• About the Program
• Academic Regulations
• Admission Requirements
• Program Requirements
• Course Selection

 

About the Program

The PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) in Computer Science program combines breadth knowledge in computer science through course work and depth knowledge in the area of specialization through research.

The Ph.D. areas of specialization are:

• Software Engineering
• Theory of Computing
• Computer Applications
• Computer Systems

Within these areas of specialization the program emphasizes problems of current practical significance and advances in computer science knowledge. The program fosters collaborative and interdisciplinary work with the scientific and industrial (private and public) communities.

 

Academic Regulations

• See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Admission Requirements

• Admission to the Ph.D. in Computer Science requires a Masters in Computer Science with thesis, or equivalent including demonstrated significant research ability.
• In exceptional cases, students who are currently in the M.C.S. program and who have completed all course requirements with a grade of no less than A in each course may be permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program.

Program Requirements

• A minimum of 1.5 credits at the graduate level in at least three different research areas (see OCICS course grouping by area).
• The admission committee and the student's advisory committee may impose additional program requirements according to the student's background and research topic.
• The thesis weight will be of 8.5 credits.
• Presentation of at least two seminars in the Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Computer Science seminar series: Minimally, the student must make one presentation for the graduate seminar, and one presentation for the departmental seminar.
• A comprehensive examination (COMP 6907) involving breadth and depth components.
• A written thesis proposal (COMP 6908) defended at an oral examination.
• A research thesis (COMP 6909) defended at an oral examination.

Guidelines for Completion of Doctoral Degree

The following completion times are estimates based on full-time study.

• During the first term, the student and his or her faculty adviser should select graduate courses related to their area(s) of research and interests. Approval from the Graduate Supervisor of the Institute is only required for courses not listed as valid OCICS courses.
• Subject to the approval of the Graduate Supervisor, Ph.D. students may take courses in other relevant disciplines. At least half of the course credits of a Ph.D. student must be valid OCICS courses.
• An advisory committee comprised of three to five faculty members must be established before the student registers in the comprehensive examination. The committee is responsible for the comprehensive examination, the thesis proposal, and for guiding the student's research. The advisory committee must include at least one representative from SITE. The advisory committee must be approved by the director or associate director of the Institute.
• Comprehensive examinations (see COMP 6907) must be taken within the first 4 terms.
• All course requirements must be completed within the first 6 terms.
• Within the first 8 terms, the student must submit a written thesis proposal and defend it in an oral examination (see COMP 6908).
• The expected completion time for the Ph.D. program is approximately twelve terms depending on the type of thesis and the area of research.
• Before the completion of the program, the student is expected to present at least two seminars in the Ottawa-Carleton Institute for Computer Science seminar series.

Residence Requirement

• Students must fulfil a residence requirement of at least four terms of full-time study.

Graduate Course Selection

Please visit the courses section for full course descriptions.

Subject to the approval of the Graduate Supervisor, M.C.S. and Ph.D. students may take courses in other relevant disciplines. The courses in the following list are offered by the two departments forming OCICS.

Guide to Course Codes

COMP - Carleton University School of Computer Science
CSI - University of Ottawa School of Information Technology and Engineering