Graduate Programs in Computer Science @

Introductions Name, PhD or MS, where you’re from, where you went to school for your BS and/or MS, your field of interest/research, something interesting about you...

Requirements MS PhD Thesis Option Project Option 24 credit hours of coursework Up to 4 courses may come from outside CS At least one from each breadth group Only one CS 697R All courses must be at the 400-level or above. No more than 3 400-level courses International – 9 credit hours/semester 6 credit hours of thesis work (CS 699R) Can be used at any time – you don’t need to complete all of the courses on your study list first. Thesis Proposal and Defense Project Option 30 credit hours of coursework 3 credit hours of project work (CS 698R) Typically in last semester. Project Write-up and Presentation MS PhD 66 credit hours of coursework 30 can come from MS 18 Dissertation hours (799R) 18 additional coursework hours Must take CS 611 Qualifying Process Teaching requirement Residency Research Area Exam and Dissertation Proposal Dissertation Defense

Coursework MS: complete breadth requirement within 1st year in program Maintain at least a 3.0 GPA for the duration of your graduate program Provisional graduate students must earn a B- or better in all provisional courses. All graduate students must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA for all courses taken which are on the student's graduate program of study. A student must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA on all courses taken at the time of graduation. No credit for grades below C- may apply towards a graduate degree. MS: complete breadth requirement within 1st year in program Grad students must complete 9 credit hours per academic year, excluding thesis hours. Once study list courses are completed, this no longer applies.** We expect most students to progress at a much faster rate. A graduate student may have a total of at most two repeated courses during their graduate program. **See Minimum Registration Requirement.

Minimum Registration Students must complete a minimum of 6 credit hours each academic year, or they will be dropped from their graduate program by the Office of Graduate Studies. If you are dropped, there is a way back. Talk to the Graduate Program Manager about the Application to Resume Graduate Study form. There is a $600 application fee to resume.

Choose an Advisor Select an advisor in a research area in which you are interested Speak with the faculty member about being your advisor and about a thesis or dissertation topic for research. Consult with your advisor to form a program of study Choose your program courses with your advisor and have your advisor sign the form. If you are ready to establish your thesis/dissertation committee, follow the instructions below. If it is premature to create a committee, you may continue with just your advisor’s approval. Once you have your courses and signatures on the form, take it to the Graduate Program Manager, who will get the Graduate Coordinator’s final approval for the study list and enter it into AIM and on your record. Students should submit a program of study (study list) in their first semester of study. However, it must be submitted no later than the second week of the second semester after admission. Consult with your advisor to form a thesis/dissertation committee Choose additional committee members and get their signatures on the form (1 for MS, 2 for PhD). Take the completed form to the Graduate Program Manager to enter into AIM and on your record. Email the Graduate Coordinator the names of your advisor and chosen committee members and request that he assign the remaining committee member(s). The Graduate Coordinator will assign the remaining member(s) of your committee and notify you (and them) via email (3rd for MS, 4th and 5th for PhD). The Graduate Program Manager will enter this information in to AIM and on your record.

Proposal (MS Thesis, PhD) After you have started actively researching Written proposal (10-15 pages) and presentation Detailed description in the handbook Describe your research area and answer 5 questions What problem do you want to solve? Who cares about this problem and why? What have others done to solve this problem and why is this inadequate? What is your proposed solution to this problem? How can you demonstrate that this is a good solution? Not formal for MS Project but similar in spirit

Defense/Project Presentation Your final challenge. You present your research or project to the committee, attending CS students, and public at large. Must be scheduled 3 weeks in advance. You must apply for graduation and be enrolled in two thesis credits before you can schedule your defense (check the deadlines).

Timely Completion of Proposal MS Thesis and PhD students must successfully pass their thesis proposal by the end of their fourth semester (Spring/Summer together are considered to be one semester). This applies to provisional students as well as regularly admitted students.

Duration of Degree Programs All MS students must complete their degree requirements (courses, thesis proposal, thesis, and thesis defense) within three years of starting the program. PhD students must complete their degree within five years of their start date.

Progress Reviews Three times per year (Sep, Jan, May) Students keep a record of their progress through our Graduate Profile System on the CS website. Instructions will be emailed prior to each review. To access this system, students must log-in on the CS website, go to their dashboard, and then select Edit My Grad Profile Satisfactory – Marginal – Unsatisfactory Students who fall below ‘Satisfactory’ for two consecutive reviews will automatically be dropped from studies at the university by Graduate Studies. Also, be aware that financial aid is withheld from students who become ‘Unsatisfactory’. As a reprieve, the department may issue a ‘Warning’ before giving a student ‘Marginal’ status.

Submission Timeline for Manuscripts Proposal Submission: Advisor – 1 to 2 weeks 2nd (and 3rd for PhD) Committee members – 1 to 2 weeks Other committee members – 1 week Possibly multiple iterations Thesis/Dissertation Defense or Project Presentation: Advisor – usually several iterations, plan on 2 to 3 weeks 2nd (and 3rd for PhD) members – 2 to 3 weeks Other committee members – 2 weeks prior to defense date **Please keep in mind that the faculty are generally busy. Make sure you don’t wait until the last minute, putting undue stress on your committee members, office staff, and yourself!

MS to PhD Program If you are an MS student and want to continue on to earn a PhD, DO NOT fill out the regular application. Get the Request to Change Graduate Degree Level form from the Grad Program Manager. Submit the completed form to the Graduate Program Manager. Write a letter of intent to the Graduate Admissions Committee and give that to the Grad Program Manager. Also, have your advisor submit a letter of recommendation to the Graduate Program Manager stating why you would be a good PhD candidate. This can be submitted at any time, however, it should be received by the admissions deadline for the semester you are applying to.

Qualifying Process Breadth of knowledge, ability to think CS 611 Research paper (with advisor) Present research material Qual within 18 months after admittance Start on research right away!

Teaching Requirement PhD students are required to teach one course during their time here. Consult with your advisor. Send a request to the Associate Chair letting him know which course you prefer, and when you would like to teach (assignments will be made based mostly on department needs). Requests usually need to be made about 18 months in advance.

Residency PhD students must be “resident” for the duration of their program. Taking a full course load Being active in a research lab On campus during “normal business hours” Two consecutive semesters of 6 credit hours each

Full-time status 8.5 credit hours or … International Students must be full-time Taking at least 9 credits per semester, or You have completed your coursework and are working on your research, taking a minimum of 2 research hours. U.S. Citizens Need to maintain full-time status if you have student loans. If below full-time, must fill out a petition to keep loans from going into the grace period. To petition you must: have turned in study list and have committee have completed course work be working on thesis/dissertation and be enrolled in 2 credits of 699R/799R

Tips & Helpful Hints ☛ This is your education – take responsibility ☚ Get an advisor and start on research right away. There is usually a form for everything. The Graduate Program Manager can direct you to the right form, but you can access most of the forms online. If you are employed on-campus, you must have 2 credit hours each semester; if you have 2 credits F/W (for a total of 4), you don’t need any for Sp/Sum to work, however, taking 2 credits during Sp/Sum will help you avoid FICA taxes. DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE to take care of your requirements! Make a plan. ☛ This is your education – take responsibility ☚

Resources Graduate Handbook (online cs.byu.edu) Your (temporary) advisor Graduate Program Manager (Jennifer Bonnett) Forms: http://www.byu.edu/gradstudies/forms/forms.php Misc. questions (stop by 3361 TMCB or email jen@cs.byu.edu.) Graduate Coordinator Graduate Studies Office (www.byu.edu/gradstudies) Grads email list- Please keep your e-mail current for this list. Let the Graduate Program Manager know if you want to change it. Other Graduate Students / Graduate Student Association Research Labs Weekly Colloquium (Thurs. @ 11 AM in 1170 TMCB) Fall and Winter semesters only

Summary (Target) Timeline MS First Semester – 2-3 courses, submit study list, choose advisor Second Semester – 2-3 courses Third Semester – propose thesis Fourth Semester – 2-3 courses, thesis work Fifth Semester – finish any course work, thesis work Sixth Semester – defend thesis Seventh Semester – as needed Eighth Semester – as needed Ninth Semester – as needed PhD Third Semester – propose thesis Fourth Semester – 2-3 courses, thesis work Fifth Semester – finish any course work, thesis work, qualifying exam Sixth Semester – teaching, defend thesis Seventh Semester – 2 courses Eighth Semester – 2 courses Ninth Semester – propose dissertation Tenth Semester – 2 courses Eleventh Semester – dissertation work Twelfth Semester – defend dissertation Thirteenth Semester – as needed Fourteenth Semester – as needed Fifteenth Semester – as needed

Questions?