Computer Science, Ph.D

Admission

Outstanding students with a Master’s degree in a field other than Computer Science will be counselled about the breadth and depth of the comprehensive examination before proceeding with the application. Each student’s background will be assessed and his/her program of study designed to ensure appropriate depth and breadth in Computer Science.

Students holding a Bachelor’s degree should enrol at the Master’s level. Excellent students may be transferred to the Ph.D. program prior to completing their Master’s thesis.

Requirements for the Ph.D. Degrees in Computer Science and Software Engineering

Students must successfully complete the following requirements:

1. Equivalent of 4 one-term (half course) graduate courses in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or relevant areas of Engineering or Mathematics. At most two courses can be from outside the department, all must be at the 700-level. More than two courses outside the department requires approval of the department. Students may be required to take more courses as judged by the supervisory committee.
2. Pass a two-part Comprehensive Examination. Part I tests breadth of knowledge and Part II is a defense of a thesis proposal.
3. Prepare and successfully defend a thesis.

Industrial Ph.D. Option

The general Regulations for the degree Doctor of Philosophy appear earlier in the Calendar. This program option offers the candidate the potential to conduct all or a portion of their research at their company or research institute of employment. To be enrolled under the option, the candidate must be a full-time student in the degree program, have previously completed a Masters of Applied Science or its equivalence, and be employed by a company or research institute outside of McMaster continuously till degree completion. A candidate is required to complete the normal course requirements of their enrolled department as well as any milestones, but is exempt from seminar requirements. As a doctoral candidate they must take the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination that is designed to test the breadth of knowledge and the ability to synthesize and integrate ideas from within and peripheral to the candidate’s research area. The Comprehensive Examination will normally take place between 6 and 18 months after the candidate initially registers in the Ph.D. program. A supervisory committee monitors the progress of a Ph.D. candidate and determines when he/she is ready to write the thesis. The student is required to defend the thesis at a Final Oral Examination.