The Ph.D. program is designed to provide students with advanced coursework and substantive research experience to prepare graduates to be the leaders in industry and academia. There is an emphasis on producing original work to present at conferences or published in peer-reviewed journals. Students who successfully complete the Ph.D. program go on to take leadership, entrepreneurial, and scholarly positions.
PhD students progress through four phases in their study. Initially, students are required to begin coursework while identifying a faculty mentor to serve as their research advisor. As students progress in coursework and research, they will be evaluated each semester on their progress towards their Qualifying Exam by the completion of a Portfolio (initially evaluated in the 3rd semester and completed by their 5th semester). Students are required to complete a minor either as a CS internal minor or in another degree program at the UA (see coursework). As research progresses and coursework is completed, students next identify their committee and propose their dissertation work during their Comprehensive Exam, completed by their 7th semester. Finally, once students complete their research, they will defend their Dissertation.