The department offers a doctoral program in Computer Science and Informatics with one of two specializations. A specialization in Computer Science is designed for students in core computing disciplines such as database systems, networking, formal methods, knowledge engineering, programming languages, embedded systems or parallel processing. Alternatively, a specialization in Software and Information Technology is applied and multidisciplinary in nature as research communities seek collaboration among domain experts. Areas of research in this stream may include personal mobile distributed computing, multidisciplinary simulation analysis, computational biology, marketing informatics, digital media and animation, etc.
The Ph.D. program in Computer Science and Informatics is for students who plan careers in industrial or governmental research and development laboratories or problem-oriented agencies, as well as in the academic field. Alternatively, students can choose the school-wide Ph.D. program in Systems Engineering. Students can begin doctoral study on a part-time basis, availing of late afternoon or evening courses while working full time in local industry. However, later phases of study and research will require full-time devotion to the program. Students must also fulfill a residency requirement. For more information including the admission requirements, financial aid, and on-line application, please consult the graduate studies webpage.
| |
Admission and Degree Requirements: |
| |
|
•
|
MS in Computer Science (CS) or Information Technology (IT) or Software Engineering (SE) or Computer Engineering (CE). Applicants from other disciplines would be considered after successfully completing appropriate prerequisite courses. |
|
•
|
GPA of 3.3 or better |
|
•
|
All applicants must meet the University requirement for English language proficiency. Additionally, GRE scores are required of applicant having the qualifying degree from an institution outside North America. |
Students are required to complete a minimum of 56 hours of graduate coursework and a minimum of 24 credit hours of dissertation research. The total credit hours required to obtain a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science and Informatics is therefore 80. The structure of credits is as follows:
|
•
|
All students regardless of the chosen stream of specialization must complete two research foundation courses, CSE 791 and 792, of 2 credits each. (4 credit hours) |
|
•
|
All students regardless of the chosen stream of specialization must complete one of the following math courses: APM 533, 569, MTH 651, STA 521, 527, and 530 . (4 credit hours) |
|
•
|
Minimum of 56 credits of graduate course work as specified and approved by the student's doctoral advisory committee.
Courses taken as a part of Master’s degree may be used towards satisfying this requirement. At least 24 credit hours of graduate coursework, excluding the dissertation credits, must be completed at Oakland University. (56 credit hours) |
| |
• |
24 credits of dissertation research. (24 credit hours) |
| |
Qualifying Comprehensive Examinations |
The applicants must pass the Core qualifying examination in Computer Sciences and Informatics. In addition to passing the common Core examination, the applicants must pass any two Option qualifying examinations pertinent to their stream. An advisory committee must be established before an applicant is allowed to appear for the Option Examinations. The selection of the subject areas of the Option examinations requires the approval of the advisory committee.
The core examination must be completed within two calendar years of joining the program. The option and the oral examinations must be completed within three calendar years of joining the program. Students will be given two attempts for passing the Qualifying Examinations.
For further details, please visit the graduate studies webpage or contact the Ph.D. coordinator Professor Gautam Singh.
