
- High-Performance Computing
- Intelligent Systems and Machine Learning
- Life Science Applications
- Software Systems
Satisfactory performance on a comprehensive examination administered by the student’s committee.
The exam results are reported to the graduate committee for approval and the exam is filed in the department.
The comprehensive exam is given when the student is ready to apply for admission to candidacy.
The comprehensive examination consists of both written and oral parts.
The written part includes a complete review of the literature on the student’s dissertation topic and a review of the major tools to be used in the dissertation work and proposed research.
Additional written portions may be required by the student’s committee.
The student must show mastery of the dissertation topic, analytical and creative thinking abilities, knowledge of academic resources, and the capacity to finish the dissertation properly.
The oral portion of the comprehensive examination generally consists of a professional presentation and defense of a dissertation proposal.
In the oral portion, the committee may discuss other themes.
The student’s dissertation was successfully defended in public.
The comprehensive test and dissertation defense must be separated by at least 6 months.
Career Options for Post-Ph.D. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity
Graduates of the Computer Science program have been sought after by cutting-edge corporations such as Google and Apple, which seek to provide students with the skills they need for a variety of locations spanning from the private sector to academic posts at sophisticated research institutes and universities.
It helps students create skills and unique ideas for building and implementing software, as well as identify new methods to utilize computers, develop effective algorithms to solve computing issues and plan and manage organizational technology infrastructure.
The degree comprises course work, a single-authored scientific article, an oral candidacy test, and the submission and successful defense of a thesis, which takes around four years to complete for an MSc graduate.
It’s not unusual for people pursuing a Doctorate in Computer Science to have concerns about their future job options.
“Can I obtain the type of job I want in computer science after graduation?” is one of these concerns. “How do I go about finding a job?” “How much does a computer science Ph.D. pay?” “Does a computer science Ph.D. make sense?”
To help answer some of these questions, let’s look at five careers that require a Ph.D. in Computer Science.
- Computer Scientist
According to Northeastern University, a computer scientist’s annual compensation ranges from $81,000 to $154,000, with a median salary of $113,180. Their key tasks include the creation of computer-based tools for an organization.
Development might range from inventing algorithms to improving efficiency to constructing databases, depending on the firm where they work. As a result, knowing C++, Java, Python, SQL, XML, or other programming languages is essential for a computer scientist.
- Computer Systems Engineer
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical median salary in 2017 was between $88,270 per year and $44.20 per hour.
A computer systems engineer, also known as a computer systems analyst or system architect, analyses the operations and computer systems of a firm or organization. Then it’s up to them to use their design ideas to help the company run more successfully and efficiently.
- Professor of Computer Science
The average income for a computer science professor is $84,769, according to the crowd-sourced compensation website Payscale. However, it is dependent on the state in which the graduate wants to teach.
Professors of computer science concentrate on understanding the computing operations of computers as well as their design. Students in computer engineering, information technology, and other related professions collaborate with professors.
- Architect for Computer Networks
According to O*Net Online, a Computer Network Architect makes $50.31 hourly and $104,650 yearly. Maintenance of computer networks to improve user access and performance is one of their core job tasks.
They must also do research to learn more about processes or goods, as well as design computer network or communication system models or specifications.
- Development & Research
The average pay for people working in research and development is about $113,190, according to ComputerScience.org. This compensation continues to rise year after year.
This position is also known as a computer science researcher, and it effectively transforms a Ph.D. into the industry.
Computer researchers and developers are needed in almost every industry, including security, software development, academia, government, and more.
Whether you’re wondering if a computer science Ph.D. is worth it, check at the Ph.D. in computer science income for each of the occupations listed below. It’s clear that transferring a Ph.D. to the industry is a financially rewarding move.
The graduate must first perform a study on his or her hobbies and long-term goals before making a job choice.
As a result, landing a job in the computer science sector after graduation does not have to be a pipe dream. Graduates may attain their objectives and get the career in computer science that they want.
