What are the general requirements of a Master’s program?
- All MS students must pass 4 core courses, 2 each from 2 groups of courses. Grades must be B or higher.
- MS student can select one of two options:
- Option A (thesis option): 24 credit hours of regular course work and up to 6 credit hours of CS 768 (Residence Credit for Master’s Degree)
- Option B (non-thesis option): 30 credit hours of regular coursework and a project
Consider that at least half of courses must be higher than 500-level classes. Non-CS courses need to be approved by the DGS (Direction of Graduate Studies).
Final GPA considering all classes need to be 3.0 or higher.
What are the general requirements of a Doctoral program?
- 36 credit hours of coursework during the first 2 years (letter grade courses).
- Transfer CS MS student may transfer all their eligible credits
- CS MS students from other universities may transfer 18 credit hours, including core courses
- Breadth requirement: Take at least one course from the following four groups, with at least B in all of them, and at least 2 A’s:
- CS 505, CS 541
- CS 570, CS 571
- CS 515, CS 575
- CS 535, CS 537
- Depth requirement: this may be different for each student. Based on their research, the committee members will decide the appropriate form of this process, which may be a written exam, published paper, literature review, etc. The goal is for the student to show that they have knowledge of the research field of their dissertation.
- Qualifying Exam (QE): must be taken after the previous requirements are obtained, and before their sixth year, although it should usually happen during the sixth semester. This usually takes the form of a thesis proposal examination. Time limit: each student must complete their requirements within five years after QE, with the possibility of an extension for additional 5 years.
- Final oral examination. The students present their final dissertation to the committee. Several formal steps go into this, such as forms, applications to be submitted within a specific timeline.
How does a Master’s Degree differ from a PhD?
A Master’s Degree is mainly focused on taking classes. Although some students may gather some minimal research experience, depending on their selected option, most of the time will be spent taking classes. However, during a PhD, classes are only a portion of the process. A PhD is much more research oriented, although classes are a part of it in the beginning. So a PhD student will spend most time working on research projects with the supervision of their advisor. As a matter of fact, a PhD often fully covers the Master’s Degree requirement. So, a PhD student who completed the breadth requirement can decide to obtain a Master’s Degree instead (all Master’s Degree requirements still need to be met).
Can I opt out of my PhD and get a Master’s Degree instead?
Yes, a PhD student who completed the breadth requirement can decide to obtain a Master’s Degree instead. However, all Master’s Degree requirements still need to be met.
Can I transition from a Master’s Degree to a PhD?
Yes, this transition is possible. You need to talk with your advisor and DGS about your intentions and meet the credit requirements accordingly.
If you are currently enrolled in a Master’s program and would like to switch to a PhD program before finishing the Master’s requirements, you will need to re-apply to the University of Kentucky for the PhD program. However, all credits taken at the University of Kentucky while enrolled as a Master’s student will still count toward your PhD credit requirements. Discussion with your advisor and DGS will ensure the smoothest transition.
Do I have to take a full course load during my last semester of Master’s?
It is not necessary to take a full course load during the last semester of Master’s, even for international students in F1-visa. The latter students, however, need to submit a reduced course load form through the international student center website.
What is the difference between a PhD student and a PhD candidate?
Generally if you are enrolled in a PhD degree, you are a PhD student. After you pass your Qualifying Examination (QE), you become a PhD candidate.
Can I enroll in CS767 (Dissertation Residency Credit) during the semester I intend to take QE?
Yes, it is actually advised to enroll in CS767 during the semester you intend to appear for QE. There are some perks that come with this which include a significantly lesser fee for you and your advisor. If you fail to pass QE that semester, you will then be automatically placed into CS611 (Research in CS).
Can I receive an en-passant Master’s degree while also working towards my PhD?
It is totally possible to get an en-passant Master’s degree while working towards their PhD degree, if you don’t already have a prior Master’s degree in CS (although DGS can waive this in special cases). After completing a minimum of 48 credit hours and passing the QE, you need to request the DGS to write a letter of approval to Graduate School for an en-passant degree. Note that CS 767 (Dissertation Residency Credit) is not counted towards the credit requirement for this. So if you plan to get an en-passant Masters’ Degree, it’s better to meet the 48 hour credit requirement before appearing for QE. This is because after passing QE, if you want to enroll in courses other than CS767, you may have to pay the in-state tuition and mandatory fees which would’ve been otherwise waived for a PhD candidate.
Is there a specific number of papers I should publish upon PhD graduation?
This is not quite specified in the guidebook, so there is not a specific number. The number of papers and the quality of venues is usually decided upon the student research focus, their career goals, along with the advisor’s and committee’s expectations.
How do I choose my advisor?
The main thing in finding an advisor is to find a mutual interest. You have to track what the faculties are working on currently and choose a research area, and hence an advisor, that you feel is closely related with what your interests and career goals are. At the beginning of PhD, DGS is your advisor but you need to find a real advisor preferably by the end of first year.
How do I choose my committee members?
Your advisory committee is the main point for advice and guidance for your graduate journey. Generally the committee members are someone who you (and your PhD/Masters advisor) think is closely related to your research field, and who can provide insights and judge your work comprehensively.
When and how do I form the advisory committee?
- Master’s: The master’s committee consists of at least 3 members - your PhD advisor serves as Chair, and there needs to be at least two graduate faculties from CS department and one must be a full member of graduate faculty.
- PhD: You need to have selected your PhD advisory committee by the end of your fourth semester and inform the graduate school by filling out “Formation of an advisory committee” through DGS. The committee consists of at least 4 members:
- your PhD advisor serves as Chair
- two graduate faculties from CS department
- one from an outside department.
Who is the chair of my PhD advisory committee if I have two PhD advisors?
In that case both your PhD advisors will serve as Co-chairs.
What does the Qualifying Exam (QE) consist of?
The QE is typically a thesis proposal examination. You prepare a proposal on what you intend to research during your PhD study, submit the proposal to your committee members and then appear for an oral examination.
How long does a PhD take?
The length of PhD is specific to you, your research, your career aspirations, and your advisor. However, there’s a time limit of 5 years to complete your PhD after passing your QE but could be extended up to 5 years for a total of 10 years after QE.
Please note that there may be some regulation changes regarding these FAQs. It’s always better to follow either the graduate handbook (link) or inquire DGS and/or academic advisor for specific problems.