The Computer Science PhD program was updated effective Fall 2025. The new program requirements are reflected below. Students admitted Summer 2025 and prior will follow the prior degree requirements outlined on the 2024 Computer Science PhD Degree Program page.
Program Leading to the Doctor of Philosophy Degree
The PhD program in Computer Science prepares students to become technical leaders in their field of research. We have a world-class faculty with research expertise in a diverse set of computer science areas and our program is nationally ranked. We are located in New York state’s Capital Region and Tech Valley, home of one of the largest concentrations of high tech firms in the nation. Our PhD graduates have been highly successful in academic, industrial, and government service positions.
The Computer Science PhD program requires advanced coursework and a rigorous research program leading to cutting edge research results as presented in a doctoral dissertation. The program is designed to develop students’ ability to recognize and formulate significant research problems, to express them using appropriate abstract models, to apply theoretical and experimental techniques to solve those problems, and to transmit the results to the scientific community. The program develops a broad understanding of computer science, a deep understanding of the major field of interest, mastery of the research methods appropriate for this major field, and the versatility to enter new fields as they emerge.
The program of study and research requires at least three academic years of full-time study and research or the equivalent over a longer period beyond the baccalaureate and, typically, may involve four years.
Requirements for Admission
Applicants are expected to have a strong academic background with a BS or MS in Computer Science or a related field. Applicants with other backgrounds may be admitted on a conditional basis and might need to take additional courses before starting the program, as specified at admissions. Each applicant must submit a resume, a brief statement of career goals and personal aspirations, and two letters of reference. The GRE General Test is not required, but recommended for applicants who do not have academic degrees from a US university. Each application receives careful consideration from the CS PhD Admissions Committee.
Program of Study and Research (60 credits, minimum)
Each student must take 60 credit hours of coursework as follows:
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Core (6 credits):
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CSI 503 Algorithms and Data Structures (3)
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CSI 790 Research Methods in Computing (3)
Students must earn a B or better in each course, with an average grade of B+ or better in courses counting towards the core and breadth areas.
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Breadth requirement (9 credits):
Students must take three courses, one from each of the following areas. Allowable courses are given in the Computer Science MS program under concentration areas. Students must earn a B or better in each course, with an average grade of B+ or better in courses counting towards the core and breadth areas.
- One course in Theoretical Computer Science
- One course in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- One course in Systems or CSI 518 Software Engineering
At least 9 credits of core and breadth courses must be taken at University at Albany, that is, not transferred from another institution.
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Elective requirement:
30 Credits of graduate level courses in Computer Science or a field related to the student's doctoral research area. Non-computer science courses must be selected in consultation with the student's Research Advisor and approved by the Computer Science Department. A maximum of 15 credits can be independent student or research hours. -
Doctoral research requirement:
15 credits of CSI 898 Doctoral Dissertation Research
Research Advisor
Each student must declare a PhD Research Advisor. The advisor must be a tenure-track or tenured full-time faculty member or a tenure-track or tenured full-time affiliate member of the department. Upon joining the program, each student is assigned an academic advisor who helps the students plan their programs before they declare their Research Advisor. Once chosen, the student’s Research Advisor will assume that responsibility.
Research Methods in Computing Course (CSI 790)
This mandatory course introduces PhD students to research methodologies and tools used in Computer Science research. Students are expected to work with their research advisor to identify a suitable research topic to use during this course. This course satisfies research tool requirement.
Departmental Seminars
Students are expected to regularly attend research seminars and public dissertation defenses hosted by the CS department and by CNSE. Each student is required to attend more than half of such meetings every semester.
Annual Progress Evaluation
Each student’s progress toward the program milestones is evaluated annually by a departmental committee to ensure the student is making satisfactory progress to the degree.
Each PhD student is required to prepare and submit an annual self-evaluation progress report of their achievements for the past year. The student’s Research Advisor, if one is declared, will add comments to the progress report and sign it. If the Research Advisor has not been declared, the initial academic advisor will do so.
The committee will review the submitted reports, obtain grades, obtain information on seminar attendance, and obtain evaluations of the student’s performance as teaching or research assistant. The committee will assess each student’s progress, including progress on the milestones and deadlines, and provide feedback to the student and to the research advisor.
Students who are not making satisfactory progress according to the milestone deadlines below may be subject to dismissal.
The committee’s evaluation and comments will be archived by the department as part of the student’s academic records.
Comprehensive Exam
Each student must complete a research paper or a literature survey paper on the student’s intended area of research. The paper will be orally presented in a conference-style public forum. The paper and presentation will be evaluated pass or fail by a committee consisting of the Research Advisor and three other faculty members chosen by the student and advisor, and approved by the Chair of the CS department.
Dissertation Committee
Each student must form a dissertation committee, comprised of at least four individuals, before preparing the dissertation proposal. The Committee Chair should be the Research Advisor and must be a tenure-track or tenured full-time faculty member or a tenure-track or tenured full-time affiliate member of the department. At least three members of the committee must be full-time members of the CS department.
The fourth may be a member of the CS department, another department at University at Albany, or a qualified expert from outside the university. The committee must be approved by the Chair of the Computer Science Department.
If the student has two or more co-advisors, then the committee must have at least three additional members. Any changes to the committee must be approved by the Chair of the Computer Science Department.
Dissertation Proposal
Each student must prepare a written dissertation proposal document and present that proposal to the Dissertation Committee. Students should register for CSI 898 Doctoral Dissertation Research while developing their research proposal. Dissertation proposals are expected to contain, at a minimum, the following sections:
- Introduction to the proposed research
- Literature review
- Details of the preliminary research and results
- Expected outcomes of the dissertation
- Plan and timeline for the remaining work
The dissertation proposal presentation must be in a public meeting to which all PhD CS students and CS faculty are invited. The dissertation proposal (or a close-to-final draft of it) must be submitted to the dissertation committee at least two weeks before the presentation. The dissertation proposal presentation must occur at least one month after the Comprehensive Exam presentation.
The Dissertation Committee determines whether the proposed research can lead to a successful PhD dissertation, including published papers, and whether the student is qualified to successfully carry out that research.
If unsuccessful, the student may present the proposal a second time. If unsuccessful on the second attempt, the student is subject to dismissal.
Admission to Candidacy
A PhD student advances to candidacy after successfully presenting the Dissertation Proposal, providing the student has also:
- passed all required courses up to but not including the 15 credits of dissertation research (CSI 898)
- passed the Comprehensive Exam
- satisfied University at Albany’s research tool requirement
- achieved a 3.0 GPA in all coursework applicable to the degree
- satisfied University at Albany’s continuous registration requirement
Dissertation Preparation and Defense
While preparing the dissertation, the student enrolls in CSI 898 Doctoral Dissertation Research until 15 credits of CSI 898 have been completed. After that, the student may enroll in CSI 899 Doctoral Research until the dissertation is completed. CSI 899 is “load bearing” and does not earn credit. Students who take CSI 899 are considered to be full-time.
The dissertation is expected to contain, at a minimum, the following sections:
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Prior work
- Work completed (can be divided into self–contained chapters)
- Conclusion
- Potential future directions
The dissertation must make significant contributions to its area and be publishable in high quality refereed journals and conferences.
When the research and the written dissertation is complete, the student must defend the dissertation in a public forum, preferably in person, to the Dissertation Committee and the PhD Program Director or delegate.
The dissertation (or a close-to-final draft) must be submitted to the Dissertation Committee at least one month before the defense and the defense must be announced at least one week in advance.
If the candidate defends the dissertation successfully, the dissertation committee recommends that the final form of the dissertation be completed under the supervision of the Research Advisor and the final version must be publicly available. If the candidate does not defend the dissertation successfully, the candidate may request a second defense, following the same procedures as for the initial defense. A candidate who fails a second attempt to defend the dissertation is dismissed from the program.
Milestones and Deadlines
PhD CS students are expected to make steady progress in the program by completing the required coursework and research-related milestones within the specified deadlines. Students who do not meet the deadlines will be subject to dismissal from the program. A timeline-based dismissal may be appealed to the CS Department based on extenuating circumstances.
The following milestone timelines apply to full-time PhD students. Part-time PhD students will be allowed double these times, except for the final defense, which must be completed within 8 years per University regulations:
1. End of September of each year: Submit annual progress report
2. Pass research methods course:
- End of 2nd semester for students admitted with advanced standing
- End of 6th semester for students admitted without advanced standing
- End of 2nd semester for students admitted with advanced standing
- End of 6th semester for students admitted without advanced standing
- End of 4th semester for students admitted with advanced standing
- End of 8th semester for students admitted without advanced standing
6. Before dissertation defense: Complete core and breadth courses
7. At least 1 semester before defense: Defend dissertation proposal
8. Defend dissertation:
- End of 6th year for students admitted with advanced standing
- End of 8th year for students admitted without advanced standing
Please note: This program offers an internship, field experience, study abroad component, or clinical experience in the course listing as an option to fulfill course requirements. Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that their prior criminal history may impede their ability to complete the requirements of certain academic programs and/or to meet licensure requirements for certain professions. If you have concerns about this matter please contact the Dean’s Office of your intended academic program.