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How to get a PhD

Course Requirements

You must complete 12 courses total. They are drawn from the following 4 categories:

1. Core

There are 5 core courses for the CS PhD:

  • 200

    Complexity

    202

    Algorithms

    221

    Operating Systems

    240A

    Architecture

    292

    Faculty Research Seminar

and 5 core courses for the CE PhD:

  • 200

    Complexity

    202

    Algorithms

    221

    Operating Systems

    240A

    Architecture

    241A

    VLSI Integration of Computing Circuitry

    292

    Faculty Research Seminar

When completing these courses, you must maintain a GPA 3.3 with no grade lower than B-.

2. Depth

You must pick a depth area and complete 3 courses from area's list:

  • Theory

    200, 201, 203 - 208

    PL

    210, 211, 218, 230, 231, 238, 270, 271, 275

    Systems

    222 - 228, 260 - 262, 268A

    DB

    133, 232, 232B, 233

    CE

    231, 240B - 248, 237A - 237D, ECE 260A - 260C, ECE 284

    AI

    250A - 251, 253 - 256, 258A, CogSci 200, CogSci 260

    Graphics / Vision

    252, 252A - 252C, 272

    Bio

    280A, 280B, 282, 283, Math 283

When completing these courses, you must maintain a GPA of 3.4 with no grade lower than B-.

3. Breadth

You must complete 3 courses from the lists above that are not listed in your depth area.

When completing these courses, you must maintain a GPA of 3.0 with no grade lower than B-.

4. Elective

You must complete 2 additional graduate courses with no grade lower than C-.

Strict Timeline

Please follow this timeline. If you get behind it's a big headache for everyone:

  1. By end of 3rd year: pass research exam
  2. By end of 4th year: pass qualifying exam (thus advance to candidacy)
  3. By end of 7th year: finish everything

Target Timeline

If you follow this timeline, you're doing great!:

  1. By end of 2nd year: finish all course requirements
  2. By end of 2nd year: pass research exam
  3. By end of 3rd year: pass qualifying exam

Requirements

  1. Find an advisor.
  2. Fulfill course requirements.
  3. TA full time for at least one class.
  4. Pass research exam.
  5. Pass qualifying exam.
  6. Write a thesis.
  7. Defend your thesis.

More Details

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