PhD in Computer Science Curriculum
Effective SY 2012-2013
I. Core Master’s Level Subjects (15 units)
Students are required to take 15 units of core master’s level subjects. These are:
 CS 240 Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms
 CS 242 Theory of Automata and Formal Languages
 CS 255 Computer Architecture and Operating Systems
 CS 280 Programming Languages and Paradigms
 CS 290 Methods of Research
II. Master’s Electives (15 units)
Students should take 15 units of subjects in one or two of the following areas of
specialization:
1. Theoretical Computer Science
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CS 242: Theory of Automata and Formal Languages
CS 243: Computational Complexity
CS 244: Compiler Design and Theory
CS 268: Computer Simulations
CS 295: Advanced Topics in Computer Science
CS 295.L3: Special Topics: Advanced Algorithms
CS 295.S51: Special Topics: in Computer Science: Data Mining
2. Computational Science
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CS 268: Computer Simulations
CS 271: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CS 295.C2: Special Topics: Parallel Processing
CS 295.C5: Special Topics: Internet-Based Parallel Programming
CS 295.O7: Special Topics: Bioinformatics
CS 295.S37: Special Topics: Application in Medicine and Public Health
Informatics
CS 295.S38: Special Topics in Knowledge Management Science: Knowledge
Management
CS 295.S51: Special Topics in Computer Science: Data Mining
3. Software Engineering
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CS 214: User Modeling
CS 215: Instructional Software Design and Development
CS 219: Learning Theory and Instructional Software Design
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CS 231: Introduction to Software Engineering
CS 232: Advanced Database Systems
CS 233: Advanced Systems Analysis and Design
CS 235: Technology and Project Management
CS 295.B1: Special Topics: Business Programming
CS 295.S12: Special Topics: Information Systems Administration
CS 295.S14: Special Topics in Software Engineering: Advanced Database
Systems
CS 295.S19: Special Topics: Enterprise Resource Planning
CS 295.S20: Special Topics: Contemporary Databases
CS 295.S21: Special Topics: Enterprise and Distributed Software
CS 295.S22: Special Topics: Accounting Information Systems
CS 295.S23: Special Topics: Introduction to Information Engineering
CS 295.S25: Special Topics: MIS Practice
CS 295.S28: Special Topics: Object-Oriented Programming for Mobile
Systems
CS 295.S29: Special Topics: Financial Information Systems
CS 295.S30: Special Topics: Systems Analysis and Design
CS 295.S32: Special Topics: Web Programming
CS 295.S34: Special Topics: Survey of ICT Management Standards
CS 295.S35: Special Topics In Management Science: Business Process
Reengineering
CS 295.S36: Special Topics: Introduction To Software Testing
CS 295.S37: Special Topics: Application in Medicine and Public Health
Informatics
CS 295.S39: Special Topics in Programming: Web Programming in PHP
CS 295.S40: Special Topics in Software Engineering: Business Intelligence
CS 295.S43: Special Topics in Management Science: Business Process
Management
CS 295.S44: Special Topics in Management Science: Service Oriented
Architecture
CS 295.S50: Special Topics in Software Engineering: Pattern Recognition
CS 295.S52: Special Topics in Languages: Enterprise Systems Programming
4. Computer Networks and Data Communications
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CS 250: Computer Architecture
CS 261: Operating Systems
CS 262: Networks I
CS 263: Networks II
CS 295.C2: Special Topics: Parallel Processing
CS 295.C5: Special Topics: Internet-Based Parallel Programming
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CS 295.O6: Special Topics: Cryptography and Network Security
CS 295.S13: Special Topics: Basic Systems and Network Administration
CS 295.S31: Special Topics: Systems Programming
CS 295.S42: Special Topics in Systems: Network Security and Hacking
Countermeasures
CS 295.S60: Special Topics: Telecommunications Technology
CS 295.S65: Special Topics: Survey of Contemporary Technologies
5. Intelligent Systems
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CS 214: User Modeling
CS 217: Human-Computer Interaction
CS 219: Learning Theory and Instructional Software Design
CS 271: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CS 295.O15: Special Topics: Advanced Computer Aided Instruction
CS 295.S37: Special Topics: Application in Medicine and Public Health
Informatics
CS 295.S38: Special Topics in Knowledge Management Science: Knowledge
Management
CS 295.S51: Special Topics in Computer Science: Data Mining
"Elective courses not included in the list and/or offered by other departments may be
taken subject to the approval of the DISCS Graduate Program Director"
III. Additional Master’s Level Subjects (9 units)
Catalog No.
CS 2XX
CS 298
Title
Master’s Subject in Theoretical Computer
Science, Computational Science, Software
Engineering, Computer Networks and Data
Communications, and Intelligent Systems
Methods of Teaching Computer Science
Units
6
3
Students are required to take two more master’s level subjects in the following core
topics, which will be covered in the Qualifying Exam:
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Theoretical Computer Science
Computational Science
Software Engineering
Computer Networks and Data Communications
Intelligent Systems
CS 298 is a course in which the students become acquainted with various methods of
conducting both lecture- and laboratory-based computer science classes and classroom
management skills. Through the guidance of a senior faculty member,
students may be asked to do (but not necessarily be limited to) the
following tasks:
- Assisting the instructor/professor during hands-on exercises
- Preparing materials for two or more courses
- Teaching a simple to medium-complexity topic for one or more class sessions
- Reporting on a special topic
- Doing research on topics related to teaching and learning strategies, Comput
er Networ
and D
IV. Comprehensive Exam
After 39 units of master’s-level work, students should enroll for and pass the
comprehensive exams. The comprehensive exams will be designed to prove the student’s
mastery of core topics in Computer Science, including:
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Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms
Theory of Automata and Formal Languages
Computer Architecture and Operating Systems
Programming Languages and Paradigms
Methods of Research
Students enrolling for the comprehensive exams must pay the standard fees that apply for
comprehensive exams for other Ph.D. programs.
V. Required Ph.D.-level Subjects (18 units)
Catalog No.
CS 301
CS 302
CS 3xx
Title
Advanced Research Methods I
Advanced Research Methods II
Field of Concentration
Units
3
3
12
Students must take 12 units of courses in the track they have chosen. The available tracks
are provided below:
1. Theoretical Computer Science
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CS 320: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory
CS 320.1: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory: Data Mining
CS 320.2: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory: Computer Simulation
CS 320.4: Special Topics in Theory: Advanced Algorithms
Ma 250: Algebraic Structures I
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Ma 295J.2: Seminar on Graph Theory
2. Computational Science
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CS 320.1: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory: Data Mining
CS 320.2: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory: Computer Simulation
CS 320.5: Special Topics in Computer Science: Pattern Recognition
CS 340: Special Topics in High Performance Computing and Computational
Science
Ma 295S.4: Seminar: Statistical Methods
3. Intelligent Systems
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CS 320.1: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory: Data Mining
CS 320.2: Special Topics in Computer Science Theory: Computer Simulation
CS 320.5: Special Topics in Computer Science: Pattern Recognition
CS 320.10: Special Topics in Computer Science: Business Intelligence
CS 330: User Modeling
Ma 295S.4: Seminar: Statistical Methods
"Courses for the field of concentration that are not included in the list may be taken
subject to the approval of the DISCS Graduate Program Director"
VI. Dissertation (12 units)
Catalog No.
CS 390a
CS 390b
Title
Dissertation Writing I
Dissertation Writing II
Units
6
6
Students must propose, undertake, publish, and successfully defend a dissertation in their
area of concentration. Dissertation requirements are as follows:
1. Proposal – submission and successful defense of a research proposal
2. Publication – submission and acceptance to at least 1 local and 1 international
refereed journal or refereed proceeding publications approved by the thesis
committee.
3. Final dissertation report –successful defense and submission of the final
dissertation report
Summary
Core Master’s Subjects
Master’s Elective
Additional Master’s Subjects
Comprehensive Exam
Required Ph.D. Subjects
Dissertation
Total
15 units
15 units
9 units
18 units
12 units
69 units