1. CSE PhD Program Prof. Gagan Agrawal Grad Studies Chair

2. Degree Programs Masters non-thesis / coursework Masters thesis / research Ph.D

3. Admitted Groups Masters non-thesis / unspecified Research Masters Direct Ph.D track

4. Type Conversions Masters non-thesis students can switch to thesis option by finding an advisor for masters thesis Masters students become Ph.D students if they take and pass Ph.D qualifying examination Research masters students cannot switch to non- thesis option – petition to grad studies in truly exceptional circumstances Ph.D students cannot switch to masters program – petition to grad studies in truly exceptional circumstances

5. PhD Program Three Stages – Qualification Process Quals or Acceleration Optioin – Post-quals – Pre-candidacy Research and Coursework – Post-candidacy Dissertation Research

6. First Stage Focus on breadth in core CS areas Demonstrate Suitability for PhD – Master Core Topics – Show promise of doing research

7. Semester Rules for Core/Qualifying Core Classes - 3 Semester Credits each – CSE 6321 - Theory – CSE 6331 - Algorithms – CSE 6341 - PL – CSE 6421 - Architecture – CSE 6431 – OS For acceleration/quals, take – CSE 6331 (Algorithms) – CSE 6321 (Theory) OR CSE 6341 (PL) – CSE 6421 (Architecture) OR CSE 6431 (OS) Acceleration: 3.6 in three courses (as above) within first 2 semesters Qualifiers: 2 hour exam in each area (6 hours total, over 1 ½ days)

8. More Details of Acceleration If you take multiple tries in a course – We will count the first attempt only Conditional pass only – Need to finish a research piece in second year!

9. Ph.D Qualifying A max of two attempts are allowed Direct Ph.D track students are normally expected to take it after the first year Must pass within your second year to be eligible for support later

10. Timing for Comps/Quals August (2012 onwards) – Just before Fall Classes start March (2013 onwards) – During spring break (middle of spring semester) 2 days, 3 2-hour exams (August 2013 onwards) – Day 1 morning, Day 1 afternoon, Day 2 morning

11. Transition Plan for Quals PhD quals/comps will follow old format for August 2012, March 2013 – 5 90 minute exams, take exam in 4 areas – Exams based only on material covered in quarter courses Transition to New Format in August 2013 – 3 2-hour exams, based on semester courses Plan carefully if taking exam in March 2013

12. Types of Classes (Ph.D students) Core Classes - 6xxx Primarily Undergrad Courses – 5xxx, 2 credits – Meets with a 3 credit 3xxx courses – Mostly for making up deficiencies in background - could count for certain minors Other 5000 and 6000 level letter graded courses – 5xx9 replaces 788s, research-oriented but letter graded Research Credits – 888s replaced by 6xx9 – Independent Study (793) is now 8193 – 999s for MS students - 6998 and 6999 – 999s for PhD students - 8998 (Pre-candidacy) and 8999 (Post-Candidacy)

13. PhD Coursework (Semesters) PhD Major will be 10 semester credits – Only letter graded courses – Can use a semester core class not used for qualifying E.g. Semester Architecture, if Semester OS used for qualifying – Details for most areas are available online

14. PhD Coursework (Semesters) PhD Minors will be 6 semester credits each – At most 1 S/U credit (e.g. 888 or 6xx9). – Can use a semester core class not used for qualifying E.g. Semester Architecture, if Semester OS used for qualifying – Details for most areas available online

15. Stage 2 – Beyond Coursework Candidacy Examination – Typically after 2.5 – 4 years in the program – Involves a thesis proposal and written and oral examinations demonstrating knowledge of major area – A clear research plan and substantial research progress required – Most students have several publications at this stage

16. Stage 3 - ABD Work on research, publications etc. Finish writing dissertation Oral Examination based on dissertation Submission of final approved dissertation

17. Research Progress Evaluation Conducted every spring, for Ph.D students finishing two or more years in the program Requires clear research plan and established relationship with an advisor Expect research involvement and paper submissions after year 2, publications after year 3, … A satisfactory rating is key for future funding

18. Normal Support Policies Initial support for 2 years – Requires satisfactory GPA – Requires good performance on TA/RA duties – International students must pass the spoken English test to be eligible for year 2 support Third and Fourth Years – Must have passed the Ph.D qualifying examination – Satisfactory research progress, as judged by grad studies committee – In most cases, as RA only

19. Normal Support Policies Years 5 and 6 – Must have passed Ph.D candidacy examination – Satisfactory or better research progress – In most cases, as RA only Limit on TA support – 4 academic year semesters over the length of your stay – Exception: 1 per advisor allowed as exception at anytime All of the above entering the department guaranteed support – If you are entering w/o support, case-by-case after passing quals

20. Some Other Tips Focus on excellence, rather than meeting minimum requirements Create good impression during any of your interactions – Graded classes, research credits, TAship duties Show initiative, prove yourself to be reliable and capable

21. Transfer Credits Only for graduate credits taken as a graduate student Different rules for different requirements – 3 core classes for acceleration Cannot count courses/grades taken elsewhere – PhD Major and Minor Flexibly with major and minor advisors

22. Clarification/Questions Documents Your academic advisor Please do not e-mail me or ask to meet me – 350 graduate students to be managed in 10% of my time !! – Already dealing with 3000 grad program related e-mails annually – I can answer clarification questions if approached by your advisor!