Computer Science, PhD (Boston)
Source: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/graduate/computer-information-science/computer-science/computer-science-phd/ Parent: https://catalog.northeastern.edu/graduate/phdprograms/
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
Milestones
Coursework\ Paper requirement\ Admission to candidacy\ Residency\ Teaching requirement\ Comprehensive examination/dissertation proposal\ Doctoral dissertation\ Doctoral committee\ Dissertation defense
Course Area Requirements
A grade of B or higher is required in each course. A cumulative 3.500 GPA is required for the core requirement.
Students should refer to the course numbering table for graduate course leveling.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Complete a total of six courses. Courses must cover at least four of the five areas, and a maximum of two courses may be at the 5000 level. | | 24 | | At least two courses must be 7000-level seminar courses. | | | | At least two courses must be 7000-level nonseminar courses. | | | | Artificial Intelligence and Data Science | | | | Seminar Courses | | | | CS 7170 | Seminar in Artificial Intelligence | | | Nonseminar Courses | | | | CS 7140 | Advanced Machine Learning | | | CS 7150 | Deep Learning | | | CS 7180 | Special Topics in Artificial Intelligence | | | CS 7200 | Statistical Methods for Computer Science | | | CS 7240 | Principles of Scalable Data Management: Theory, Algorithms, and Database Systems | | | CS 7280 | Special Topics in Database Management | | | CS 7290 | Special Topics in Data Science | | | CS 7380 | Special Topics in Graphics/Image Processing | | | Other Courses | | | | CS 5100 | Foundations of Artificial Intelligence | | | CS 5150 | Game Artificial Intelligence | | | CS 5170 | Artificial Intelligence for Human-Computer Interaction | | | CS 5180 | Reinforcement Learning and Sequential Decision Making | | | CS 5200 | Database Management Systems | | | CS 5330 | Pattern Recognition and Computer Vision | | | CS 5335 | Robotic Science and Systems | | | CS 5850 | Building Game Engines | | | CS 6120 | Natural Language Processing | | | CS 6140 | Machine Learning | | | CS 6200 | Information Retrieval | | | CS 6220 | Data Mining Techniques | | | CS 6240 | Large-Scale Parallel Data Processing | | | DS 5110 | Essentials of Data Science | | | DS 5220 | Supervised Machine Learning and Learning Theory | | | DS 5230 | Unsupervised Machine Learning and Data Mining | | | Human-Computer Interaction | | | | Seminar Courses | | | | CS 7375 | Seminar in Human-Computer Interaction | | | Nonseminar Courses | | | | CS 7250 | Information Visualization: Theory and Applications | | | CS 7260 | Visualization for Network Science | | | CS 7295 | Special Topics in Data Visualization | | | CS 7300 | Empirical Research Methods for Human Computer Interaction | | | CS 7340 | Theory and Methods in Human Computer Interaction | | | CS 7390 | Special Topics in Human-Centered Computing | | | Other Courses | | | | CS 5097 | Mixed Reality | | | CS 5170 | Artificial Intelligence for Human-Computer Interaction | | | CS 5340 | Computer/Human Interaction | | | CS 6350 | Empirical Research Methods | | | Software | | | | Seminar Courses | | | | CS 7470 | Seminar in Programming Languages | | | CS 7575 | Seminar in Software Engineering | | | Nonseminar Courses | | | | CS 7430 | Formal Specification, Verification, and Synthesis | | | CS 7480 | Special Topics in Programming Language | | | CS 7485 | Special Topics in Formal Methods | | | CS 7580 | Special Topics in Software Engineering | | | Other Courses | | | | CS 5310 | Computer Graphics | | | CS 5400 | Principles of Programming Language | | | CS 5500 | Foundations of Software Engineering | | | CS 5520 | Mobile Application Development | | | CS 5610 | Web Development | | | CS 6410 | Compilers | | | CS 6510 | Advanced Software Development | | | Systems and Security | | | | Seminar Courses | | | | CS 7270 | Seminar in Database Systems | | | CS 7670 | Seminar in Computer Systems | | | CS 7770 | Seminar in Computer Networks | | | CS 7775 | Seminar in Computer Security | | | Nonseminar Courses | | | | CS 7600 | Intensive Computer Systems | | | CS 7610 | Foundations of Distributed Systems | | | CS 7680 | Special Topics in Computer Systems | | | CY 7790 | Special Topics in Security and Privacy | | | Other Courses | | | | CS 5600 | Computer Systems | | | CS 5700 | Fundamentals of Computer Networking | | | CS 6620 | Fundamentals of Cloud Computing | | | CS 6650 | Building Scalable Distributed Systems | | | CS 6760 | Privacy, Security, and Usability | | | CY 5130 | Computer System Security | | | CY 5150 | Network Security Practices | | | CY 5770 | Software Vulnerabilities and Security | | | CY 6740 | Network Security | | | Theory | | | | Seminar Courses | | | | CS 7870 | Seminar in Theoretical Computer Science | | | NonSeminar Courses | | | | CS 7800 | Advanced Algorithms | | | CS 7805 | Complexity Theory | | | CS 7810 | Foundations of Cryptography | | | CS 7840 | Foundations and Applications of Information Theory | | | CS 7880 | Special Topics in Theoretical Computer Science | | | Other Courses | | | | CS 5800 | Algorithms | | | CY 5120 | Applied Cryptography | |
Electives
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Complete 24 semester hours in the following: | | 24 | | Note: Consult faculty advisor for the other acceptable courses. | | | | CS 5100 to CS 5850, except CS 5340 | | | | CS 6110 to CS 6810 | | | | CS 7340 | Theory and Methods in Human Computer Interaction | | | CS 7930 | Effective Scientific Writing in Computer Science | | | CS 8982 | Readings | |
Dissertation
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Upon achieving PhD candidacy, complete the following courses for two consecutive semesters: | | | | CS 9990 | Dissertation Term 1 | | | CS 9991 | Dissertation Term 2 | | | For remaining semester(s), complete the following (repeatable) course until graduation: | | | | CS 9996 | Dissertation Continuation | |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
48 total semester hours required\ Minimum overall 3.000 GPA required
Sample Plan of Study
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Area course | 4 | Area course | 4 |
| Readings | 4 | Readings | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Area course | 4 | Area course | 4 |
| Readings | 4 | Readings | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Area course | 4 | Area course | 4 |
| Readings | 4 | Readings | 4 |
| 8 | 8 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 9990 | 0 | CS 9991 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Year 5 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 9996 | CS 9996 | ||
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Year 6 | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| CS 9996 | CS 9996 | ||
| 0 | 0 | ||
| Total Hours: 48 |
Coursework
Incoming PhD in Computer Science students who have already completed a Master of Science in Computer Science or an adjacent field may petition to the PhD in Computer Science program administration for advanced entry. Advanced entry petitions are reviewed by the program administration on a case-by-case basis. Please note that advanced standing does not waive by itself any part of the PhD coursework requirements.
As a degree conferral requirement, a minimum of 16 semester hours of coursework beyond the 32 semester hours of the master’s degree is required of advanced entry PhD students (48 semester hours is required of standard entry PhD students). Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.500 as well as earn a grade of B or better in each course.
Paper Requirement
Refer to the Computer Science, PhD, overview, for research/survey paper requirements.
Admission to Candidacy
Refer to the Computer Science, PhD, overview, for admission to candidacy requirements.
Residency
Refer to the Computer Science, PhD, overview, for residency requirements.
Teaching Requirement
Refer to the Computer Science, PhD, overview, for the teaching requirement.
Comprehensive Examination/Dissertation Proposal
Refer to the Computer Science, PhD, overview, for comprehensive examination requirements.
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
Milestones
Annual review\ Course requirements \ Paper requirement \ Comprehensive exam\ Teaching requirement\ Doctoral candidacy\ Dissertation committee\ Dissertation proposal\ Dissertation defense
Core Requirements
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.500 as well as earn a grade of B or better in each course.
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Consult your faculty advisor for acceptable courses. | | 16 |
Dissertation
Course List
| Code | Title | Hours |
| --- | --- | --- | | Upon achieving PhD candidacy, complete the following courses for two consecutive semesters: | | | | CS 9990 | Dissertation Term 1 | | | CS 9991 | Dissertation Term 2 | | | For remaining semester(s), complete the following (repeatable) course until graduation: | | | | CS 9996 | Dissertation Continuation | |
Program Credit/GPA Requirements
16 total semester hours required\ Minimum overall 3.500 GPA required