How to Get Your PhD, DCS, or EdD in Computer Science

Find the right school for you

Choosing a Full-Time or Part-Time Doctoral Degree Program

Whether you're choosing an online PhD in Computer Science or a campus-based program, you can choose to attend school on a full-time or part-time basis. Each choice comes with its own positives and negatives:

• Full-Time students typically pay a higher tuition and may earn their degree faster, but may not be able to maintain a full-time career while attending school. A higher level of faculty interaction and financial support are the typical benefits of attending school full-time.
• Part-Time students may pay a lower tuition, but could have less access to faculty, scholarships, or departmental support. International students may have trouble securing student visas as part-time students.

The choice to become a full-time or part-time student is a matter of personal preference, though some schools do not allow doctoral students to study part-time. In cases where part-time study is allowed, you may be able to switch between full-time and part-time status. Talk to an admissions counselor for more information on how individual schools work with student status.

Essential Elements of the PhD in Computer Science

Completing your PhD in Computer Science requires focus, dedication, and a comprehensive knowledge of your subject. Though all doctorate degree programs are different, the process should all have the following three elements in common:

• Coursework: If you already hold a master's degree in computer science, some of your coursework may apply towards your doctorate.
• Research: Under the direction of a faculty member, you must complete original research that makes a new contribution to the field of computer science.
• Defense: You must defend your research and thesis before the department. Once your contribution is deemed new and significant, you will be awarded the doctoral degree.

Though the process can be summed up simply, earning your doctorate degree traditionally takes years of intensive study and research. As with any doctoral program, earning a PhD in Computer Science requires a commitment of your time and finances. Researching the right program for you is key to your success as a student.

The PhD in Computer Science: On-Campus or Online?

As you choose which type of doctorate program to pursue, you must first answer a big question: should you go for an online PhD in Computer Science, or the more traditional campus-based doctoral degree? Each method of study comes with its own benefits:

• The campus-based PhD in Computer Science offers face-to-face interaction with faculty and peers, traditional teaching opportunities and physical lab space.
• The online PhD in Computer Science offers flexibility and freedom to attend class from anywhere in the world and one-on-one communication with professors and peers online.

Your own educational preference should ultimately depend on your educational needs, learning style, and goals. If you're looking for a mix of benefits, a hybrid degree program offering both online and on-campus courses could offer a viable alternative.

Generate a List of Potential Doctoral Programs

The first step to applying for the PhD in Computer Science program is to research potential programs, both campus-based and online PhD programs. Use these resources to help you find and contact computer science PhD programs across the nation:

• Every year, U.S. News and World Report ranks the top computer science degree programs. Schools can be filtered by name or location, or ordered by distance from your home. This list can give you a basic knowledge of computer science programs nationwide.
• The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) has a listing of all schools with a computer science department. The list includes both undergraduate and graduate programs.
• WorldWideLearn.com provides an interactive directory page of online PhD programs. The page allows you to easily give your information directly to colleges and universities.

Use the free services above to begin your research into PhD programs in Computer Science. From there, you can narrow your list down to meet your general goals and specifications.

Narrow Down your PhD in Computer Science Options

No two doctorate degree in Computer Science programs are alike. Your specific needs and aspirations can help you find online PhD programs or campus-based PhD program in Computer Science that best fit your needs. Once you have a broad list of potential computer science programs, narrow your focus by learning more about how each PhD program suits your needs. Apply these considerations to your list:

• Accreditation: The first step in researching a PhD, DCS, or EdD degree program is determining its accreditation. If a school has not been approved by a third-party accrediting board, your graduate degree risks being severely undervalued in academia and industry alike. Admissions representatives should be able to offer you a school's proof of accreditation.
• Degree Type: Not all graduate level programs offer the PhD, DCS, and EdD in Computer Science. Once you determine the type of graduate degree that suits your research, you can eliminate schools that don't offer the degree. Additionally, not all doctoral colleges offer options for both part-time and full-time students.
• Qualifications: Application requirements vary by school, but typically require at minimum an undergraduate degree from an accredited university, and entrance exam scores. Top schools may require a statement of objectives, biographical information, letters of recommendation and more.
• Faculty: A computer science program stands on the strength of its faculty. Look for faculty members that are completing interesting and current research. A faculty member who shares your interest could have a valuable role in your career.
• Competition: While a highly competitive degree program could have more weight in the job field, you could end up paying more money for what amounts to the same research experience and degree. Consider how competitive your eventual job field is expected to be--a more competitive field could require the more competitive degree.
• Funding: School- and department-wide scholarships and research assistantships can make a big difference in your choice of school. While some campus-based PhD programs and online PhD programs in computer science can offer their students full funding, others require a significant financial contribution. Additionally, schools offering higher funding amounts are more likely to be very competitive.
• Alumni: Statistics on a computer science program's alumni should be available through individual schools. Learn how many graduates went on to tenure-track faculty positions or professional research jobs, and find out more about well-known alumni.

The categories above should go a long way to further shape your doctorate program search. Balancing your abilities and strengths with the available resources is key. Once you find a set of campus-based or online PhD programs that seem like a good match, you can refine your search even further by seeking out individuals connected to colleges and universities.

Important Individuals in the PhD in Computer Science Search

When you've whittled your choices down to a few optimal colleges and universities, you should begin to make contact with individuals in your search. Consult these experienced professionals for personalized answers to your biggest questions about PhD and other doctorate programs in computer science:

• Admissions officials: Ask admissions representatives for information and statistics about alumni, entrance requirements, school history and more.
• Financial aid officials: Get the facts on school-wide scholarships and grants, funding percentages and other statistics, financial aid deadlines, and other funding questions.
• Department officials: Ask department chairs and their assistants for more information on research materials that are unique to the department, computer science department-wide funding opportunities, and other department-related questions.

Working with individuals in colleges and universities helps to further refine your search, make connections with potential faculty and administrative individuals, and provide you with more information on the degree process in general.

Connect With Professionals in Computer Science

As a doctoral candidate in computer science, you are typically expected to keep abreast of the latest research and technology related to computer science. One easy way to do that is to become involved with academic and professional organizations. Here are just a few conferences, journals, and professional organizations in the computer science field:

• Professional Organizations: The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), "the world's largest educational and scientific computing society." Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE), "the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology."
• Conferences: Annual IEEE Symposium on Foundations of Computer Science, International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence, International Colloquium on Automata, Languages and Programming, International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques
• Journals: Artificial Intelligence in Engineering, Science of Computer Programming, Computer Science Review, Computers in Industry, Education and Computing

Learning about the professional and academic organizations above can help you get a broader sense of how your doctorate degree fits into the larger scope of the industry. Reading journals and attending conferences can help you narrow down your research interests, seek out interesting faculty members, and ultimately offer a deeper connection to your doctoral degree.

Choosing Your Ideal PhD Program in Computer Science

Once you've researched the field, narrowed your options, and spoken to individuals, you should apply to a handful of your best PhD in Computer Science programs, including PhD programs that are online. Whether you've decided to earn a campus-based or online PhD in Computer Science, you should be able to apply with confidence, knowing you're not wasting time or application fees on a program that isn't the best match for you.

Sources

• The Association for Computing Machinery, List of Schools with Computer Science Departments
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., IEEE Publishing: Connecting Brilliant Minds
• U.S. News and World Report, Top Computer Science degree programs
• International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence
• International Colloquium on Automata