Doctor of Philosophy Computer & Information Sciences

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The PhD in Computer and Information Sciences (CIS) offers an opportunity for exceptional students to pursue substantial research in the computer sciences and related areas. To earn a PhD degree, a student must demonstrate breadth of knowledge in at least two research areas and significant depth in a chosen dissertation area. In addition, the student must conceive, write, and defend a PhD dissertation representing a significant and original contribution to current academic research as demonstrated by a public dissertation defense and publication in established peer-reviewed academic conferences and/or journals.

For international students: this is a STEM-designated program, which can qualify you to extend your post-graduation stay in the United States.

Degree Requirements
 

Two Tracks

Computing

The Computing track is for students who are interested in areas such as Programming Languages, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Automata Complexity and Computability, Data Analysis and Data Mining, Systems, Networking, Databases, and Visual Computing.

Information Systems

The Information Systems track appeals to students who are interested more in areas such as E-commerce, Human Computer Interaction, IT Project Management, and IS Analysis and Design.

Careers

Students pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer and Information Sciences generally want to teach or to do research in private industry. Previous graduates have gotten academic positions at the Rochester Institute of Technology, the University of Jordan, Pace University, and many more. Other graduates have gotten industry positions in Google, Pandora, Amazon, Microsoft, and SAP to name a few.

Funding

Full time PhD CIS students are eligible for funding in the form of tuition waivers and a living stipend. Additionally, the Graduate Assistantships in Areas of National Need, or GAANN program, provides competitive funding for up to five years to three fellows with excellent academic records who demonstrate financial need.

View All Faculty

  • Peter Hastings

    Dr. Hastings is a professor in the School of Computing. His research interests include natural language processing, cognitive science, intelligent tutoring systems, and artificial intelligence.

  • Alexander Rasin

    Dr. Rasin is a professor in the School of Computing who is affiliated with the Data, Infrastructure, Computation, and Environments (DICE) Lab. His primary research interest is in cybersecurity problems of preventing data tampering and exfiltration, establishing standards for database forensic analysis, and developing fine-grained access control policies.

  • Daniela Stan Raicu

    Dr. Raicu is a professor in the School of Computing and the Associate Provost for Research at DePaul. Her research interests include biomedical and health informatics, medical imaging, computer vision, data mining and machine learning. She has authored more than 150 journal and conference papers in these areas, and her projects have been funded by the National Science Foundation, Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Education, and MacArthur Foundation.

Faculty Research

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School of Computing faculty have been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, National Security Agency, and several other institutions. Our faculty bring a unique blend of academic excellence and industry perspective to their research in the classroom. They conduct cutting-edge research in a wide variety of areas, including artificial intelligence, high performance and scientific computing, theory, visual informatics and data analytics, and more.

 

Project Spotlight

PhD candidate and adjunct Dimuthu Kodippili Arachchige and his colleagues created a robot that emulates the way pinnipeds – such as seals and sea lions – bounce and lunge on land, bobbing their heads and bodies to gain momentum while pushing along the ground with their flippers.

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Full-Time or Part-Time

The Ph.D. program in CIS is flexible enough to accommodate not only full-time students, but part-time students as well. All of the graduate classes are in the evening (and most are also offered online), so preparation for breadth exams can be done after work. Advisors offer flexible hours for research meetings and independent studies.

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DICE Lab

CDM is host to a number of specialized labs designated to specific research areas, like the Data, Infrastructure, Computation, and Environments (DICE) Lab. Their current focus is on provenance data, systems and infrastructure for computational reproducibility, optimization and decision problems arising within this data and systems, and exploration of a variety of virtual environments that are relevant for establishing computational reproducibility.

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Research Talks

The School of Computing hosts weekly talks on creative and breakthrough research by faculty, students, and industry professionals. Regularly scheduled events include the Research Colloquium, the Data Science Seminar, the iD LabSpeaker Series, the Math/CS Seminar, and the Jarvis Center Speaker Series.

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Research Labs & Centers

The active research community in CIS at DePaul includes several labs for specific research purposes including American Sign Language, Data Science, Interactive Human-Computer Analytics, Medical Informatics, Mobile Commerce, Software Engineering Research, Web Intelligence, Wellness and Health Enhancement Engineering, and more.

 

Breadth Exams

In consultation with their advisors, students choose breadth exams from a wide variety of topics including: artificial intelligence, automata complexity and computability, data analysis and data mining, databases, e-commerce, human computer interaction, IT project management, IS analysis and design, networking, programming languages and compilers, software engineering and systems. Each exam has a reading list so students know which resources and courses (if any) they need to prepare for the exam.

Application Deadlines

Enrollment QuarterDomestic Student DeadlineInternational Student Deadline
FallJanuary 15January 15
WinterOctober 1October 1
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Admission Process

The graduate application process involves completing an online application, sending in your transcripts and submitting any supplemental material (e.g., letters of recommendation, certifications, etc.). To learn more about your program specific requirements, visit our Graduate Admission page

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