ms vs phd computer science

Sep. 6, 2022

The difference between an mcs, mscs and phd in computer science, while all teach computer science concepts, mcs, mscs & phd degrees have key differences. learn about cs programs & which degree can help advance your career..

Advancing your career in computer science—or a related field like software engineering, product management, cybersecurity, or IT—may require an advanced degree to help you reach your full potential in the field. In researching degree options, you’ll have to consider a few different types of graduate degrees: Should I pursue a master’s vs a PhD? Which will best meet my needs: a MCS vs MSCS degree?

Because the duration, cost, prerequisites and curriculum requirements for each degree program can vary, it is recommended that you research and choose the degree type that best aligns with your personal career goals and aspirations. Whether your goal is to advance your career within private industry (for example, a publicly-traded tech company), to advance within academia and research/R&D, or to pursue a combination of both, there is a degree that is right for you.

What is a Master of Computer Science (MCS) Program?

An MCS (or MSE, MCIT, and other topical variations) is a professional, non-thesis master’s degree program in computer science, software, and tech/IT that emphasizes hands-on, real-world experience and projects in a practical industry context for career advancement. These degree programs are designed to develop your practical skills in computer science, software engineering, data engineering, algorithms, big data, cybersecurity and more, preparing you to work in a variety of industries and companies. Because the primary focus of these programs is to help you advance or change careers in industry, a thesis or research component is not required.

For example, in Rice's online master's in computer science program, we tailor a curriculum to help students advance careers in big tech and high-growth digital jobs across industries, from healthcare to energy to professional services. Students are expected to both design and implement complex software systems, both individually and within a collaborative team setting. Students will also learn how to effectively communicate their ideas and solutions to clients and stakeholders, furthering their potential to land lucrative careers in a professional setting.

The required 30 hours of coursework for Rice’s Online Master of Computer Science program typically takes part-time working professionals about 2-3 years to complete (on-campus students often complete full-time in about 1 year).

Master of Computer Science Career Opportunities

From AI and robotics to computer architecture and networks, a Rice Online MCS degree offers ample opportunity for specialized skill development. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , MCS graduates have found career opportunities with top technology companies where they can earn a median salary of $126,830 per year. Master of computer science careers are lucrative and ever-growing and are projected to continue expanding at an above-average rate through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . That means an MCS degree can not only offer a career return on investment in a shorter timeframe but also paves a shorter pathway to your ultimate computer science career goals when compared to other advanced degree programs.

Master of Computer Science Program Requirements

To increase your chances of acceptance into a master's like the MCS@Rice degree program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree (preferably in a STEM/technical field), programming experience, and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. GPA exceptions may be granted with competitive GRE scores. Your degree isn’t necessarily required to be in computer science. MCS requirements include programming experience in conventional languages, statically typed languages, data structures and basic algorithms, along with basic discrete math and Boolean logic skills. MCS Admissions accepts and reviews applications on a rolling basis.

What is a Masters of Science in Computer Science?

An MSCS is a graduate research degree that requires a thesis or research component. It prepares students to progress in academic research (as a "gateway" to a PhD) or industry. It’s common for an MSCS to require an engaging course load, but also a body of independent research, a thesis, and the defense of that thesis to a panel of Faculty experts.

The course work covers many of the same core concepts that are taught in an MCS program--for example, advanced math and programming skills, along with problem-solving, data engineering with big data, and more. But in an MSCS program, graduate students will focus deeply on a particular topic or area of research in completing their research or thesis requirement. Conversely, an MCS program will culminate with a capstone course or a practical way to apply concepts learned to real-world, industry context. In this way, MCS students may be better equipped to build a well-rounded portfolio for job interviews.

Career Opportunities With a Master of Science in Computer Science

An MSCS degree balances the theory and practice of computer science to prepare students for either professional industry or academic research paths. An MSCS degree can prepare students for a range of career opportunities in areas such as research and development (R&D), innovation hubs or labs, teaching, and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, salaries for educator positions range from $80,000 to over $100,000 , and the median pay for computer and information research scientists is $131,490 .

Opportunities in both of these areas are growing faster than average. That means an MSCS degree can provide a higher career return on investment for research-oriented students who are primarily interested in academic pursuits and educating others in the industry.

In addition, the MSCS can be a valuable stepping stone to pursuing a PhD degree in a more advanced field.

MSCS Degree Requirements

Each MSCS program will have varying requirements for admission. The MSCS requirements for applications usually include a Bachelor of Science degree in a related STEM field. A computer science degree is often not required, but some programming knowledge and math skills are recommended.

While completing the MSCS degree, students are often expected to conduct an independent research program and demonstrate professional skills in both oral and written communication within the field of computer science. Additionally, it is typical for MSCS students to defend their academic thesis no later than 4 years after beginning the program.

What is a PhD in Computer Science?

A PhD in computer science is required for those who wish to become Professors of computer science in an academic or research setting. This degree program requires upwards of four to six years of study and includes an intense research period with a thesis combined with advanced coursework. It is an ideal choice for those who want to pursue advanced research in computer science, and even teach what they’ve studied to other students and colleagues in the industry.

Potential career paths for PhD graduates include:

• Computer Science Professor
• Computer Scientist
• Principal Investigator (PI)
• Lead, Research & Development (R&D)

Doctorate programs in computer science often include a rigorous course load, along with a thesis and final oral defense. Some PhD programs offer financial aid or partial scholarships, while some are fully funded.

Career Opportunities With a PhD in Computer Science

The primary objective of a Computer Science PhD program is to launch a doctoral candidate further into groundbreaking computer science research, publishing and teaching, usually in a university context. Often, PhD recipients work at universities, thinktanks, nonprofits or government, putting their considerable depth of expertise to work in developing innovative solutions and shaping policy. Research and development (R&D) functions or innovation labs in companies across industries employ computer science PhDs, as well.

Doctoral Requirements for a PhD in Computer Science

PhD students are expected to demonstrate an expert-level understanding of theory and core concepts across a variety of computer science sub-disciplines. Students should be able to problem solve by combining knowledge from different sources and specifically exhibit deep knowledge in their primary research areas. Students are also expected to conduct independent research where they will identify and pose a research problem within computer science, place that problem in context within the established research and literature of the field, and conduct an independent investigation that leads to credible scientific results--then defending those results. PhD students often serve as teaching assistants alongside lecturers or full professors of computer science.

Requiring a lengthy time commitment, PhD in computer science programs often require 90+ hours of required coursework and at least one 500-level research project. A bachelor's or master’s degree is a pre-requisite for acceptance into the PhD program. A background in computer science is preferred, but may not be mandatory.

Additional Computer Science Programs

Other advanced degrees in computer science are also available to strengthen your knowledge and advance your career. For example, there is a Master of Computer and Information Technology (MCIT), as well as other specializations in Computer Science such as cybersecurity and bioinformatics. Certificates in computer science and other specialty areas can be earned through platforms such as Coursera, including those offered through online Rice courses .

Choosing The Right Computer Science Degree

Despite their similarities, understanding the differences between master's and PhD programs—and between an MCS and an MSCS—can help you decide which program is best for your career goals and professional objectives. The table below lists many of those differences:

Differences Between Advanced Computer Science Degrees

Choosing an MCS program is about more than just the difference between master’s and PhD programs.

Begin Your Computer Science Career

Apply to an advanced Computer Science degree program today to set yourself up for a successful education that aligns with your computer science career goals. Our MCS@Rice program is nationally ranked with world-class faculty who can help you customize your degree and enhance your computer science skills.

Get More Information

Sign up to receive more information on how the MCS@Rice program can help you broaden your career options. Connect with an Enrollment Coach today.

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• Master’s vs PhD | A Complete Guide to the Differences

Master's vs PhD | A Complete Guide to the Differences

Published on November 27, 2020 by Lauren Thomas . Revised on June 1, 2023.

The two most common types of graduate degrees are master’s and doctoral degrees:

• A master’s is a 1–2 year degree that can prepare you for a multitude of careers.
• A PhD, or doctoral degree, takes 3–7 years to complete (depending on the country) and prepares you for a career in academic research.

A master’s is also the necessary first step to a PhD. In the US, the master’s is built into PhD programs, while in most other countries, a separate master’s degree is required before applying for PhDs.

Master’s are far more common than PhDs. In the US, 24 million people have master’s or professional degrees, whereas only 4.5 million have doctorates.

Table of contents

Master’s vs phd at a glance, which is right for you, length of time required, career prospects, costs and salaries, application process, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about master's and phd degrees.

The table below shows the key differences between the two.

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A PhD is right for you if:

• Your goal is to become a professor at a university or some other type of professional researcher.
• You love research and are passionate about discovering the answer to a particular question.
• You are willing to spend years pursuing your research even if you have to put up with a lot of dead ends and roadblocks.

A master’s degree is the better choice if any of the following apply:

• You want to continue studies in your field, but you’re not committed to a career as a professional researcher.
• You want to develop professional skills for a specific career.
• You are willing to pay a higher upfront cost if it means finishing with your degree (and thus being able to work) much faster.
• You want the option to study part-time while working.

The length of time required to complete a PhD or master’s degree varies. Unsurprisingly, PhDs take much longer, usually between 3–7 years. Master’s degrees are usually only 1–2 years.

Length of a master’s

Master’s degrees are usually 2 years, although 1-year master’s degrees also exist, mainly in the UK.

Most of the degree consists of classes and coursework, although many master’s programs include an intensive, semester-long master’s thesis or capstone project in which students bring together all they’ve learned to produce an original piece of work.

Length of a PhD

In the US, a PhD usually takes between 5 and 7 years to complete. The first 2 years are spent on coursework. Students, even those who choose to leave without finishing the program, usually receive a master’s degree at this point.

The next 3–5 years are spent preparing a dissertation —a lengthy piece of writing based on independent research, which aims to make a significant original contribution to one’s field.

Master’s degrees tend to prepare you for a career outside of academia, while PhDs are designed to lead to a career in research.

Careers for master’s graduates

There are two types of master’s degrees: terminal and research-intensive. The career prospects are different for each.

Terminal master’s degrees are intended to prepare students for careers outside of academia. Some degrees, known as professional degrees, specifically prepare students for particular professions; these include the Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Master of Fine Arts (MFA), and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees.

Other master’s degrees, usually Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Sciences (MS or MSc) degrees, do not necessarily lead to a specific career, but are intended to be a final degree. Examples include an MS in Communications or MS in Data Analytics.

In research-intensive master’s programs, students take coursework intended to prepare them for writing an original piece of research known as the master’s thesis . Such programs are usually intended to prepare for further study in a doctoral program.

Careers for PhD graduates

As research degrees, PhDs are usually intended to lead to an academic career. A PhD can be thought of like an apprenticeship, where students learn from professional researchers (academics) how to produce their own research.

Most students aspire to become a university professor upon the completion of their degree. However, careers in academia are highly competitive, and the skills learned in a doctoral program often lend themselves well to other types of careers.

Some graduates who find they prefer teaching to producing research go on to be teachers at liberal arts colleges or even secondary schools. Others work in research-intensive careers in the government, private sector, or at think tanks.

Below are a few examples of specific fields and non-academic careers that are common destinations of graduates of those fields.

• Computer Science
• Lab Sciences

Many government jobs, including economists at a country’s central bank, are research-intensive and require a PhD. Think tanks also hire economists to carry out independent research.

In the private sector, economic consulting and technology firms frequently hire PhDs to solve real-world problems that require complex mathematical modeling.

Graduate students from the humanities are sometimes hired by museums, who can make use of their research and writing skills to curate exhibits and run public outreach.

Humanities PhDs are often well-suited to research and grant-writing roles at nonprofits. Since so much of research is funded by grants, PhD students often gain a lot of experience applying for them, which is a useful skill in the nonprofit sector.

There are a wide range of non-academic research jobs for lab scientists with doctorates in subjects like chemistry, biology, ecology and physics.

Many PhD graduates are hired by pharmaceutical companies that need to perform research to create and test their products. Government agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), also hire lab scientists to work on research projects.

Job prospects after graduation vary widely based on the field. In fields like management, computer science, statistics, and economics, there’s little underemployment—even graduates from less well-known programs can easily find jobs that pay well and use the skills they’ve gained from the PhD.

However, in other fields, particularly in the humanities, many PhD graduates have difficulty in the job market. Unfortunately, there are far more PhD graduates than assistant professor roles, so many instead take on part-time and low-paid roles as adjunct instructors. Even non-academic careers can sometimes be difficult for PhDs to move into, as they may be seen as “overqualified”  or as lacking in relevant professional experience.

Because career options post-PhD vary so much, you should take the time to figure out what the career prospects are in your field. Doctoral programs often have detailed “placement” records online in which they list the career outcomes of their graduates immediately upon leaving the program. If you can’t find these records, contact the program and ask for them—placement information should play an important role in your choice of PhD program.

Although PhDs take far longer to complete, students often receive a living stipend in exchange for being a teaching or research assistant. Master’s degrees are shorter but less likely to be funded.

Both master’s degrees and PhDs lead to increased salaries upon graduation. While PhDs usually earn a bit more than those with a master’s degree, in some fields, the wages are identical, meaning that no financial benefit is gained from going on to a PhD.

Cost of a master’s

The upfront cost of a master’s degree is usually higher than a doctoral degree due to the lower amount of financial aid available. However, increased salaries also arrive faster than with a doctoral degree, because people graduate much earlier from a master’s program.

Some master’s students do receive stipends for their degrees, usually as compensation for being a teaching or research assistant. In addition, many people complete master’s degrees part time while working full-time, which allows them to fund their living costs as well as tuition.

The cost varies significantly by school and program. Public schools are usually cheaper than private ones. Some master’s degrees, such as MBAs, are notoriously expensive, but also result in much higher wages afterwards that make up for the high cost.

The master’s wage premium , or the extra amount that someone with a master’s degree makes than someone with just a high school diploma, is 23% on average. Many universities provide detailed statistics on the career and salary outcomes of their students. If they do not have this online, you should feel free to contact an administrator of the program and ask.

Cost of a PhD

PhDs, particularly outside the humanities, are usually (though not always) funded, meaning that tuition fees are fully waived and students receive a small living stipend. During the last 3–5 years of a PhD, after finishing their coursework (and sometimes before), students are usually expected to work as graduate instructors or research assistants in exchange for the stipend.

Sometimes students can apply for a fellowship (such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Program in the United States) that relieves them of any obligations to be a teaching or research assistant. Doctoral programs in the US tend to be better funded than in the rest of the world.

Sometimes, PhD degrees can be completed part-time, but this is rare. Students are usually expected to devote at least 40 hours a week to their research and work as teaching or research assistants.

The main cost of doctoral programs comes in the form of opportunity cost—all the years that students could be working a regular, full-time job, which usually pays much better than a graduate school stipend.

The average wage premium for PhDs is 26%, which is not much higher than the master’s degree premium.

In the US, the application process is similar for master’s and PhD programs. Both will generally ask for:

• At least one application essay, often called a personal statement or statement of purpose .
• Letters of recommendation .
• A resume or CV .
• Transcripts.
• Writing samples.

Applications for both types of programs also often require a standardized test. PhDs usually require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which tries to measure verbal reasoning, quantitative, critical thinking , and analytical writing skills. Many master’s programs require this test as well.

Applying for a master’s

Master’s degrees programs will often ask you to respond to specific essay prompts that may ask you to reflect upon not just your academic background, but also your personal character and future career ambitions.

Northwestern University’s Kellogg Business School requires Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) applicants write two essays, one about a recent time they demonstrated leadership and the second about their personal values.

Who you should ask for your letters of recommendation varies by program. If you are applying to a research-intensive master’s program, then you should choose former professors or research supervisors. For other programs, particularly business school, current work supervisors may be a better choice.

Some professional master’s programs require a specific test. For example, to apply to law school, you must take the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. For business school, you must take either the GRE or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT).

Applying for a PhD

When applying for a PhD, your resume should focus more on your research background—you should especially emphasize any publications you’ve authored or presentations that you’ve given.

Similarly, your statement of purpose should discuss research that you’ve participated in, whether as an assistant or the lead author. You should detail what exactly you did in projects you’ve contributed to, whether that’s conducting a literature review, coding regressions, or writing an entire article.

Your letters of recommendations should be from former professors or supervisors who can speak to your abilities and potential as a researcher. A good rule of thumb is to avoid asking for recommendations from anyone who does not themselves have a PhD.

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A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

This depends on the country. In the United States, you can generally go directly to a PhD  with only a bachelor’s degree, as a master’s program is included as part of the doctoral program.

Elsewhere, you generally need to graduate from a research-intensive master’s degree before continuing to the PhD.

This varies by country. In the United States, PhDs usually take between 5–7 years: 2 years of coursework followed by 3–5 years of independent research work to produce a dissertation.

In the rest of the world, students normally have a master’s degree before beginning the PhD, so they proceed directly to the research stage and complete a PhD in 3–5 years.

A master’s degree usually has a higher upfront cost, but it also allows you to start earning a higher salary more quickly. The exact cost depends on the country and the school: private universities usually cost more than public ones, and European degrees usually cost less than North American ones. There are limited possibilities for financial aid.

PhDs often waive tuition fees and offer a living stipend in exchange for a teaching or research assistantship. However, they take many years to complete, during which time you earn very little.

In the US, the graduate school application process is similar whether you’re applying for a master’s or a PhD . Both require letters of recommendation , a statement of purpose or personal statement , a resume or CV , and transcripts. Programs in the US and Canada usually also require a certain type of standardized test—often the GRE.

Outside the US, PhD programs usually also require applicants to write a research proposal , because students are expected to begin dissertation research in the first year of their PhD.

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M.S. Leading to Ph.D.

This policy applies  only  to students who enter the PhD program without a Masters degree recognized by Columbia. Every MS/PhD track student (registration status ETCOMS) must apply for MS graduation in order to receive the MS degree from Columbia University and be awarded advanced standing towards the PhD.

The faculty will approve the MS degree application following successful completion of six (6)  breadth requirement  courses completed in the Computer Science Department at Columbia, not including imports, including all four (4) distribution courses and two electives. The student must have also satisfactorily completed at least 30 graduate points as required by SEAS.

[Revised by full faculty vote, 11/6/13, to remove 4701 from the core.  Revised again by full faculty vote, 4/4/14, to abolish the core entirely and institute the distribution requirement.  Students enrolled in Spring 2014 or earlier may choose either four core courses or the four-course distribution requirement, plus two electives, to fulfill the MS/PhD requirements.  Students enrolled in Fall 2013 or earlier may treat 4701 as core for this purpose.]

Last updated on October 5, 2018.

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If you're considering graduate school in Computer Science

Considering graduate school in Computer Science? A good place to start is to talk with one of your CS Profs that you know well. In the meantime, here are some general thoughts on graduate school in computer science.

Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate School

Why (or why not) grad school, how long does it take, what will i do after getting a ms or phd, should i work for a while between dartmouth and grad school, how do i pick a list of programs to apply to, how do i pay for grad school.

• What's important to someone evaluating your application

Hints about applying to grad school

• Reflect. Do some soul-searching. Why do you want to go to grad school? Think about your education so far. What are your passions? What are your goals in life? What excites you? What lifestyles might you want?
• Avoid listening to what others tell you to do; think about what you want.
• An MS is basically a technical degree that gives you more interesting job opportunities. A PhD is basically a research degree, which opens up a host of advanced and research-oriented opportunities.
• Think less about how much money you can make but about quality of life. With a PhD in particular, you will often find there is more autonomy, freedom, vacations, travel, influence, creativity, authority, etc. In industry, MS and PhDs are often a ticket to eventual upper-level management.
• Think more broadly than the major or course offerings at Dartmouth. There are other things - computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, computer information science, and even some very unusual special things at some places.
• Talk to professors. Discuss your ideas and goals, and get some advice. Talk to some grad students here and elsewhere. Find out what it's like. Talk to recent alum friends about what they've done, why, and how they like it.
• A PhD can be the ticket to jobs in academia, industry, and government, usually in some research or advanced development capacity, or in teaching at the college and graduate level. Or both teaching and research.

What people will want to know about your PhD work is your research. What's it about? How good is it? How likely is it that you will be able to continue being productive in your area?

• Do you like inquiry, invention, creativity, exploration, reading, discussion, writing, thinking, teaching, discovering the unknown, etc? Do you like to work with others, or independently? (Both are big aspects of research.) Do you like to tackle unstructured problems, or would you rather work on a task assigned to you? Do you prefer thinking up new ideas and sketching out the basic fundamentals, or do you like to deal with finishing the details on a project?
• You can always move after getting a Master's degree. Or take a Master's and run--to industry, or to another school.

4-6 years is typical for a PhD. It can take longer, however. I know folks who took 8 or more years for their PhD. 1-2 years is typical for an MS.

• The PhD is basically a research degree. Note that scientific research today does not fit the "lonely scientist" or "lonely hacker" image, either at the graduate or professional level. Scientists--and computer scientists are scientists--do work with people. This is obviously true for teaching, but research is essentially a collaborative exercise. Meeting people and talking to people is a big part of research.
• An MS is essentially a technical degree, especially useful when you are graduating from here with a liberal-arts BA. It will open up a range of much more interesting jobs than you can get with a BA, with more responsibility, creativity, flexibility, and income, than the typical programmer-type job. At least, sooner.
• Opportunities include academia, industry (research and/or development), and government (research labs).
• Postdoctoral appointments are becoming more common. In this case, after your PhD you go elsewhere for 1-2 years to do more research under a different advisor, in a different place, on a different project. Then you would go on to one of the above situations.

This is a very personal issue.

Advantages to working:

• It gives you valuable perspective in grad school.
• Sometimes the company will pay for your schooling.
• Gives you time to consider whether you want grad school at all.
• You can save up some money.

Disadvantages of working:

• You get used to the big fat paycheck, and it's hard to take a 75% pay cut.
• You get out of practice of "going to school".
• If you didn't take GRE as a senior, you forget a lot.
• If you did take GRE as a senior, the scores "expire" after a few years.
• Sometimes you lose "currency" if your job doesn't allow you to learn as you work.

So, if you really know you want grad school, go for it. Otherwise, you might consider working for 2-3 years, and then going to grad school.

• Choose the best programs that you can get into.
• Add 1-2 "safe" schools, that you are pretty sure you'll get into, but you wouldn't hate to be at. Remember that it is possible you'll get into some of your preferred choices, but maybe not with financial support. So, choose good schools, but ones that are perhaps less competitive.
• Pay no attention to the academic reputation of the university. It is essentially irrelevant. What matters is the reputation of the department (program) where you will be applying.
• Read their papers. Are you interested in their research?
• Find Dartmouth alums who are now students there; talk to them or find Dartmouth profs who were grad students there and talk to them.
• Student/faculty ratio.
• Success rate.
• Size of program.
• What will you learn there?
• What is required of you there?
• Who is doing interesting work there?
• Departmental dynamics...is there collaboration? Departments like this tend to be more congenial.
• Placement of recent PhDs.
• Look through journals in your area of interest; find out who is doing work in that area and where they are from.
• Talk to Dartmouth professors who are in the same general field as the one you are interested in. Discuss the schools you are considering. Ask them for suggestions. Ask them about particular professors and programs. They have connections, too, which might get you more information.
• Visit the campus. Tour the facilities. Talk to grad students, especially those who work with someone you're considering as a potential adviser. Try to get a feel for the atmosphere, the morale. This is more important than you realize. Consider things such as office space, library support, computing facilities, special research labs or computers, etc. These are important when you try to do research. Try to talk to the relevant professors. Consider the locale, and the cost of living.
• Big, famous schools are not necessarily better. In a big place you might have trouble standing out. Consider being a big fish in a small pond. On the other hand, small places can sometimes be somewhat limiting in terms of resources and variety.
• Many terminal-Master's programs (those where you are not planning to get a PhD, just a Master's) require you to pay tuition and fees. Note that many big companies will pay all this for their employees, sometimes on a part-time basis and sometimes as a year off for school, while still paying you that same huge salary! It's an option. (Same for PhD, too, though a part-time PhD takes forever!)
• Teaching assistantship (TA): You have to help run labs, tutor, grade, or even teach. First-year students rarely actually teach.
• Research assistantship (RA): You help a particular professor with their research, usually supported by a grant.
• Fellowship: This is the best. Usually this gives you all the money but with no teaching or research opportunities. Some schools do this for many of their first-year students, with the expectation that you will become a TA or RA in later years. A really good deal gives this to you for 3 or 4 or 5 years.
• Definitely plan to apply for third-party fellowships. Many require you to be a US Citizen, but not all. If you can get one of these, they often pay more, usually don't require any teaching or other duties, and you can call up the schools and tell them you have your own funds...which they are definitely psyched about. It also looks great on your resume in the future.
• One thing to know is that your guaranteed student loans (GSLs) are deferred (interest-free) so you don't have to pay them while you're a full-time student. So when you graduate from grad school, and have a big fat paycheck, and inflation has reduced your loans to a fraction of their former value, then you pay them off.

What's important to someone evaluating your application

• For most letters, you have a choice of whether to waive your right to see the letter. You should always waive this right. Yes, it may bother you greatly to waive any right, but think about it this way. If you do not waive this right, then your letter writers will not be able to write about you in confidence. Your letter readers will know this, and the letters about you will be discounted. In essence, the one subjective source of information on you has become worthless. So make sure you waive your right to see your letters.
• If you can, include something that makes you special, like a paper you wrote or the description of a programming project or the like. These "appendices" are perfectly fine and will often really make a big difference. Do not send a printout of code. But you might consider pointing to a cool program you wrote, say on github, if you really have something to show for it. Most people won't bother to try it, but they might if you make it easy for them.
• Test scores and grades are somewhat important; bad scores and grades are enough to keep you out, but great scores and grades are not enough to get you in.
• The essay is moderately important; in particular, it had better not be bad. The best essays somehow set you apart. Write your essay carefully, and rewrite it again and again. Tell them what research areas you are interested in, and why. Make it clear that you have a passion for research and would gladly charge through a machine-gun nest for the privilege of doing research. Tune the essay for each place you apply; tell them why you want to go there. Get the essay read over by someone else; make sure it is written really well. Sell yourself! Tell them what makes you unique. If you have written a research paper, or a major computer project, send them the paper (or documentation, if reasonable), perhaps after cleaning it up by making it even better.
• Start early: senior fall, or even junior summer.
• Write to lots of departments and request informational brochures and application materials.
• Take the GREs in October, or at least in December, and have the scores forwarded directly to the schools where you are applying.
• Request transcripts and have them directly forwarded.
• Send in your application well before the deadline.
• Follow up on everything. If you're using snail-mail, be paranoid.  (Who uses snail-mail anymore?) For example, send your application materials return-receipt-requested, and include a self-addressed, prestamped postcard that says "XXX university has received my materials", so that you know when they have arrived. Call them if you do not receive this. Especially: followup on faculty letters of recommendation (be tactful of course), regardless of whether they are submitted electronically or physically.
• Ask for your letters of recommendation early, October if you can. Go ahead and ask even before you have all the forms they will need, or even before you know the complete list of places you will apply. They can start writing the letter and then mail it when you give them the materials. Ask for the letters in person if possible - talk with the prof for a little while. (Make sure they remember who you are! Obviously, you want someone who really knows you well.)

Computer Science MS/PhD

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) offers two graduate programs in Computer Science: the Master of Science (MS), and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Master of Science (MS)

The Master of Science (MS) emphasizes research preparation and experience and, for most students, is a chance to lay the groundwork for pursuing a PhD.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Berkeley PhD in EECS combines coursework and original research with some of the finest EECS faculty in the US, preparing for careers in academia or industry. Our alumni have gone on to hold amazing positions around the world.

Contact Info

[email protected]

253 Cory Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 11, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Masters / Professional, Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

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Earning a graduate degree in computer science can lead to positions in research institutions, government agencies, technology companies and colleges and universities. These are the top computer science schools. Each school's score reflects its average rating on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), based on a survey of academics at peer institutions. Read the methodology »

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Ph.D. in Computer Science

Ph.d. program requirements.

The PhD degree requires 72 graduate-level credits, including:

• no 5000-level CS courses
• these credits traditionally cannot be transferred in, you must actually take at least 6 credits of coursework at UVA to get a UVA PhD
• CS 8897 and CS 9897 (Graduate Teaching Instruction) cannot be used to satisfy this 24-credit requirement (but see below)
• at least 12 credits in any combination of CS 8897 and CS 9897 (Graduate Teaching Instruction), corresponding to two semesters as a full-time, 20 hour per week TA (see Chapter 3.2)
• Completion of the Qualifying Examination (see Chapter 5)
• Completion of the PhD Proposal (see Chapter 6.3)
• Completion of the Oral Defense of the written Dissertation (see Chapter 6.4)
• Finally, complete the “ Graduate Student Leave Request ” form (see Section 2.5) to leave the program.

These requirements have significant overlap with the MCS and MS degree requirements; many students choose to earn one of those Master’s degrees as part of their PhD studies.

Application Requirements

Computer science background requirements.

The Department of Computer Science does not require that applicants hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science. However, applicants are expected to have a strong background in Computer Science. A suitable background would include courses in the following core areas:

• Data Structures
• Discrete Mathematics
• Assembly Language and Computer Organization
• Programming in a procedural language such as C, C#, C++, or Java.

Applicants are also expected to have taken several (but not necessarily all) courses in specialized areas:

• Operating Systems
• Programming Languages
• Artificial Intelligence
• Computer Networks
• Automata and Formal Languages
• Software Engineering

A year of college-level Calculus is also required. In general, experience gained working is not considered equivalent to successful completion of the courses listed above.

Grade Point Average

There is no minimum GPA required for admission. However, most applicants who are offered admission to our program have a GPA of at least 3.3 (out of 4.0). The grades in Computer Science, mathematics and related courses are more important than the overall GPA.

GRE scores are optional. 

Letters of Reference

If possible, letters of references should be written by faculty at a university previously attended. Letters of reference from Computer Science faculty are preferred, but references from employers are welcome. References should pay particular attention to academic achievements and evidence of independent, creative problem solving.

TOEFL/IELTS Scores

• If you are a permanent resident of the U.S., TOEFL is not required
• If you received a 4-year degree at an English-speaking institution (whether or not the institution is in the U.S.), TOEFL/IELTS is not required.
• If you received a 4-year degree at a non -English-speaking institution and a Master's degree from an English-speaking institution, TOEFL/IELTS is required. 
• Note that if you have a solid command of written and spoken English, TOEFL/IELTS waivers are possible! Contact via email,  [email protected] , explaining why you believe TOEFL/IELTS can be waived (include evidence such as verification of duties as a Teaching Assistant that required significant interactions in English, copies of expired TOEFL/IELTS scores, presentations at conferences in English, etc.). 

It is unusual that we offer admission to an applicant with an overall TOEFL score below 90 / IELTS below 6.5. Scores can be sent electronically to UVa at institution code B875. Some students with lower scores may be required to complete the UVA Summer English for Academic Purposes Program prior to admission.

Application Evaluation

Applications are evaluated based on the following factors:

• Background in Computer Science (including project work)
• Grade Point Average (GPA)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Letters of reference
• Personal statement
• TOEFL/IELTS scores

Applications are evaluated in their entirety. A weakness in one factor might be mitigated by strength in another.

Financial Aid / Tuition 

Occasionally, the school of Engineering offers Master Fellowships. More information can be found on the Engineering Cost Aid webpage: https://engineering.virginia.edu/future-grads/graduate-admissions/cost-aid , and you can learn more about UVA Fellowships here: https://citizenscholars.virginia.edu/fellowships  

PhD students are usually admitted with a financial aid package in the form of a First-Year Research Assistantship that allows students to explore research with various faculty members and find their best match. It is expected that students will join a research group by the end of their first year and then be supported as a Research Assistant (RA). This financial aid package includes a competitive stipend, tuition, fees, and health insurance coverage. Details of this award are given at the time of your notification of acceptance into the Computer Science PhD program.  

You are encouraged to apply to outside sources for fellowships or you can apply for federal assistance by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid .

The UVA Tuition and Fees page includes the costs per academic year by school. 

CS Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do i apply.

Please visit this Web page to apply.

When is the application deadline?

See details in the section above (Admissions).

How much does it cost to apply? Can this fee be waived?

Visit this UVA Engineering FAQ page for details on the cost to apply, and learn if your fee can be waived.

Is the TOEFL/IELTS required?

International students must have an outstanding command of the English language in order to enroll at the University of Virginia. The TOEFL/IELTS exam is required of all applicants if the language first learned and spoken in the home is not English, and they are not permanent residents. However, TOEFL/IELTS is not required if the applicant has received a 4-year degree at an English-speaking institution (whether or not the institution is in the U.S.). (If the applicant has a 4-year degree from a non-English-speaking institution and a Master's degree from an English-speaking institution, TOEFL/IELTS is still required.) It is unusual that we offer admission to an applicant with an overall TOEFL score below 90 / IELTS below 6.5. 

I scored less than 22 on the Speaking section of TOEFL. Can I still apply?

We review all applications thoroughly, along a number of dimensions. It is unusual that we offer admission to an applicant with an overall TOEFL score below 90/ IELTS score of 6.5.

Where do I send my GRE and/or TOEFL/IELTS scores?

The Institution code for School of Engineering and Applied Science of the University of Virginia for the GRE is 5820. The code for TOEFL is  B875. There is not a specific code for the Department of Computer Science.

I'm taking TOEFL/IELTS or GRE after your deadline (Dec 15). If I apply will these scores make it into my application and be seen by the admissions committee?

We will start evaluating applications soon after the Dec 15 deadline. Applicants should submit the most complete application they can, based on the information they have at the time (e.g., current test scores, even if new test scores are anticipated).Those applications that are complete will be considered first. We will continue to evaluate applications into early next year, until we have completed our offers. As we are reviewing applications, we will certainly consider updated scores as the arrive at the University of Virginia. There is no need to email us to tell us that new scores are being sent.

Should I mail or should I upload my materials with my application?

We strongly discourage applicants from mailing in any items that can be uploaded to avoid delays in your application review, and we ask that you not send duplicate copies of previously uploaded documents. If you still need to mail documents to our office, please send them to: For US Postal: Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science Admissions P.O. Box 401103 Charlottesville, VA 22904 For UPS/FEDEX:      Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science Admissions      1001 Emmet Street North      Room 209B Carruthers Hall      Charlottesville, VA 22903

I’ve submitted my application and all supporting materials. Why does my application status still show as incomplete?

We will fully review your application with unofficial test scores and unofficial transcripts. Your application will only show as "complete" when your application has been submitted, your official scores and transcripts have been received and all three letters of recommendations have been received. An application is complete for review with unofficial transcripts and self-reported scores, though the checklist will still show incomplete. Please note that all official transcripts are received in our main admissions office and scanned or entered into our system manually. If you feel that your materials should have been received by now, but are NOT showing up when you login to your account, please note that the Graduate Admissions Office processes a very large number of applications and it may take longer than expected for your documents/information to appear online (in your account). It is very likely that your materials have been received, but have not been loaded into our application system yet.

If I email you my information (e.g., GPA, GRE scores, etc.) before I apply, can you tell me the chance of being accepted?

The graduate admissions committee considers many factors in an application, including more than just GPA and test scores. In particular, letters of reference and your personal statement are extremely important. Therefore, we are unfortunately unable to provide any information before the committee considers your full application.

I still have other questions. Is there anyone available to help me?

Yes! For program/degree specific questions, please send an email to [email protected]. For application support and specific questions regarding the application process, please contact: Central Graduate Admissions [email protected] 434-243-0209

The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only.  The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found here .

MS/PhD Requirements

Most Computer Science graduate students are admitted to the MS/PhD track. That means they are intending to work toward a PhD, but will acquire a masters degree along the way. During the first stage of a student's graduate career, he or she will be simultaneously working toward the MS degree and compiling a portfolio, both of which are requirements of the PhD. There are links below to the pages which list the program requirements for student admitted to the MS/PhD track.

The College expects that students starting work in the MS/PhD track have a solid undergraduate background in Computer Science. If you are unsure of your background, you should consult your advisor .

M.S/Ph.D. Students are required to:

• Actively participate in research under the guidance of an advisor
• Satisfy 6 Core Requirements  across the areas of Systems, AI and Theory
• Complete 30 course credits (6 core courses taken to satisfy core requirements are included)
• Complete a 6-credit MS Project  (Synthesis)
• Graduate with an M.S. Degree (before or after portfolio submission)
• Pass the College of Information and Computer Sciences Qualifying Exam- Portfolio
• Form a Committee
• Propose a Thesis
• Complete 18 Dissertation Credits & 1 600-level course & 1 elective course
• Pass the Teaching Assistant Requirement
• at least 9 credits, each semester, in back-to-back semesters which is usually satisfied with the dissertation credits
• Defend and Submit a Thesis

Sample schedule (MS/PhD)

The following schedule shows one way in which an MS/PhD student could progress through the program to complete both the MS and PhD in five years (most students who complete in five years actually complete in the summer after their 10th semester). Because people have different backgrounds and different skills, your progress will almost certainly vary somewhat from this. It can be a helpful guide nonetheless. Students supported by an RAship will be able to make progress more efficiently if their Masters and Synthesis projects as well as their dissertation are well aligned with the RAship.

Most MS/PhD students are supported by research or teaching assistantships .

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Graduate Degree Programs in Computer Science and Engineering

Computer science and engineering doctor of philosophy degree.

All students in the Ph.D. program are required to take Research Experience in Computer Science and Engineering and the course must be completed within the first two regular semesters after entering the Ph.D. program with a grade of B or higher, and to pass a written candidacy examination within the first three regular semesters, offered at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. The examination tests the student’s background preparation and problem-solving ability.

Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering

The Master of Science in Computer Science and Engineering programs requires the completion of 30 credits. Students interested in an M.S. in CSE should have already successfully completed Operating Systems Design and Construction, Introduction to Computer Architecture, Programming Language Concepts, Data Structures and Algorithms, and Logical Design of Digital Systems or Introduction to the Theory of Computation.

Please click here for a comprehensive list of all CSE graduate courses. Note that not all classes are available every semester.

One-year Master of Engineering in Computer Science and Engineering

The one-year intensive master’s degree program is meant to prepare students for work in industry. As such, there is no thesis required, although a final paper is required during the last semester of the program.

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The School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science was created in the spring of 2015 to allow greater access to courses offered by both departments for undergraduate and graduate students in exciting collaborative research fields.

We offer B.S. degrees in electrical engineering, computer science, computer engineering and data science and graduate degrees (master's degrees and Ph.D.'s) in electrical engineering and computer science and engineering. EECS focuses on the convergence of technologies and disciplines to meet today’s industrial demands.

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Computer science - ms, mcs, phd.

About This Degree

This department offers graduate students an extensive education in many areas in computer science. Its faculty members are engaged in research and cutting-edge advancements in computer science and they teach the graduate courses in the department giving graduate students individual attention. Students who graduate with advanced degrees in computer science have high job placement and, as computers are crucial to nearly every industry, continued growth in computer science careers is expected in the future. Additionally, the MS in computer science at USU is offered via distance education and available through evening classes allowing working professionals to obtain a master's degree.

There are six areas of research focus for graduate students and faculty within the department:

• Artificial Intelligence and Computer vision: Artificial intelligence deals with the development of systems (hardware and/or software) that in some way exhibit intelligent behavior. Computer vision studies how to make sense of and use images and video. Teaching and research at USU in this area focuses on robotics, image and video analysis, machine learning, and agents.
• Data Science: Data Science is an emerging field that seeks to visualize, analyze, and understand data, often big data. At USU researchers specialize in data quality, data visualization, data mining, and deep learning. USU offers an MS in Data Science as well.
• Security: Security is about all aspects of secure, private and reliable data, communications, and software. At USU teaching and research centers on making security and privacy more usable and cyber security.
• Algorithms: Algorithms are at the core of developing fast and efficient applications. USU researchers are at the cutting edge of algorithms in computational geometry, energy use, and bioinformatics.
• Software systems: This is a broad area of computer science that covers every aspect of software development, with the goal to create more sophisticated, reliable, and secure software. USU researchers specialize in distributed computing, software engineering, and databases.
• Computer education: Computer education covers ways to improve how we teach computer science and how to use computers in teaching. Researchers in this area at USU develop games, methodologies, and programs to improve education.

The Master of Computer Science (MCS) is a terminal degree with coursework requirements similar to the MS, but lacking the MS's requirement for original research.

At a Glance

College: College of Science

Department: Computer Science Department

USU Locations:

• Logan campus
• Statewide campuses

Program Requirements

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Career And Outcomes

Career opportunities.

Careers in computer science can be categorized into the following four areas:

Software development (software systems)

• Business applications
• Game development
• Web programming
• Scientific computing

Finding and creating new uses for computers (AI, parallel computing, or bioinformatics)

• Searching for cancer and other disease treatments
• Automating medical images such as mammograms
• Autonomous vehicles for use in agriculture and more

Solving computer problems (AI, parallel computing, or bioinformatics)

• Research in computer theory
• Creating more effective algorithms

Managing computer systems (software systems or parallel computing specializations)

• This can be done for a wide variety of industries and companies

Additionally, PhD graduates are qualified to pursue academia or research positions with government or private labs.

Job Outlook

Request for information and advising.

We will build on your goals and experiences while working together to design an individualized semester-by-semester plan. Your personalized plan will help you see a path from where you are now on to graduation. Even if you are unsure of the major you would like to pursue, we can help with resources and ideas.

I am not a current USU student

I have not applied or been admitted, even if I've taken a USU Concurrent Enrollment course

I am a current USU student

I have been admitted and plan to attend, or continue attending USU

USU Locations

LOGAN CAMPUS

STATEWIDE CAMPUSES *

*This degree is available at various USU locations.

• Brigham City
• Castle Dale
• Cortez (CO)
• Montezuma Creek
• Monument Valley
• Price (USU Eastern)
• Roosevelt (Uintah Basin)
• Vernal (Uintah Basin)

Admission Requirements

Students from any undergraduate background are welcome to apply; however, to be considered, applicants must have extensive experience in computing, programming experience in C++, and a course in data structures and algorithms, as well as a working grasp of calculus and statistics.

Application Requirements:

• Complete the online application
• Pay the $55 application fee
• Score at or above the 80th percentile on the quantitative section of the GRE
• Have a 3.0 or higher GPA on your last 60 semester or 90 quarter credits
• Provide transcripts of all college/university credits
• Provide three contacts for letters of recommendation

International students have additional admissions requirements .

• March 10 (international students and funding consideration)
• July 1 (all other students)
• Spring Semester: October 15
• No summer admission
• Fall Semester: August 1
• Summer Semester: March 1
• Fall Semester: February 1

PhD Qualifying Exams:

PhD students must successfully complete a three-part qualifying process:

• As the first step, students must write a publishable paper and present it to their committee. There is no set time for completion, but it is recommended that it be completed sometime within the student’s first year.
• Within one year of the paper production and presentation, students must pass an oral assessment of critical review skills. The committee will assign a series of scholarly articles the student must read and study, and the assessment will consist of a discussion of these articles.
• Candidates are required to pass a preliminary exam in which they present the topic for their dissertation. This must be completed before students are allowed to proceed with their dissertations.

Plan Options

Students can receive the MS by pursuing one of three options:

• In the Plan A option, students complete graduate-level coursework and must write a thesis.
• The Plan B option requires the production of a paper or creative work of art and is expected to reflect equivalent scholarship standards as a thesis.

Financial Aid

The department offers a limited number of assistantships , both teaching and research, each year. These are competitive assistantships awarded to highly qualified students.

A variety of funding opportunities are available on the graduate school website .

Take The Next Step

How to apply.

View our step-by-step guide on how to become an Aggie.

Request Information

Contact the School of Graduate Studies to ask questions or receive more information.

Cost and Funding

Calculate the cost of graduate school and learn about funding opportunities.

You May Also Be Interested In

Computer Engineering

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Data Science

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Electrical Engineering

Get a degree that guarantees you a high-paying job when you graduate. Study electrical engineering in one of the top 100 college departments in the U.S.

Engineering

Increase your technical depth as an engineer by earning an ME from a nationally recognized department.

Email forwarding for @cs.stanford.edu is changing. Updates and details here . Looking for your W-2 form?  Read Here . CS Commencement Ceremony June 16, 2024.  Learn More .

PhD | Advising Guide

Main navigation.

This page sets out the expectations for advising in the Stanford Computer Science PhD program, both for students and faculty. Advising can vary significantly from professor to professor, and many different styles can be effective, so this does not prescribe a particular approach. Instead, it discusses the various elements of advising and the issues for students and faculty to consider. Students can use this information to select the best advisor for their needs, and students and advisors can work together to design a relationship that works best for them.

Advising Purpose

Graduate school is a time of significant change for students. Before graduate school, students live in a highly structured course-oriented world where they mostly follow directions. By the time they receive their PhDs, students have transitioned to a very different world consisting of independent and self-driven research. There are no classes to guide students through this transition; this is the role of advising. Advising provides personalized teaching about how to choose research projects, how to carry them out, how to present the results, and how to behave in a proper professional fashion. Advising helps students develop academic and professional skills, and it prepares them to be competitive for future employment. Advisors also offer advice on many other topics, such as teaching, choosing a career, or general life issues.

Rotations: Aligning with an Advisor

Finding the right advisor is one of the most important tasks for incoming graduate students, and the first year of the PhD program is designed to give students and faculty the information they need in order to make good alignment decisions. Almost all students align with an advisor by the end of their first year. The alignment process is driven by students. Students should begin thinking about advisors as soon as they are admitted to the program. Ideally, an admitted PhD student will already have one or more potential advisors in mind before deciding to come to Stanford. Most incoming students use the rotation program to learn more about potential advisors. During each quarter of the first year, a student works with a particular professor; students select the faculty they would like to work with and approach those faculty to ask about rotation availability. Over the course of a rotation the student learns about the professor and his or her style of research; at the same time, the professor learns about the student. At the end of the quarter, both the student and the professor are in a better position to decide whether they can work together effectively.

Faculty are responsible for offering alignment to students; they can do this at any point during the year. Students can accept an alignment offer at any time, but they typically wait until the end of the third rotation to commit to a particular professor. The rotation process works best when both students and faculty are proactive and transparent. Students should plan rotations as far ahead as possible, in case faculty are constrained in their rotation slot availability. Students should also be proactive in making sure that faculty have alignment slots available 2 before rotating. Faculty should be transparent with students about how many CS students they expect to align with in the current year and how they will make alignment decisions. At the end of each rotation, faculty should give students clear feedback on the prospects for alignment. Faculty should make alignment offers as early as possible in the year; ideally, this will happen immediately after the end of the student’s rotation, in order to minimize uncertainty for students and allow them to plan their remaining rotations better. Students should not be required to decide on alignment offers until the end of the third rotation, in case they find another advising relationship that will work even better.

In addition to providing a vehicle for meeting potential advisors, rotations also provide a great mechanism for learning about research areas outside the student’s area of focus, and for meeting additional faculty and students. However, it’s important for students to have at least one firm alignment offer before considering “experimental” rotations.

Working Together

There are many different styles of advising that work well. This section discusses various aspects of the advising relationship and how they vary from professor to professor. During the rotation process, students should explore the style of each potential advisor and use that information, along with the advisor’s research interests, to identify the advisor with whom they will have the most productive relationship.

• Meetings . Regular face-to-face meetings are essential to a healthy and productive student-advisor relationship. The frequency and length of these meetings varies between advisors, but weekly meetings are common. The meetings are typically informal, with the student describing recent progress and issues, interleaved with comments from the professor and related discussions. Making time for student meetings is one of a professor’s most important responsibilities. One way to ensure that meetings occur is to reserve a regular meeting slot on the advisor’s calendar; it’s easy to cancel or abbreviate a meeting if there are not enough issues to fill the designated slot. In addition to individual meetings, many advisors also meet with their students in other settings, such as weekly group lunches.
• Engagement . The level of advisor involvement in student research varies dramatically among faculty. Some faculty are relatively “hands off” and prefer to engage at a high level, leaving the details to the student. Other advisors take a more “hands on” approach, learning about the student’s project at a greater level of detail and offering more detailed guidance. In some cases advisors work hand-in-hand with students, such as by reading student code or writing code alongside students. It is not unusual for advisors to be more engaged and prescriptive during a student’s early years but step back gradually over time, so that by the time a student graduates he or she is working more independently. A professor is more likely to engage deeply with a student if the professor has a strong personal interest in the student’s research. Sometimes a student’s research interests diverge from those of their advisor. If a student in such a situation wants to have a highly engaged advisor, then the student may need to either switch advisors (see below) or switch to a project that excites their current advisor.
• Control . Some advisors give their students complete control and view the advisor’s role as purely supportive: “you are free to do whatever you want; if you have questions or need help, I will try to assist.” At the other end of the spectrum are advisors who take the phrase “research assistant” literally; they assume that students will help carry out the research and offer input, but the advisor will make most of the important decisions. Most faculty lie between these two extremes, where each party in the relationship has certain obligations to the other. For example, faculty may need help from students to meet obligations associated with funding that supports the students.
• Individual vs. Group . Students can work either alone or as a member of a group. Being part of a group brings several benefits, such as having other students to talk with and being able to attack larger problems. Senior students in a group can help to mentor new students. On the other hand, groups often 3 impose responsibilities; for example, new students may be expected to serve as “apprentices” for senior students, and students may have to give up some flexibility in choosing projects in order to support the overall goal of the group.

Financial Support

The expectation within Computer Science is that faculty ensure financial support for their advisees as long as the students are making reasonable academic progress. Some students already have external support through fellowships; for those who do not, faculty typically provide RA-ships or a combination of RA-ships and assistance in finding suitable CA-ships. An advisor may require students to apply for fellowships. 

Progress & Feedback

One of the most important roles of an advisor is to assess the student’s progress and provide constructive feedback. An advisor should help each student to understand his or her strengths and weaknesses, and work with the student to capitalize on strengths and improve in areas of weakness. If faculty do not volunteer feedback, we encourage students to ask for a written review from their advisors. The advisor should take time to think about the student’s strengths and weaknesses and then write a few paragraphs describing them; the advisor should provide the student with the review, give the student an opportunity to read it, and then meet with the student to go over the review, answer questions, and discuss ways to make improvements.

Co-Advisors

It is not unusual for students to have multiple advisors. When this happens, it is usually driven by the student’s interests. There are many ways to manage co-advising relationships; the parties involved should decide on the parameters for the relationship by answering questions such as the following:

• How do the advisors share advising responsibilities? Is one advisor the “primary” advisor and the other a “secondary” advisor, or are they co-equals?
• Does the student meet separately with each of the co-advisors, or together with both?
• Who will support the student?

Changing Advisors

Sometimes it turns out that a student’s initial advisor is not the best choice. This typically happens because of a divergence in research interests or a conflict in style. Students should feel free to change advisors when situations like this occur: it is better to switch to the right advisor than to keep working with the wrong one. There is no stigma associated with changing advisors. It is up to the student to drive the process of switching advisors by approaching other faculty.

Resolving Problems

Like all relationships, student-advisor relationships are imperfect; there is rarely an exact alignment between the needs and interests of the professor and those of the student. When conflicts arise, the best way to resolve them is for the student and advisor to discuss the conflict and work together to find a mutually agreeable solution; as in other kinds of relationships, listening and compromise on both sides are keys to success. If a student cannot reach a suitable solution to a problem, or if a student is uncomfortable discussing a problem with their advisor, there are several people in the department who would be happy to meet with the student and help to find a solution. Some good people to talk with are the PhD Program Chair, the Department Chair, and Director of Graduate Admissions and PhD Program. 

Faculty Departures; Start-Ups

If a faculty member leaves the department, they are expected to help mitigate the impact on their students. For students close to graduation, it is common for a departing advisor to continue supporting and advising the student through graduation. For students earlier in the program, it may make more sense for the student to find a new advisor. If a faculty member starts a company and asks some of their advisees to join them, there is a potential conflict of interest between the professor’s responsibilities as advisor and as startup founder. Students should not feel obligated to join their advisor’s company. If a student does decide to get involved with the startup, they must discuss this arrangement with the PhD Program Director to ensure that there is a proper separation between the student’s participation in the company and their academic work. Faculty are typically required to submit a Conflict of Interest Management Plan; they should make these plans available to students so everyone knows where the boundaries are.

Students without an Advisor

Occasionally a PhD student beyond the first year will find themselves without an advisor, either because they did not align after rotations or because an existing advising relationship has ended. As soon as a student realizes that they will be without an advisor, they should notify the PhD Program Director, who will work with them to devise a plan for finding an advisor as quickly as possible.

Masters Vs Bachelors In Computer Science: Which Degree Is Right For You?

In today’s technology-driven world, computer science skills are in high demand across many industries. Both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science can provide knowledge and training to prepare you for a fulfilling career. But is one degree better than the other?

Let’s compare the pros and cons of each to help you decide which level of education is the best fit for your goals and interests.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: A bachelor’s degree in computer science provides foundational CS knowledge and skills, while a master’s degree allows for specialization and advanced technical and research skills .

The right choice depends on your career goals, existing experience, and financial considerations.

An Overview of Bachelor’s Degrees in Computer Science

Obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science is a great starting point for those interested in pursuing a career in the field of technology. This undergraduate degree provides students with a solid foundation in computer programming, software development, data structures, algorithms, and other essential concepts.

It typically takes around four years to complete a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, although this can vary depending on the program and individual circumstances.

Typical Courses and Concepts Covered

During their studies, students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science can expect to take a variety of courses that cover both theoretical and practical aspects of the field. Some common courses include:

• Introduction to Computer Science
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Computer Architecture
• Operating Systems
• Database Systems
• Software Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence

These courses provide students with a strong understanding of fundamental computer science principles and prepare them for more specialized areas of study.

Common Career Paths

A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science opens up a wide range of career opportunities in various industries. Graduates often find employment as software developers, web developers, computer systems analysts, database administrators, or network administrators.

They may work for technology companies, government agencies, financial institutions, or even start their own tech companies.

Salary and Job Outlook

The job outlook for computer science professionals is extremely positive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This rapid growth is driven by the increasing reliance on technology in various industries. In terms of salary, computer science professionals earn competitive wages. The median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $91,250 in May 2020.

Duration and Cost

The duration and cost of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science can vary depending on the institution and program. On average, it takes four years of full-time study to complete a Bachelor’s degree. However, some accelerated programs or online options may offer a shorter timeline.

As for cost, tuition fees for a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science can range from a few thousand dollars per year for in-state public universities to tens of thousands of dollars per year for private institutions.

It is important to consider both the duration and cost when deciding on pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

An Overview of Master’s Degrees in Computer Science

Master’s degrees in Computer Science are advanced degrees that provide students with a deeper understanding of various aspects of computer science and prepare them for more specialized roles in the field.

These degrees are typically pursued by individuals who already have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and want to further enhance their knowledge and skills.

In a master’s program in computer science, students can expect to delve into more advanced topics and concepts compared to undergraduate studies. Typical courses may include:

• Advanced algorithms and data structures
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Database systems and data management
• Computer networks and security
• Software engineering and development methodologies

These courses provide a solid foundation in both theoretical and practical aspects of computer science, allowing students to gain expertise in specialized areas of their interest.

Obtaining a master’s degree in computer science opens up a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates can pursue roles such as:

• Software engineer
• Data scientist
• Computer systems analyst
• Artificial intelligence specialist
• Cybersecurity analyst

These positions often require a higher level of expertise and offer greater responsibility and potential for advancement compared to entry-level roles.

Earning a master’s degree in computer science can significantly impact earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for computer and information technology occupations was $91,250 in May 2020, higher than the median wage for all occupations in the U.S.

Furthermore, the job outlook for computer science professionals is promising. The demand for these professionals is expected to grow by 11% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

This growth is driven by the increasing reliance on technology across industries and the need for skilled individuals to develop and maintain complex computer systems.

The duration and cost of a master’s degree in computer science can vary depending on the program and institution. On average, a master’s program in computer science takes around 1.5 to 2 years to complete.

The cost of a master’s degree in computer science also varies widely. Tuition fees can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars per year. It’s important to research and consider factors such as scholarships, financial aid, and potential return on investment when evaluating the cost of pursuing a master’s degree.

Key Differences Between Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

Depth vs. breadth of knowledge.

One of the key differences between a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Computer Science is the level of depth in knowledge. A Bachelor’s degree provides a broad foundation in computer science, covering various topics such as programming, algorithms, databases, and networking.

On the other hand, a Master’s degree delves deeper into these areas, allowing students to specialize and gain advanced knowledge in specific areas of computer science.

For example, a Bachelor’s degree may cover introductory programming languages, while a Master’s degree may focus on advanced programming languages like Python, Java, or C++. This depth of knowledge allows Master’s degree holders to tackle more complex problems and take on specialized roles in the industry.

Specialization Options

Another significant difference between Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science is the availability of specialization options. While a Bachelor’s degree provides a general overview of computer science, a Master’s degree offers the opportunity to specialize in a specific area.

Students pursuing a Master’s degree can choose from various specializations such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, software engineering, or computer graphics. These specializations allow individuals to acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in a specific field, making them highly sought after in the job market.

Cost and Duration

The cost and duration of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science are typically lower compared to a Master’s degree. A Bachelor’s degree usually takes around four years to complete, while a Master’s degree can take an additional one to two years.

In terms of cost, Bachelor’s degrees are generally more affordable as they require fewer credits. On the other hand, Master’s degrees often come with a higher price tag due to the specialized nature of the program and the advanced level of education provided.

Career Advancement Prospects

Both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science open up a range of career opportunities. However, a Master’s degree can offer enhanced career advancement prospects.

With a Master’s degree, individuals can qualify for more senior positions in the industry, such as software architect, data scientist, or research scientist. These roles often come with higher salaries and greater responsibilities.

Additionally, a Master’s degree can also provide individuals with a competitive edge in the job market, as employers often prioritize candidates with advanced degrees for specialized roles.

Which Degree is Right For You?

Choosing between a Masters and Bachelors degree in Computer Science can be a challenging decision. To make an informed choice, there are several factors you should consider.

Your Existing Background and Goals

Your current educational background and career goals play a crucial role in determining which degree is right for you. If you already have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and are looking to advance your career or specialize in a specific area, pursuing a Masters degree may be the logical next step.

On the other hand, if you are just starting out in the field of computer science and are looking to gain a solid foundation, a Bachelor’s degree would be a great option.

Types of Jobs You’re Targeting

The type of job you are targeting can also influence your decision. While a Bachelor’s degree is generally sufficient for many entry-level positions in the field of computer science, some advanced roles or specialized positions may require a Master’s degree.

Research the job market and the specific job requirements for the roles you are interested in to determine whether a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree is more suitable.

Ability to Commit Time and Money

Pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science often requires a significant investment of time and money. Master’s programs are typically more intensive and require a greater commitment compared to Bachelor’s programs.

Consider your personal circumstances, such as work commitments and financial resources, to determine if you are able to dedicate the necessary time and funds to complete a Master’s degree.

Interest in Advanced CS Concepts

If you have a strong interest in advanced computer science concepts and want to delve deeper into topics like artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data analytics, a Master’s degree may be the right choice for you.

Master’s programs often offer more specialized courses and opportunities for research in these areas, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding and expertise.

Ultimately, the decision between a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science depends on your individual circumstances, career goals, and personal interests. Consider these factors carefully, and don’t hesitate to seek advice from professionals in the field or academic advisors to make an informed choice.

Pursuing bachelor’s or master’s education in computer science can both open doors to rewarding tech careers. A bachelor’s provides fundamental training, while a master’s enables deeper specialization. Consider your specific career goals, finances, and interests when deciding which degree makes the most sense for your needs.

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Can’t Find Eclipse Glasses? Here’s What to Do.

You can watch a projection of the eclipse using some common household items.

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By Katrina Miller

Follow our live updates on the total solar eclipse .

Reliable paper-framed glasses are by far the most popular option for safely watching the total solar eclipse on Monday. But they’ve gotten more difficult to find in some places ahead of the event.

If you’ve checked everywhere — your local planetarium, public library and even online — fear not: There is still a way to watch the eclipse safely, using items around the house. Here are a few options.

Use your hands

Palms up, position one hand over the other at a 90-degree angle. Open your fingers slightly in a waffle pattern, and allow sunlight to stream through the spaces onto the ground, or another surface. During the eclipse, you will see a projection of the moon obscuring the surface of the sun.

This method works with anything with holes, such as a straw hat, a strainer, a cheese grater or even a perforated spoon. You will also notice this effect when light from the partially eclipsed sun streams through leaves on a tree.

Set up a cardstock screen

For this option, you need a couple of white index cards or two sheets of cardstock paper. First, punch a small hole in the middle of one of the cards using a thumbtack or a pin.

Then, facing away from the sun, allow light to stream through this pinhole. Position the second card underneath to function as a screen. Adjust the spacing between the two cards to make the projection of the sun larger or smaller.

Make a box projector

If you’re up for a bit of crafting, you can make a more sophisticated pinhole projector . Start with a cardboard box — empty cereal boxes are often used, but you can use a larger box, too. You’ll also need scissors, white paper, tape, aluminum foil and a pin or thumbtack.

Cut the piece of paper to fit the inside bottom of the cardboard box to act as a screen. Use tape to hold it in place.

On the top of the box, cut two rectangular holes on either side. (The middle should be left intact — you can use tape to secure this if needed.)

Tape a piece of aluminum foil over one of the rectangular cutouts. Punch a tiny hole in the middle of the foil with the tack or pin. The other cutout will serve as a view hole.

With your back to the sun, position the foil side of the box over your shoulder, letting light stream through the pinhole. An image of the sun will project onto the screen at the bottom of the box, which you can see through the view hole. A bigger box will create a bigger image.

Enjoy the show through any of these makeshift pinholes. And remember, during totality, you can view the sun directly with your naked eye. But you should stop looking at the sun as soon as it reappears.

Katrina Miller is a science reporting fellow for The Times. She recently earned her Ph.D. in particle physics from the University of Chicago. More about Katrina Miller