1. Graduate Programs in Computer Science@

2. 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...

3. 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 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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.
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 (3rd for MS, 4th and 5th for PhD).
The Graduate Program Manager will enter this information in to AIM and on your record.

7. 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

8. 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).

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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 ed 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.

12. 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!

13. 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.

14. 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!

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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 ☚

19. Resources Graduate Handbook (online cs.byu.edu)
Your (temporary) advisor
Graduate Program Manager (Jennifer Bonnett)
Forms:
Misc. questions (stop by 3361 TMCB or
Graduate Coordinator
Graduate Studies Office (
Grads list- Please keep your 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 11 AM in 1170 TMCB)
Fall and Winter semesters only

20. Summary (Target) TimelineMS
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

21. Questions?