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

• See Official Requirements.