The Department of Computer Science at the University of North Carolina, which is part of the College of Computing and Informatics, provides the Computer Science Track of the Ph.D. Program in Computing and Information Systems.
This course allows students to gain advanced skills in a variety of areas of computer science and other IT-related subjects.
Computer information technology (CIT) is the use and study of computers, networks, computer languages, and databases to address real-world issues inside an organization.
Students who major in this degree are prepared for careers in application programming, networking, systems administration, and web development.
The Ph. D. in Computer and Information Science is a full-time, research-based degree designed to meet society’s growing demand for scientists and engineers with advanced knowledge, technical skills, and abilities to conduct original and high-quality translational research in Computer and Information Science.
Students engage on a voyage of discovery with faculty advisers as they go through a program of study that is customized to their specific professional objectives.
Students interested in academic research and teaching will benefit from academics with a high research reputation and worldwide standing, as well as exposure to practical applications of their fields.
Others looking for work in industry, commerce, or government are given the chance to engage in high-quality applied research.
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Computing and Information Systems at the University of North Carolina
The original name of this program was “Ph.D. in Information Technology.” In July 2011, the new name went into effect.
Our Ph.D. program in Computing and Information Systems at the University of North Carolina is unique in that it prepares Ph.D. students to conduct cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research with social implications in computing and informatics.
It is the campus’s biggest and fastest-growing Ph.D. program. It has a strong international faculty and was placed in the top 10 in faculty production among the 375 top research institutions in the United States in 2017.
The National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DoD), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Army Research Office (ARO) all finance research. The Department of Education also contributes to the program’s finances.
There are five concentrations available in the Ph.D. in Computing and Information Systems (CIS) program at the University of North Carolina:
Business Information Systems and Operations Management (BINF) Bioinformatics (BINF) Bioinformatics (BINF) Bioinformatics (BINF) (BISOM)
Interdisciplinary Computer Science (CS) Software and Information Systems (SIS) (INT)
The curriculum is taught by a heterogeneous faculty and provides students with the opportunity to gain advanced skills in a variety of CIS-related subjects.
Its core is made up of faculty from the Computer Science, Software and Information Systems, Bioinformatics and Genomics, and Business Information Systems and Operations Management departments.
Students build flexible study packages customized to specific professional objectives in collaboration with academic advisers.
Students interested in academic research and teaching will benefit from a strong international research faculty as well as exposure to practical applications of their fields.
Others looking for work in industry, commerce, or government are given the chance to engage in high-quality
applied research.
Please contact cisphd-sistrack-group@uncc.edu for further information or if you have any concerns regarding theSIS track.
General Admission Requirements
The admissions process at the University of North Carolina is quite tough. Applicants with good credentials and suitable undergraduate and/or professional preparation are given priority. The following are the program’s specific entrance requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from a reputable university. Students must demonstrate adequate preparedness in their chosen area to guarantee successful graduate studies.
- A good record of academic achievement, as shown by a grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in courses linked to the Ph.D. area of study.
- Outstanding GRE or GMAT scores.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must score at least 83 on the Internet-based version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language, 220 on the computer-based version, or 557 on the paper-based version (TOEFL).
- They will also be expected to complete an English Proficiency Exam prior to the start of the first semester of study. If this test is not passed, students must complete ENGL 1100 (English as a Foreign Language) with a B or above.
- Write a one-page essay answering the following questions:
a. The motive of the applicant
b. Research topic(s) of interest
Three letters of recommendation from specialists in the applicant’s area of interest, addressing the applicant’s past experience and research potential.
Evidence of intellectual and creative work, including a list of publications; prizes; results in national or international competitions relating to computers and information systems, and similar proof may be required to support the application.
Individuals who are highly competent but do not satisfy all of the qualifications may be accepted with a clear commitment to making up the gaps.
Additional Requirements
Additional entrance criteria for the Software and Information Systems concentration and the Business Information Systems and Operations Management concentration are as follows:
- A thorough grasp of the analysis, design, and implementation of software/information systems
- Demonstration of college-level mathematical reasoning and data analytic abilities (e.g., statistics, differential, and integral calculus, discrete math, linear algebra)
Coursework and Curriculum
Incoming students must have a Master’s or a Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related field. Students should be able to demonstrate their understanding in at least four of the following areas:
- Algorithms and Data Structures
- Computational Theory
- Concepts in Programming Languages
- Computer Architecture • Operating Systems
- Engineering and Design of Software
Prior undergraduate or graduate work, as well as a passing score on the Computer Science Subject GRE test, may be used to meet course requirements.
The Computer Science program has a very tough admissions process. As a result, meeting the aforementioned prerequisites does not guarantee admission.
Exceptionally strong candidates from other fields will be considered and, at the discretion of the CS Ph.D. admissions committee of the University of North Carolina, may be permitted to make up for the shortfalls.
Prior research experience and strong reference letters (ideally from university professors or corporate lab researchers) will be taken into account when assessing an applicant’s research potential.
Publications, Bachelors, or Masters theses may all be used to show research experience. The final selection will be influenced by a strong fit with faculty research interests as well as faculty feedback to the admissions committee.
Potential candidates are invited to discuss their research interests with research professors.
The Alumni Gives Scholarship enables students to achieve their ambitions while also giving back to the technological community.
This need-based scholarship helps students overcome financial barriers while pursuing their educational aspirations, with a priority for students from underrepresented groups in the CCI student body.
Career Options for Ph.D. Graduates in Information Systems Management
Students pursuing a Ph.D. in information technology from the University of North Carolina may pick from a range of specialties to customize their degree to their own interests and objectives.
Those who intend to work as economists after graduation, for example, might investigate how the economy influences computer information technology in their dissertations.
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, demand for specialists in this industry will increase by 12% between 2018 and 2028.
The actual proportion varies depending on the work. Survey researchers, post-secondary instructors, and economists are all common information technology occupations that need a degree.
An undergraduate or master’s degree in information technology may assist students in obtaining entry-level and mid-level positions in this industry, while doctorate degrees offer up even more possibilities. Jobs requiring considerable research, for example, often demand a Ph.D. in IT.
