Computer Science PHD (Thesis)

A Sample Plan represents one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with your academic advisor(s).

Computer Science PHD (Thesis)

Academic Career

0 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
72 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; up to 33 s.h. of graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. ^a 72 s.h. must be graduate level coursework; up to 33 s.h. of graduate transfer credits allowed upon approval. More information is included in the General Catalog and on department website. Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
Graduate College program GPA of at least 3.00 is required. ^b Graduate College program GPA of at least 3.00 is required. Graduate College program GPA is comprised of all courses that are approved degree requirements. If a student takes more than the minimum required number of semester hours to complete the degree, but all courses taken are eligible to count toward the degree, those courses will be included in the Graduate College program GPA.

First Year

20 s.h.

Fall

10 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
CS:4330 - Theory of Computation or CS:5340 - Limits of Computation	3 s.h.
CS:5350 - Design and Analysis of Algorithms	3 s.h.
CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series ^c CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series Students must enroll four times for 1 s.h. each semester and attend at least 80% of scheduled talks for a satisfactory grade.	1 s.h.
Breadth requirement course ^d Breadth requirement course Students must complete at least three courses (9 s.h.), with at least one course from each of the following areas: systems and software, networks and distributed systems, programming languages and compilers; see General Catalog and department website for list of approved courses.	3 s.h.

Spring

10 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
CS:5980 - Topics in Computer Science III (Responsible Conduct of Research) ^e CS:5980 - Topics in Computer Science III (Responsible Conduct of Research) Students must complete this course during first two years; typically offered in spring semesters. Note: this course does not count toward degree requirements.	1 s.h.
Breadth requirement course ^d Breadth requirement course Students must complete at least three courses (9 s.h.), with at least one course from each of the following areas: systems and software, networks and distributed systems, programming languages and compilers; see General Catalog and department website for list of approved courses.	3 s.h.
Breadth requirement course ^d Breadth requirement course Students must complete at least three courses (9 s.h.), with at least one course from each of the following areas: systems and software, networks and distributed systems, programming languages and compilers; see General Catalog and department website for list of approved courses.	3 s.h.
Practice requirement course ^f Practice requirement course Students must complete at least one course (3 s.h.) with significant practical or implementation-oriented content; see General Catalog and department website for list of approved courses.	3 s.h.

Second Year

20 s.h.

Any Semester

0 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
Exam: Doctoral Qualifying Exam ^g Exam: Doctoral Qualifying Exam Taken before the end of second year; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.

Fall

10 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series ^c CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series Students must enroll four times for 1 s.h. each semester and attend at least 80% of scheduled talks for a satisfactory grade.	1 s.h.
Cognate area course ^h Cognate area course In consultation with their advisor, students are required to select three courses, totaling 9 s.h. or more, that constitutes coherent coverage of an external cognate area; the courses need not be offered by the same department. Choices include, but are not limited to, mathematics, statistics, genetics, biology, and engineering disciplines.	3 s.h.
Cognate area course ^h Cognate area course In consultation with their advisor, students are required to select three courses, totaling 9 s.h. or more, that constitutes coherent coverage of an external cognate area; the courses need not be offered by the same department. Choices include, but are not limited to, mathematics, statistics, genetics, biology, and engineering disciplines.	3 s.h.
Cognate area course ^h Cognate area course In consultation with their advisor, students are required to select three courses, totaling 9 s.h. or more, that constitutes coherent coverage of an external cognate area; the courses need not be offered by the same department. Choices include, but are not limited to, mathematics, statistics, genetics, biology, and engineering disciplines.	3 s.h.

Spring

10 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series ^c CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series Students must enroll four times for 1 s.h. each semester and attend at least 80% of scheduled talks for a satisfactory grade.	1 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.

Third Year

20 s.h.

Any Semester

0 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
Exam: Doctoral Comprehensive Exam ^j Exam: Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Taken before the end of third year; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.

Fall

10 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series ^c CS:6000 - Research Seminar: Colloquium Series Students must enroll four times for 1 s.h. each semester and attend at least 80% of scheduled talks for a satisfactory grade.	1 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.

Spring

10 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	3 s.h.
Elective course ⁱ Elective course See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.	1 s.h.

Fourth Year

13 s.h.

Fall

7 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
Dissertation Proposal Defense ^k Dissertation Proposal Defense Usually takes place six months prior to doctoral final exam.
CS:7990 - Research for Dissertation	7 s.h.

Spring

6 s.h.

Course	Semester Hours
CS:7990 - Research for Dissertation	6 s.h.
Exam: Doctoral Final Exam ^l Exam: Doctoral Final Exam Oral dissertation defense.

Footnotes

Footnote Letter	Footnote Description
^a	Students must complete specific requirements in the University of Iowa Graduate College after program admission. Refer to the Graduate College website and the Manual of Rules and Regulations for more information.
^b	Graduate College program GPA is comprised of all courses that are approved degree requirements. If a student takes more than the minimum required number of semester hours to complete the degree, but all courses taken are eligible to count toward the degree, those courses will be included in the Graduate College program GPA.
^c	Students must enroll four times for 1 s.h. each semester and attend at least 80% of scheduled talks for a satisfactory grade.
^d	Students must complete at least three courses (9 s.h.), with at least one course from each of the following areas: systems and software, networks and distributed systems, programming languages and compilers; see General Catalog and department website for list of approved courses.
^e	Students must complete this course during first two years; typically offered in spring semesters. Note: this course does not count toward degree requirements.
^f	Students must complete at least one course (3 s.h.) with significant practical or implementation-oriented content; see General Catalog and department website for list of approved courses.
^g	Taken before the end of second year; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.
^h	In consultation with their advisor, students are required to select three courses, totaling 9 s.h. or more, that constitutes coherent coverage of an external cognate area; the courses need not be offered by the same department. Choices include, but are not limited to, mathematics, statistics, genetics, biology, and engineering disciplines.
ⁱ	See General Catalog and department website for specifics about elective coursework requirements; may be a combination of thesis hours, directed readings, or CS graduate or non-CS graduate coursework. Work with faculty advisor to determine appropriate graduate coursework and sequence.
^j	Taken before the end of third year; see General Catalog and department website for specifics.
^k	Usually takes place six months prior to doctoral final exam.
^l	Oral dissertation defense.

Note: select a footnote letter next to an item to view the footnote.