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Doctor of Philosophy - Computer Science

Advisory Committee

The Ph.D. advisory committee is the same as the Master of Science in Computer Science degree except that it must have a minimum of four members, a majority from the department and at least one from another department. This is a STEM program.

Degree Plan

The degree plan should be completed by the student in consultation with the chair and the advisory committee. Requirements for the Ph.D. in computer science degree include:

  • At least 30 credit hours of graded graduate coursework (excluding 681, 684, 685 and 691).
  • Three breadth CSCE courses, one selected from each of these sets: Theory (627, 629), Systems (605, 611, 613, 614 and 678) and Software (604, 606, 634, 655, 656, 670, 671, 672 and 713). These must be passed with a grade of B or better. These count toward the requirement of 30 hours of graded graduate coursework.
  • At most, six credit hours of approved non-CSCE graded graduate coursework (excluding 681, 684, 685, 691). This counts towards the requirement of 30 hours of graded graduate coursework.
  • One to two credit hours of CSCE 681 (Graduate Seminar).
  • At least 18 credit hours of CSCE 691 (Research). Normally, the number of CSCE 691 hours will be increased to meet the required total number of credit hours.
  • A total of at least 96 credit hours (or at least 64 credit hours if the student has a prior approved and related master’s degree).

Courses That Cannot Be Used on Any Degree Plan:

  • In CSCE, we do not allow 601, 602, 603, 701, 705, 706, 707, 708 and 709.
  • In ECEN, we do not allow 714 and 749.
  • In STAT, we do not allow 624 and 654.
  • In MATH, we do not allow 679.
  • In CYBR, we do not allow 601.
  • In ISTM, we do not allow 601.
  • Any course that contains material required of our undergraduate computer science (CPSC) or computer engineering majors.
  • CSCE undergraduate courses 481, 482, and 483.

Other Degree Plan Information

  • If you took CSCE 420 while a Texas A&M undergraduate and received a B or better, you should not take CSCE 625.  Instead, take an additional prescribed elective class.
  • If you took CSCE 421 while a Texas A&M undergraduate and received a B or better, you should not take CSCE 633.  Instead, take an additional prescribed elective class.
  • For stacked courses: If you have credit for an undergraduate class, you cannot get credit for the graduate class, except via Fast Track.
Stacked courses

When a graduate and undergraduate course is stacked, graduate students must take the graduate course in the stacked pair. If there are seats in the undergraduate section but not in the graduate section, you should contact the graduate advising office to request that a seat be reallocated. Reallocation can be requested but will have to be approved. Not all reallocations may be approved.

  • The common stacked pairs are: 
    • 402/702 (always stacked)
    • 410/611 (sometimes stacked)
    • 411/629 (sometimes stacked)
    • 413/713 (always stacked)
    • 421/633 (always stacked)
    • 433/627 (always stacked)
    • 435/735 (always stacked) 
    • 440/640 (sometimes stacked)
    • 445/656 (always stacked)
    • 447/679 (sometimes stacked)
    • 448/748 (always stacked)
    • 451/652 (always stacked)
    • 452/752 (always stacked)
    • 463/612 (always stacked)
    • 465/765 (sometimes stacked)
    • 469/614 (sometimes stacked)
    • 477/703 (always stacked)
  • Texas A&M undergraduates can receive credit for both courses in an undergrad/grad course pair under Fast Track.
  • Prerequisites listed for CSE graduate coursework are given to inform you of the knowledge you are expected to have to be successful in the graduate course. While our department does not block registration based on prerequisites for graduate courses, you are still responsible for ensuring you are prepared to meet course prerequisites. If you have concerns regarding preparation for a particular class, you should contact the graduate course instructor for more information regarding expectations.

CSCE 684 Hours

  • Any international student who wishes to go on to do curricular practical training must have one credit hour for each semester they are on the internship of CSCE 684 on their degree plan. Any CSCE 684 hours are in addition to the required total credit hours of the degree plan.
  • If you are an international student, we recommend you place at least one credit hour of CSCE 684 on your degree plan when you submit it. This way, if you receive an internship offer, you will not be rushing to have 684 added to your degree plan.
  • Domestic students do not need to register when they are on an internship. However, if they are gone for a year without registering, they must apply for a leave of absence. Otherwise, they will need to reapply for admission.

For additional information and clarification, please see the graduate catalog and the department’s graduate program webpage.

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