Information about the Ph.D. Program
This page provides detailed information regarding the Ph.D. Qualifier Exams at Stony Brook University's Computer Science Department. The information here is intended to be read in conjunction with the Graduate Program Handbook.
Ph.D. QUALIFIER Ph.D. PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS RESEARCH ASSESSMENT MEETINGS ACADEMIC vs. RESEARCH ADVISERS MS STUDENTS GETTING INTO THE Ph.D. PROGRAM Ph.D. QUALIFIER 
The purpose of Ph.D. qualifier is to ensure that the student has acquired an appropriate breadth in major computer science areas relevant to his/her research interest. The Ph.D. qualifier is based on taking graduate courses from the following three areas:
Theory:
| CSE 548: | Algorithms |
| CSE 540: | Theory of Computation |
| CSE 541: | Logic |
| CSE 547: | Discrete Math |
Software:
| CSE 504: | Compilers |
| CSE 526: | Programming Languages |
| CSE 532: | Databases |
| CSE 537: | Artificial Intelligence |
Systems:
| CSE 502: | Architecture |
| CSE 506: | Operating Systems |
| CSE 534: | Networking |
| CSE 528: | Graphics |
Students have to take at least one course in each of the three areas, and a total of at least five courses (it is therefore allowed to take three courses in one of the areas). Minimum passing grade is A-. A student who fails to secure a passing grade will have to take another course not taken before, in the following semester. All qual courses must be completed within the first three semesters. We recommend students take at least two courses per semester, because most graduate courses are offered only once a year. No course substitutions, exchanges, or pleas for better grades will be accepted.
Ph.D. PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS To further ensure the breadth preparation, the Ph.D. students must also satisfy the same proficiency requirements as the M.S. students. This requirement is exactly the same as the M.S. students, including filling out the same forms. However, for Ph.D. students this requirement must be satisfied before the student takes the RPE. See the Graduate Program Handbook for more details.
RESEARCH ASSESSMENT MEETINGS All Ph.D. students who have not yet met qualifier requirements and passed their RPEs, or who do not have an advisor, will be reviewed each semester, in periodic Research Assessment Meetings. This review is conducted by the entire faculty, who votes on the future status of each student. This review is comprehensive, and includes at least the following items (in no particular order):
- Qualifier courses taken and passed with A or better.
- All other courses taken, grades received, and GPAs.
- Progress in proficiency requirements.
- Performance as Teaching Assistant.
- Research productivity: publications, talks, software, systems, etc.
- Faculty input, especially from advisers.
- Student´s own input.
- Cumulative history of the student's progress.
- In Good Standing: The student has performed well in the previous semester and may continue in the Ph.D. program for one more semester.
- Not in Good Standing: The student had not performed sufficiently well in the previous semester. The student may be placed under probation for one more semester, may lose RA/GA/TA funding, may lose an advisor, or may even be dismissed from the program immediately. Being under probation for two consecutive semesters will likely lead to dismissal.
ACADEMIC vs. RESEARCH ADVISERS Upon entrance to the program, each student is assigned an academic advisor. Each Ph.D. student should seek a faculty member to serve as a research or dissertation advisor within the first two semesters in the program. The choice may be changed. However, each change of advisor may delay a student´s progress. A research advisor is invaluable when it comes to issues such as financial support and progress through various examinations. Most faculty members have research groups, meetings and seminars by which a new student can become acquainted with the research being conducted in the Department. Please refer to the Graduate Program Handbook for the specific rules on choosing or changing an advisor.
MS STUDENTS GETTING INTO THE Ph.D. PROGRAM MS students who wish to get into the Ph.D. program may take the same qual courses as Ph.D. students take, and are expected to get a qual passing grade of A- or better in those. MS students are also expected to secure an adviser who will fund them if they get admitted into the Ph.D. program.
However, admission to the Ph.D. program is no longer automatic: MS students must apply formally through the graduate school. The Graduate Admissions Committee will endeavor to process such special MS-to-PhD requests very quickly. Generally speaking, MS students who passed their Ph.D. qualifying courses and have a strong letter from a funding adviser, will have good chances of getting admitted into the Ph.D. program.