All degrees have residence requirement, time limit requirement, graduate credit requirement (on minimum number of graduate credits), and qualifying coursework requirement (on breadth and depth of coursework).
Graduate students in CMPS doctoral programs are expected to develop a mastery of their field, and gain familiarity with their discipline from arrival to graduation. In particular, full-time doctoral students who arrive with a baccalaureate degree normally will:
- Become engaged in research no later than during their second year and often in their first year.
- Identify a thesis adviser by the end of their second year.
- Identify a thesis topic by the end of their third year.
- Secure admission to candidacy within 3-4 years.
- Publish at least one paper prior to advancing to candidacy, and several prior to graduating.
- Complete all requirements and graduate within 5-6 years.
Graduate students may expect:
- A wide selection of courses.
- Advice and mentoring by faculty in their program prior to the assignment of an adviser.
- From their advisor:
- Regular access and advice during the research and thesis writing process.
- Training in the preparation of oral and written scholarly presentations; in particular the advice and support for the writing of at least one paper for publication.
- Introduction, for example at conferences, to other members of the field.
- Assistance and advice with job searches
You are expected to make satisfactory progress toward your degree, commensurate with your other responsibilities. You must maintain an overall B average in your course work exclusive of CMSC 799 (Thesis Research) and CMSC 899 (Dissertation Research), and you must either complete at least two courses per year or be actively engaged in thesis or dissertation work. Otherwise, your standing in the graduate program may be terminated.
If you receive a grade of I (incomplete) in any course, you must have this grade removed before you can be granted your degree. If you receive a grade of D or F in a graduate course, you may not complete your degree unless you raise your grade for that course to a C or higher by repeating the course.
You are responsible for being aware of and meeting all deadlines and requirements relevant to your progress through graduate school. Exact dates of examinations and application deadlines are posted by the Graduate School each academic year, and by the department each semester. The department will notify you of any changes in departmental policies either by sending you mail or by posting an announcement to the csd.grad.announce newsgroup.
You are responsible for notifying the Computer Science Graduate Office in writing of any circumstances that would prevent you from maintaining graduate standing or fulfilling the requirements for your degree.