Computer Science, (PhD)

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Foundational Concepts: Graduates demonstrate knowledge of advanced theoretical concepts and mathematical fundamentals essential for enabling a life-long career in Computer Science.

Research and Publication: Graduates demonstrate the ability to conduct independent, doctoral level research and have their results published.

Problem Solving Skills: Graduates demonstrate skills for analyzing problems that require software solutions and are able to formulate solutions.

Communication Skills: Graduates are able to communicate their technical solutions in both oral and written form.

PhD Degree

Admission Standards and Procedures

The Admission Regulations section of the catalog specifies the Graduate School admission standards and procedures that apply to all graduate applicants.

Beyond the Graduate School standards, the Computer Science minimum requirements for consideration are as follows.

GRE Scores: The following minimum scores are required. Applicants who hold a Computer Science degree from the University of Memphis may request to have the GRE requirement waived by sending an email request to csgrad@memphis.edu.
- 143 on Verbal Reasoning
- 153 on Quantitative Reasoning
- 3.0 on Analytical Writing

Undergraduate GPA: An undergraduate degree in an appropriate discipline with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) or equivalent preparation.
Prerequisites: Completion of at least six of the following seven prerequisite courses (or their equivalents) with a C+ grade or better. Students admitted with a missing prerequisite are required to complete the prerequisite course during their first semester in the program. Prerequisite courses cannot be counted toward graduate program requirements.
- Calculus 1
- Calculus 2
- Linear Algebra
- Computer Programming
- Data Structures
- Discrete Structures / Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science
- Computer Organization / Architecture
English Test Scores: A score of at least 87 on TOEFL, 6.5 on IELTS, 59 on PTE, or 110 on Duolingo is required for students from countries where English is not the primary language. Students with a lower score may still be admitted if their application is strong in other aspects.

In addition to the official transcripts and test scores mentioned above, applicants are also required to submit the following.

Personal Statement: A 500–1000 word document that discusses your computer science interests, your reasons for pursuing this degree, and your relevant prior educational and professional experiences.
Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation, ideally from prior teachers or supervisors who can attest to your capabilities as a student and to your computer science related expertise.

We consider a variety of factors in making admission decisions. Meeting the minimum department standards does not entitle an applicant to admission. Meeting such standards only ensures consideration of the application.

Program Requirements

In addition to the Graduate School’s minimum requirements for doctoral degrees, the following requirements must be satisfied for PhD degree in Computer Science.

Coursework Requirements

Graduate Credit Requirement: Students must complete at least 72 credit hours of graduate coursework in total.
Ph.D. Core Requirement: Students must complete the following Core Courses within the first 36 hours of credit, unless an extension is approved by the student’s advisor. Students must obtain a grade of B or better in each of the Core Courses. For each Core Course, the requirement to complete the course is waived if the student completed the University of Memphis undergraduate course specified below with a grade of A- or better.
- COMP 7012 - Fndtns/Software Engr (or A- or better in COMP 4081)
- COMP 7212 - Operating/Distrib Sys (or A- or better in COMP 4270)
- COMP 7612 - Foundations of Computing (or A- or better in COMP 4601)
- COMP 7712 - Algorithms/Prob Solv (or A- or better in COMP 4030)
- COMP 8950 - Research Methods for Computer Science
8000-Level Requirement: At least 12 credit hours must be completed in courses at the 8000 level, other than COMP 8901.
Dissertation Requirement: Students must complete at least 9 credit hours of Dissertation (COMP 9000). A student may register for dissertation hours only (1) after passing the qualifying examination and (2) with the permission of their major advisor.

Coursework Limitations

Coursework used to satisfy the degree requirements is also subject to the following restrictions:

Dissertation Credit Limit: At most 18 hours of Dissertation (COMP 9000) are allowed.
Independent Studies Credit Limit: At most 21 credit hours of Independent Studies (COMP 7901/COMP 8901) are allowed.
6000-Level Credit Limit: At most 6 credit hours of 6000-level courses are allowed.
Cognitive Science Seminar Restriction: Permission of the Graduate Coordinator is required for COMP 7514/COMP 8514 - Cognitive Science Seminar. The seminar topics covered vary from semester to semester, and only students for whom the topics are relevant to their dissertations shall receive permission.
Excluded Courses: None of the following courses are allowed: COMP 6001, COMP 6005, COMP 6014, COMP 6030, COMP 6040, COMP 6270, COMP 6601, COMP 7960/COMP 8960

Approved Master’s Degree

Holders of a master’s degree in computer science may, during the first semester in the program, petition the department to have their degree accepted as an Approved Master’s Degree. For an Approved Master’s Degree, the department designates up to 33 credits as Approved Master’s Degree Credits. The Graduate Credit Requirement for a student with an Approved Master’s Degree is reduced by the number of Approved Master’s Degree Credits. However, for students with an Approved Master’s Degree, coursework used to satisfy the degree requirements is also subject to the following restrictions: (1) only course credits at the 8000 level or above are allowed, and (2) at most 18 credit hours of Independent Studies (COMP 8901) are allowed.

Transfer Credits

Students who are requesting credit transfer from another graduate program must submit an application during the student’s first semester in the program. The application will be evaluated by the student’s advisor and the Graduate Coordinator to determine the number of credits that can be transferred towards completion of the degree requirements. The number of credit hours transferred is limited by the Graduate School.

Examinations

Qualifying Examination: Satisfactory completion of the Ph.D. Core Requirement is deemed as passing the qualifying examination.
Comprehensive Examination: Passing the dissertation proposal defense is deemed as passing the comprehensive examination.
Dissertation Defense: Given and evaluated by the student’s dissertation committee upon completion of the dissertation. Dissertations must follow the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide.

Retention Requirements

In addition to the retention standards of the Graduate School, students in the program must comply with the following program-specific retention requirements.

GPA Requirement: All students are required to maintain a graduate-level cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Should a student’s GPA fall below that mark, a period of one semester will be allowed to correct the deficiency.
Program Prerequisite Requirement: A student may be required to satisfy certain program prerequisite requirements specified at the time of admission. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the student must take the required prerequisite courses in their first semester in the program, and they must earn a C+ or better grade in each prerequisite course. Students who fail to satisfy a prerequisite on their first attempt (either because they failed to take it or because they did not earn the required grade) will be allowed one additional attempt that must be taken in the semester immediately following the semester of the first attempt.
Student Conduct Requirement: Students in the program are required to demonstrate exemplary conduct, honesty, and ethics. Students who are confirmed to have engaged in academic misconduct (including but not limited to plagiarism and other forms of cheating) may be terminated from the program. For more information on conduct standards, policies, and procedures, see the Office of Student Accountability.

A student may be terminated from the program if they fail to meet any of the above retention standards.