Clemson University is a coeducational, land-grant
university founded in 1889. Enrollment totals more than 18,000 students,
including approximately 4,000 graduate students. The Department of Computer
Science currently enrolls more than 125 graduate students. Clemson,
S.C., is a small college town that enjoys the beauty and water sports of
Lakes Hartwell (61,350 acres), Keowee (18,500 acres) and Joccasse (7,500
acres); the scenery of the South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina mountains
(40-minute drive); and the challenge of many wild and scenic rivers such
as the nearby Chattooga. Opportunities to participate in and enjoy plays,
concerts, lectures, films and sports events are provided by many University
and community groups. The combination of the academic and social activities
provided by the University and the pastoral settings inherent to the Clemson
area provide a stimulating environment for academic advancement and personal
enrichment.
Financial support for graduate students
is available through research assistantships associated with grants and contracts,
teaching assistantships and graduate fellowships. Students with assistantships
generally are expected to work an average of 20 hours each week while taking
nine credit hours per semester In addition to a stipend of $1,160 per month,
students with an assistantship receive a tuition waiver. Alternative employment
opportunities for well qualified applicants are sometimes available.
Applications for financial assistance should be submitted before February
1 for full consideration. Thus, it is advantageous to apply as early as possible.
The University has some graduate student
housing available. These are two bedroom apartments with kitchen and living
room. Two graduate students are assigned to each apartment so that each has
a private bedroom. Monthly rent for these units is approximately $375 PER
STUDENT for 9 month leases and $355 PER STUDENT for 12 month leases. Many
privately owned apartments are also available; the cost of these vary considerably.
Detailed information on costs and financing can be found at
http://www.grad.clemson.edu/p_financial.html
.
The M.S. Program
The Master of Science program in Computer
Science prepares individuals for a Ph.D. program, research careers in industry,
or advanced technical positions in industry and government. The program is
designed for students who offer evidence of above average scholastic ability
at the undergraduate level. Upon completion of the M.S. program of study,
the student will have knowledge in the following four core areas:
- Computer Architecture
- Operating Systems and Systems Programming
- Computation and Complexity Theory
- Programming Languages and Translators
The student will have a significant exposure
to application areas that emphasize the integration of the four core areas
and will have the opportunity to participate in a research project under
the direction of a faculty member. The student will also acquire advanced
programming skills as a part of the program.
Completion of the M.S. program normally
requires from one and one-half years to two years beyond the undergraduate
degree but may require additional time for students whose undergraduate degree
is in an area other than computer science. Two academic years usually are
required for the completion of the M.S. degree if financial assistance is
provided. Each candidate is required to complete specific course requirements
and pass a final M.S. exam. The coverage of the exam depends upon the research
option selected by the student. These
options
are described in detail below.
General Requirements
The basic requirement for the M.S. in Computer
Science is successful completion of 30 credit hours of approved courses.
At least 21 of the 30 hours must be at the 800 level. Students may include
up to 6 hours of approved courses from outside the Department of Computer
Science. This 6 hours of approved courses may include courses transferred
from another university. All requirements of the Graduate School for the
M.S. degree must also be met. A student's program of study must be approved
by both the student's advisory committee and the Director of Graduate Affairs.
Each student must take at least one course at Clemson University from each
of the four core area course groups. For each area, the second column of
the table contains the primary course(s). If the student has completed the
equivalent of the primary course(s) elsewhere or as an undergraduate at Clemson
University, then the student must select from the alternative list:
|
Area
|
Primary Course(s)
|
Alternatives
|
| Operating Systems |
822, 823, 824 |
830 |
| Languages |
629 |
828, 829 |
| Theory |
859 |
838, 840 |
| Architecture |
664 |
820, 864 |
Of the 30 credit hours of approved courses required for graduation, the student
may not include credit for CPSC 622, 628 or 801. Additionally, only one 681,
881 or 981 can be included and only if the course is one in which a final
exam is given. Credit for 95x courses is possible only with the
prior
approval of the director of graduate affairs. A student must also have
a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the 30 credit hours used to satisfy
the requirements for graduation.
The Advisory Committee
The Director of Graduate Affairs is the
advisor of all new graduate students. During the second semester of study
each M.S. student should form an advisory committee. The chair of this committee
replaces the Director as the student's advisor. The advisor must be a tenured
or tenure track faculty member in the Department of Computer Science. The
student is also permitted to select one additional member of the advisory
committee. The additional member may come from outside the Department. The
Department will assign the third member.
Selection of both the advisor and the second member is by mutual consent of
the student and the faculty member. A student is free to dissolve an existing
advisory committee and form a new one at any time. Likewise, the advisor
is free to dismiss a student. If a student is unable to find an advisor,
one will be appointed by the Chair of the Department.
Three options are provided in the M.S.
program:
The Research Experience Option
In the research experience option, a student
reads a collection of research papers in an area in which the research advisor
is working. The area is expected to be quite focused. For example, "Computer
Networks" would be an inappropriately broad area, but "Modeling the Effects
of Self-similarity in Network Traffic on Packet Drop Rates" is appropriately
focused. When the student has mastered the subject, a presentation
containing appropriate background material and research results is made by
the student in an open colloquium. The presentation
must
include in-depth coverage of the research results of one of the papers and
may also include material from additional papers and research results
obtained by the student. The final examination is an oral examination
conducted by the student's advisory committee. The student is expect to demonstrate
a mastery of the selected research area.
A student is expected to enroll in CPSC 888 for 3 hours credit in the
semester in which the research experience occurs. However, these hours may
not be counted in the 30 credit hours used to satisfy the requirements for
graduation.
The Research Paper Option
A student who pursues the research paper
option is expected to complete the research experience and then build upon
it by conducting original research and writing up the results in a formal
research paper. The paper should be written in a format and style suitable
for submission to a national conference or archival journal. It is not necessary
that the research results reach the level of significance required for acceptance
by a national conference or journal, but the quality of the presentation
must! The paper should typically be 15 to 25 double spaced pages in length
and must contain introductory material which properly places the work in
the context of existing research.
The final examination is an oral examination conducted by the student's
advisory committee. The student is expect to demonstrate an in-depth understanding
of both the research results presented and the pre-existing body of knowledge
that the results extend. A student is expected to enroll in CPSC 888 for 3
hours credit in each semester in which the research is ongoing and may count
3 hours of CPSC 888 among the 30 credit hours used to satisfy the requirements
for graduation.
The Thesis Option
The thesis option is designed for students
who have a strong interest in research and who can complete an original and
creative research project. The scope and significance of that research is
expected to be significantly beyond that which is required for the research
paper. The quality of the research and presentation should be such that the
thesis or a derivative work is acceptable for publication in a refereed conference
proceedings or archival journal.
The final examination is an oral examination conducted by the student's
advisory committee. The student is expect to demonstrate an in-depth understanding
of both the research results presented and the pre-existing body of knowledge
that the results extend.
A student pursuing the thesis option
must include 6 hours of CPSC 891 credit among the 30 credit hours
used to satisfy the requirements for graduation.
The Ph. D. Program
The objective of this program is to prepare
exceptionally qualified individuals for research careers in academia and
industry. The program is designed for students who offer evidence of exceptional
scholastic ability, intellectual creativity, and research motivation.
The Ph.D. degree is viewed as a certification by the faculty that the
student has a solid foundation in computer science and has performed original
research in the area. The basis for gaining the degree will be the student's
grasp of the subject matter of computer science, competency to plan and conduct
research, and ability to express ideas adequately and professionally in oral
and written language. Although only four courses are required, the doctoral
program usually requires two to four years beyond the M.S. degree.
The Research Advisor and Advisory Committee
Selection of the research advisor is by mutual consent
of the Ph.D. student and the advisor. The advisor, who must be a full-time
tenure track member of the Computer Science faculty, should be selected
before the portfolio, which is required for the
comprehensive examination,
is presented to the faculty. The Ph.D. student should carefully
select the research advisor on the basis of technical and personal compatibility.
Either the student or the advisor may terminate the advisee/advisor
relationship in the event that research interests change or the advisor and
student later find themselves incompatible.
The Ph.D. advisory committee will assist the student
in formulating an appropriate program of study, must approve this program
of study, must approve the dissertation proposal, and conducts the
dissertation defense. The research advisor serves
as chair of the student's an advisory committee, and
the student, in consultation with the research advisor and
in accordance with Graduate School requirements,
, must select at least two additional faculty members to serve on the
advisory committee. One of these members may be selected from outside
the Department of Computer Science. One additional member of the committee
will be appointed jointly by the Department Chair and the Director of Graduate
Affairs. The complete advisory committee must be approved by
the Department Chair and the Director of Graduate Affairs when the students
submits the GS-2 form containing the full program of study. Whenever
possible, the committee should contain a member who has previously directed
a Ph.D. dissertation.
Ph.D. Requirements
Ph.D. students must satisfy requirements in three areas:
Course Work and Seminars
A typical program of study consists of 12 credit hours
of course work beyond the Master's degree, at least 6 hours of Ph.D.
seminar courses (CPSC 95x), and 18 hours of doctoral research (CPSC 991).
Ph.D student who enroll without prior graduate study should expect to take
another 18 to 24 credits in core computer science. Full-time students in
the Ph.D. program normally must take for credit at least one seminar (CPSC
95x) per semester until passing the comprehensive exam and at least one per
year until completion of the program. All Ph.D. students are required to
include a minimum of four 800 level computer science courses (exclusive of
881, 888, 891, 95x, 981, and 991) on their programs of study. Students are
also encouraged to take course work outside the department when it facilitates
their dissertation research.
Examinations
To earn the Ph.D. degree a student must take and pass three examinations:
The Comprehensive Examination
To be admitted to Ph.D. candidacy a student
must pass the Comprehensive Examination. The form of this examination is
a portfolio review that is performed by the Graduate Affairs Committee on
behalf of the graduate faculty. This review is intended to certify
depth and breadth in computer science, and to promote scholarship, research,
and professional skills. A Ph.D. student must prepare and submit
portfolio within:
- five semesters of admission to the graduate
program if the student does not have a Masters degree at the time of entry
into the program or,
- three semesters of admission to the graduate
program if the student already has a Master degree.
A student may, however, petition the Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) for
additional time to complete the portfolio when exceptional circumstances justify
an extension.
The student is solely responsible for the contents of the portfolio,
and so it is very important to begin the preparation of the portfolio early
and to solicit the help of faculty advisors in its preparation. When the complete
portfolio is submitted, it is reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee
which serves as the examining committee for the comprehensive examination.
A student who is denied admission to candidacy may, at the discretion
of the approval of the faculty, be given one
additional chance to correct the deficiencies that were identified.
Graduate School regulations require that a student who fails the Comprehensive
Examination a second time be dismissed from the graduate program.
The portfolio must demonstrate that the student has strong mastery of
core computer science and indicate that the student has the ability to conduct
original research and make an acceptable written presentation of the results.
Required Elements of the Portfolio
- Statement of Purpose. The student should briefly state
why he/she is seeking to become a PhD candidate. The statement is also a
student's opportunity to summarize past accomplishments and future goals.
This is a chance to speak directly to the Graduate Affairs Committee and
the faculty regarding any issue relevant to the issue of candidacy.
- A brief curriculum vitae. This c.v. should include elements
that are relevant to the student's application to Ph.D. candidacy.
Academic honors and awards are appropriate. Outside interests (e.g., fishing,
golf, or cricket) are not.
- Letters of recommendation. Two supporting letters from Computer
Science faculty members are required. Additional letters from faculty in the
Department of Computer Science and other departments, industrial collaborators,
and from former students may be included at applicants discretion. Letters
are strictly confidential.
- Demonstration of core competencies. Students must demonstrate
mastery of the material in the core areas of computer science (architecture,
languages, systems, and theory). Possible mechanisms for demonstrating
this mastery include but are not limited to: transcripts, testimonials of
former professors, and published research in an area.
- Demonstration of potential for success in research. A research
paper in which a significant component of the writing was done by the candidate
must be included. The paper should be of sufficient quality to indicate
that the student has the ability to conduct original research and make an
acceptable written presentation of the results. Although not required, students
are strongly encouraged to submit the paper to a conference or workshop.
For such submissions, the student may be the sole author or may be a co-author
with other faculty and or other students. However, if the paper has joint
authorship, the other authors must submit written documentation identifying
those sections of the paper that were written by the candidate. The paper
does not have to be accepted or published to be included in a successful
portfolio. Although a published paper provides more convincing evidence for
research potential, a rejected submission, along with peer reviews, can also
be used by the Graduate Affairs Committee to evaluate potential in research.
The paper may or may not be related to the student's eventual dissertation
area. A candidate's M.S. research paper, thesis, or a derivative thereof
may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Optional Elements of the
Portfolio
- Other Evidence of research ability. The portfolio must contain
evidence of the ability to conduct research. The student has a great deal
of latitude with respect to evidence that speaks to this requirement. Examples
include:
- Publications - technical reports, workshops, conference proceedings,
journal articles, M.S. research papers. These may include papers in which
the candidate was not the primary author. In cases of joint authorship, the
candidate should indicate as succinctly as possible his or her role in the
research and writing.
- Projects - seminar and independent study projects
- Lectures - on one's research
- Critical analysis - an annotated bibliography, reviewed papers
The Graduate Affairs Committee will be looking for evidence of specific research
skills, including: the ability to identify a problem, evidence of scholarship,
critical analysis, and communication skills (e.g., writing and speaking).
Students are encouraged to include all such evidence in the portfolio.
- Other material . At the discretion of the student and the
adviser, other material may be included in the portfolio. Students
may report all forms of research, teaching, and service to the discipline
when preparing their portfolios. Here, in more detail, are some of the items
a student might include:
- Critical analysis - an annotated bibliography, reviewed papers
- Significant accomplishments - An informal statement of the
two or three things that the student is most proud of in this period. Examples
include earning an "A" in a difficult course, finishing an M.S. research paper,
or having a peer reviewed paper accepted.
- Honors and Awards - Awards of competitive fellowships and induction
into honor societies.
- Presentations - Typical categories include seminars, professional
presentations, and tutorials. Include workshop presentations, paper presentations
in classes, paper presentations at conferences.
- Proposals (in preparation, in review, and accepted) - Include
fellowship applications, grant applications, applications to industrial affiliates,
requests for travel money from conference organizers, etc. Note the status
of the proposal (in preparation, under review, accepted, rejected, under revision,
etc.)
- Professional Reviewing - Include reviewing for journals, conferences,
workshops, and book prospecti. Include other significant internal reviewing;
for example, if more than a few hours were spent reviewing drafts of papers
or proposals for faculty members.
- Service - Include university and department service other than
research and teaching. Examples
include service on standing and ad hoc department committees or as
a graduate student representative.
The Dissertation Proposal
The dissertation proposal is a departmental document
that is presented to the student's advisory committee. The purpose of the
proposal is to inform the committee of the nature and scope of the proposed
dissertation and to obtain their approval and guidance concerning the proposed
research. The written proposal should include the following items:
- an outline of the included material
- a concise review of the state of knowledge in
the general area of interest
- a description of the proposed dissertation area,
along with a concise review of the state of knowledge in the specific area
of the proposed dissertations
- a concise explanation of the problem(s) to be
investigated
- a discussion of the results expected from solving
the problem(s) and their impact on the state of knowledge in the general and
specific areas of interest.
- a bibliography
The written proposal must be approved by the advisory
committee, and communicated through a public oral presentation. The presentation
will be scheduled with the approval of the advisory committee, and the written
document must be available to the advisory committee at least two weeks
before the approval is given. The advisory committee will be asked to give
written approval of the proposal after the presentation, and that approval
will be primarily based on the written document. If the proposal is
not approved, the proposal may be repeated an indefinite number of times
subject to the approval of the advisory committee. The proposal must
be presented and approved at least six months before the dissertation is
completed.
The dissertation proposal serves several purposes.
It is a way to ensure that the student has a clear grasp of a specific problem
or set of problems. It provides a format for discussion of the solutions
or approaches to solving the research problem, and provides documentation
that the student has undertaken a reasonable literature survey in the research
area.
The Dissertation Defense
The student will present a summary of the dissertation
at a departmental colloquium. This presentation must include an explanation
of the problem addressed, a description of results, and an explanation of
the significance of the results. After the presentation, a brief period may
be allocated for questions from the general audience.
At the end of the question period, the Final Doctoral
Oral Examination will be conducted by the student's advisory committee. Members
of the faculty, as well as members of the Graduate Curriculum Committee, and
the dean of the Graduate School are invited to attend this examination. This
final examination demands a broad and penetrating interpretation by the student
of the research project and its conclusions. It may also include examination
of the student in the major and minor fields of specialization.
A student who fails the final oral examination
may be allowed a second opportunity if the advisory committee recommends it.
Failure of the second examination will result in dismissal from the Graduate
School.
Research Requirements
The Doctoral Dissertation
The research requirement is the most important aspect
of Ph.D. study. The doctoral dissertation is the written record of the research
that the student has conducted and must provide evidence of the student's
ability to independently perform original research leading to the discovery
of significant new knowledge. Thus, the dissertation should demonstrate the
student's technical mastery of the subject, independent scholarly work and
conclusions that modify or enlarge what has previously been known.
The dissertation is expected to:
- Identify a significant open question or problem
in computer science.
- Describe the current state knowledge of the
area(s) involved.
- Present a solution or solutions to the the problem
that was identified.
- Report on the results of the research conducted,
substantiate those results, and demonstrate the originality and contribution
of the results
The format of the dissertation must conform to
the current Department and Graduate School standards. Copies of the dissertation
must be delivered to the student's advisory committee members at least two
weeks prior to the final oral examination.
The Publication Requirement
Prior to graduation, each Ph.D. student must publish
(or have accepted for publication) results of the research leading to the
dissertation. The paper must be fully refereed and published in the proceedings
of a computer science conference or in a computer science journal. The paper
may be co-authored with the research advisor.
Application and Admission Requirements
Admission to the M.S. Program
Admission to the graduate program in Computer
Science requires acceptance into the Graduate School at Clemson University.
Applicants must possess a four-year degree from a recognized undergraduate
institution. The Graduate School,
not the Department, is responsible
for determining whether a specific undergraduate degree satisfies this requirement.
Acceptance is based upon letters of recommendation, transcripts of previous
undergraduate and graduate studies, and scores on the Graduate Record Examination
(GRE). Applicants whose native language is not English
must provide
official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.
Submission of Test of Spoken English (TSE) scores is
not required
but is recommended for international applicants seeking teaching assistantships.
The GRE subject test in Computer Science is also
not required but the
score will be considered if it is provided. Accepted applicants who apply
during their last year of undergraduate study are granted
conditional admission
which is contingent upon the successful completion of the undergraduate
program of study.
Applications from capable and motivated students with an undergraduate
degree in field other than Computer Science will be considered. However, full
acceptance into the program requires not only strong computer programming
skills but also a demonstrated mastery of intermediate level computer science
topics including: computer organization and data representation; machine and
assembly language programming; data structures; file organization and
processing; and programming systems.
Applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States
may be admitted as Post Baccalaureate (PB)
students if they have deficiencies in their Computer Science backgrounds.
A PB student who successfully completes the required undergraduate prerequisites
becomes eligible to join the M.S. program. United States immigration
law does not permit us to grant PB admission to international students.
Admission to the
Ph.D. Program
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must submit the same materials as applicants
to the M.S. program. However, applicants to the Ph.D. program should possess
a B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science or in a closely related field. Applicants
holding only the B.S. degree may be directly admitted into the Ph.D. program
or initially admitted to the M.S. program based upon the strength of their
records as evaluated by the admissions committee.
The Application Procedure
Applications are accepted for both fall and spring semester admission, and
they are considered until all slots are filled. International applications
should be completed at least three months before the anticipated date
of enrollment because of delays involved in issuing immigration documents.
Applicants who hope to receive financial aid should also apply as early as
possible. The recommended procedure for applying is the on-line application
procedure available at http://www.grad.clemson.edu. If on-line
application is not possible, paper application forms may be requested by sending
the following information to
grdapp@mail.clemson.edu
- Your Name
- Address
- US Social Security Number (if applicable)
- Date of Birth
- Gender (Female or Male)
- Country of Citizenship
- Degree Sought (MS or PhD)
- Intended Major (Computer Science)
You should also indicate that you have been in contact with the Department
of Computer Science at Clemson University and have no way to use the on-line
application procedure. You may also contact graduate admissions by surface
mail at the following address:
Graduate Admissions
Martin Hall
Clemson University
Box 345120
Clemson, SC USA 29634-5120
Phone: (864)656-3915
The doctoral program emphasizes research, and the Department encourages
prospective candidates to involve themselves in research under the supervision
of a faculty member at the earliest possible opportunity. In addition to
research activities in various areas of computer science, there are many
opportunities for interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research.