Doctor of Philosophy in Computer/Information Science and Engineering
The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University offers Ph.D. degrees in Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) and in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE).
The objective of these programs is to graduate doctoral students who are scholars in their field of research as evidenced by:
- Their ability to do independent research by synthesizing original ideas that are evaluated to be non-trivial contributions by other researchers
- The mastery of their discipline by being able to recall, comprehend, apply, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate ideas with intellectual rigor using the major concepts and results of their discipline
- Can communicate their ideas effectively as evidenced by their
ability to write papers, dissertation, and proposals that are judged to be well written, well presented, and well argued - Ability to give technical presentations which are judged to be clear, concise, and informative
The requirements for the Ph.D. programs emphasize mastery of a field of knowledge, familiarity with allied areas, facility in the use of research techniques, responsibility for the advancement of knowledge, and effective communication of ideas. These are tested primarily by comprehensive examinations and the defense of the dissertation rather than by a summation of courses, grades, and credits.
The CISE doctoral program targets those students with research interests in topics generally associated with computer and information science and with software aspects of the computer-engineering field. The ECE doctoral program targets students with research interests in topics encountered in the electrical-engineering field and in the hardware area of computer engineering.
The basic structure of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree is the same for both degrees. What differentiates the programs are the details, namely:
- The list of topics in which students must demonstrate competencies by completing coursework
- The topics covered in the written Qualifying Examination Part I
View the EECS PHD Summary Table to view a summary of the requirements for the CISE and ECE doctoral programs. Detailed information about these doctoral programs can be viewed by clicking on the icon “Detailed Description.” Furthermore, descriptions of the graduate courses that doctoral students can take (600-level and above) in computer engineering (CSE), computer and information science (CIS), and electrical engineering (ELE) which can be taken by doctoral students can be viewed by clicking the icon “Course Catalog.”
Students with superior qualifications who are interested in advancing their knowledge in Computer and Information Science and Engineering or in Electrical and Computer Engineering are invited to apply to one of our Ph.D. programs. These programs combine coursework with research work led by internationally renowned researchers in their areas of expertise. One of the strengths of our doctoral programs lies in the ability of the faculty to participate in many research areas of an interdisciplinary nature. Even though the Department of EECS offers Ph.D. programs in the two areas indicated above, the research interests of many of our faculty connects both of these areas.
Ph.D. applicants are strongly recommended to apply by January 1, so that they can be considered for Fellowship awards.