Program Requirements

Graduate Degree Programs

Program Descriptions/Degree Requirements

1. Background courses--students must demonstrate knowledge in:
   
   

   
   

   CMPSC 473, Operating Systems Design and Construction - (Old Course CSE 411),
   

   CMPEN 431, Introduction to Computer Architecture - (Old Course CSE 431),
   

   CMPSC 461, Programming Language Concepts - (Old Course CSE 428),
   

   CMPSC 465, Data Structures and Algorithms - (Old Course CSE 465), and
   

   CMPEN 471, Logical Design of Digital Systems - (Old Course CSE 471) or CMPSC 468, Theory of Automata - (Old Course CSE 468).
   

   
   Only 3 credits of the above background courses can be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements.
   


2. Students must take 15 credits from courses numbered CSE 500-589 or CSE 598, including a minimum of 9 credits of breadth courses, with at least one course from three of the following five groups.
   
   

   Group A--Architecture and Communication Systems

   CSE 513 (Distributed Systems)
   CSE 514 (Computer Networks)
   CSE 515 (Reliable Data Communications)
   CSE 517 (Performance Evaluation)
   CSE 530 (Fundamentals of Computer Architecture)
   CSE 554 (Error Correcting Codes for Computers and Communication)
   

   Group B--Systems

   CSE 511 (Operating System Design)

   CSE 520 (Science of Computer Programming)

   CSE 521 (Compiler Construction)

   CSE 522 (Semantics of Programming Languages)

   CSE 541 (Database Systems I)

   CSE 543 (Computer Security)
   

   Group C--Theory

   CSE 550 (Numerical Linear Algebra)

   CSE 561 (Sequential and Parallel Complexity Theory)

   CSE 565 (Algorithm Design and Analysis)

   CSE 568 (Theory of Formal Languages and Automata)

   CSE 588 (Complexity in Computer Algebra)
   

   Group D--Application

   CSE 557 (Concurrent Matrix Computation)

   CSE 583 (Pattern Recognition)

   CSE 585 (Digital Image Processing II)

   CSE 586 (Topics in Computer Vision)
   

   Group E--Hardware Systems Design

   CSE 571 (Switching and Sequential Machine Theory)

   CSE 572 (Microprocessors and Systems Design)

   CSE 575 (Architecture of Arithmetic Processors)

   CSE 577 (VLSI Systems Design)

   CSE 578 (VLSI Computer-Aided Design Tools)
   
   

3. Graduate courses--students must take 9 additional credits of 400 level and above courses in CMPSC, CMPEN, CSE or related areas, excluding independent studies courses and ENGR 588. As noted above, 3 credits of 1 (Background courses) can be counted. The 9 additional credits must include at least 1, and at most 2 credits, of CSE 590 (colloquium).
4. Effective Fall 2009, Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training must be completed during first year enrollment.
The SARI program has two parts:

• During the first year enrollment, graduate students will be required to complete an online RCR training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).  The Office for Research Protections (ORP) will provide the conduit to this training via the SARI Resource Portal on the ORP website.
• Graduate students will also be required to engage in an additional 5 hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.  These discussions will encompass both universal and discipline-specific material.
  
5. Thesis--students must complete 6 credits of CSE 600 and defend their thesis.

1. Background courses--students must demonstrate knowledge in:

   
   

   CMPSC 473, Operating Systems Design and Construction - (Old Course CSE 411),
   

   CMPEN 431, Introduction to Computer Architecture - (Old Course CSE 431),
   

   CMPSC 461, Programming Language Concepts - (Old Course CSE 428),
   

   CMPSC 465, Data Structures and Algorithms - (Old Course CSE 465), and
   

   CMPEN 471, Logical Design of Digital Systems - (Old Course CSE 471) or CMPSC 468, Theory of Automata - (Old Course CSE 468).
   

   
   Only 3 credits of the above background courses can be used to satisfy graduate degree requirements.


2. Students must take 18 credits (with at least 15 credits from courses numbered CSE 500-589 or CSE 598), including:
   
   a) Breadth courses--a minimum of 9 credits of breadth courses, with at least one course from three of the following five groups.
   
   

   Group A--Architecture and Communication Systems

   CSE 513 (Distributed Systems)

   CSE 514 (Computer Networks)

   CSE 515 (Reliable Data Communications)

   CSE 517 (Performance Evaluation)

   CSE 530 (Fundamentals of Computer Architecture)

   CSE 554 (Error Correcting Codes for Computers and Communication)

   Group B--Systems

   CSE 511 (Operating System Design)

   CSE 520 (Science of Computer Programming)

   CSE 521 (Compiler Construction)

   CSE 522 (Semantics of Programming Languages)

   CSE 541 (Database Systems I)

   CSE 543 (Computer Security)
   

   Group C--Theory

   CSE 550 (Numerical Linear Algebra)

   CSE 561 (Sequential and Parallel Complexity Theory)

   CSE 565 (Algorithm Design and Analysis)

   CSE 568 (Theory of Formal Languages and Automata)

   CSE 588 (Complexity in Computer Algebra)
   

   Group D--Application

   CSE 557 (Concurrent Matrix Computation)

   CSE 583 (Pattern Recognition)

   CSE 585 (Digital Image Processing II)

   CSE 586 (Topics in Computer Vision)
   

   Group E--Hardware Systems Design

   CSE 571 (Switching and Sequential Machine Theory)

   CSE 572 (Microprocessors and Systems Design)

   CSE 575 (Architecture of Arithmetic Processors)

   CSE 577 (VLSI Systems Design)

   CSE 578 (VLSI Computer-Aided Design Tools)
   
   

b) Depth courses--In addition to the 9 credits of breadth courses, students must take at least one 3-credit CSE 5xx course from the department list of approved depth courses.


3. Graduate courses--students must take 12 additional credits of 400 level and above courses in CMPSC, CMPEN, CSE or related areas, excluding independent studies courses and ENGR 588. As noted above, 3 credits of 1 (Background courses) can be counted. The 12 additional credits must include at least 1, and at most 2 credits, of CSE 590 (colloquium). Students must complete and defend a 1-credit technical paper (CSE 594).
4. Effective Fall 2009, Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training must be completed during first year enrollment.
• During the first year enrollment, graduate students will be required to complete an online RCR training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).  The Office for Research Protections (ORP) will provide the conduit to this training via the SARI Resource Portal on the ORP website.
• Graduate students will also be required to engage in an additional 5 hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.  These discussions will encompass both universal and discipline-specific material.
  
  

1. Students who are entering the Ph.D. program with a Master of Science degree can count up to 30 credits to satisfy item 2) below.
   
   
2. Graduate Courses--students must accumulate a minimum of 48 credits of non-thesis graduate level courses, with at least 27 credits of courses with numbers CSE 500-589 or CSE 598, and 21 additional credits of 400 level and above courses. This must include 3 credits of CSE 590 [colloquium; only 3 credits of CSE 590 can be counted towards the 48 minimum credits]. A maximum of 3 credits of X96 also can be counted. At most, 3 credits of background course work can be used to satisfy the degree requirements.
   
3. Effective Fall 2009, Scholarship and Research Integrity (SARI) training must be completed during first year enrollment.
• During the first year enrollment, graduate students will be required to complete an online RCR training program provided by the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).  The Office for Research Protections (ORP) will provide the conduit to this training via the SARI Resource Portal on the ORP website.
• Graduate students will also be required to engage in an additional 5 hours of discussion-based RCR education prior to degree completion.  These discussions will encompass both universal and discipline-specific material.

Other requirements include:


Course Breadth Requirement

In addition to the candidacy exam requirement, all CSE Ph.D. graduate students will need to satisfy the following course requirements before graduation.

1. Pass a graduate breadth course from at least three of the nine subject areas.
2. Only one of these three courses can overlap with the area of the candidacy exam subject areas.
3. At least one of the two subject areas listed below must be covered either by passing the candidacy examination in that area or by completing the graduate breadth course specified.
   a. Data Structures and Algorithms
   b. Programming Languages
4. At least one of the two subject areas listed below must be covered either by passing the candidacy examination in that area or by completing the graduate breadth course specified.
   a. Operating System
   b. Computer Architecture

Note for Continuing Students admitted prior to Fall 2006

You may opt to remain in the old candidacy exam format or opt to change to test in the new format. If you opt for the new format and have passed either Exam A or Exam B previously, you will be considered to have passed two subject areas. All students opting for the new format will need to satisfy the course breadth requirements specified above.

• Ph.D. candidacy examination--candidacy examination consisting of:
  
  a) CSE 591 Research Experience in Computer Science and Engineering [1 credit]--must be completed within the first two regular semesters after entering the Ph.D. program and a grade of B or higher must be achieved; can only be taken once, and
  b) Written examination--must be completed within the first three regular semesters, which is offered at the beginning of each fall and spring semester. The examination tests the student's background preparation and problem-solving ability.
  
  

  The students are required to attempt and pass examinations in three out of the nine subject areas listed below. Each subject area examination will have duration of two hours. By the second semester, students must have attempted at least three areas (with a demonstrated performance in all three). A student is limited to three chances to pass the candidacy, and will have to take the exam in the first semester of residence in order to avail themselves of the three-chance rule. The students will need to register for the examination and identify the three subject areas no later than two weeks before the date of the examination with the graduate secretary. The student must pass three subject area exams no later than the third regular semester after entering the Ph.D. program. Examinations taken as an M.S. or as an M.Eng. student will count towards the maximum limit of three attempts.
  
  

  The level of the examination is that of undergraduate courses in the designated subject areas, although the questions are not necessarily restricted to topics covered in any specific course. The Graduate Officer of the department will assign coordinators for each examination. Special conditions set for an examination (such as open book) will be promulgated by the area coordinator four weeks prior to the examination.
  
  

• Comprehensive examination--student must pass the Ph.D. comprehensive examination, and the English competency and communication requirements.
  
  
• Dissertation--students must complete and defend a Ph.D. thesis.
  
  
• English Competency Assessment--all incoming Ph.D. students will have their English competencies assessed. Students whose native language is English will have their writing and presentational speaking competencies assessed. International students will have their writing, oral, and presentational speaking competencies assessed. These assessments will take place in each fall and spring or summer semester. Based on the results of these assessments, students with documented deficiencies will be required to pursue one or several opportunities that are identified for appropriate skill enhancement.
  

Exception
In very rare situations, petitions will be considered for acceptance of certain CSE 597 course offerings (or a related course from another department) as meeting the requirements for master's and doctoral degrees. These petitions can only be submitted with prior approval of and strong support from your advisor; they will only be entertained under extenuating circumstances such as the late cancellation of a required course. Petitions should be submitted to the graduate officer, for consideration by the graduate committee.

Optional Minor
A minor consists of at least 6 graduate credits in an approved area. The department in which the student wants to minor must approve the course selection for the minor. Students planning to take an optional minor must petition, in writing, to the graduate officer before taking courses in the intended minor. This petition must be signed by the student's academic advisor. Final approval is given by the Graduate School.

Operations Research Dual-Title Degree Program
Graduates students within Computer Science and Engineering can elect to participate in the Operations Research Dual-Title Degree Program. Operations Research is the use of scientific methodology in the formulation, analysis, and solution of problems of decision making. The term Operations Research originated in World War II to describe studies of military operations involving man-machine systems. Since its origin, operations researchers have addressed a wide variety of problems, including production and inventory control, transportation and distribution system design, capital investment marketing strategies, health maintenance, pollution control, personnel staffing, military deployment, resource management and other regional planning problems, just to name a few. The applications of operations research are numerous, and more importantly, new applications are continually arising. The strength and versatility of operations research lie in its ability to model the behavior of complex systems in quantitative mathematical terms, as well as its prescriptive power through analysis and synthesis.

Operations Research is interdisciplinary by nature and draws on the techniques from many fields, including the mathematical sciences, engineering, economics, and the physical sciences. The unique structure of the OR program at Penn State enables students from rather diverse backgrounds to attain and be identified with the tools, techniques, and methodology of Operations Research and at the same time maintain a close association with their field of major interest. The opportunity to study and work with others from such diverse backgrounds provides an enriching experience not usually available in graduate work. By a judicious selection of courses, a student can tailor a plan of graduate study to meet career objectives in both of the chosen fields.

Registration Requirements
Registration as a full-time student is required for each student receiving assistantship support. Full-time status is defined as:

Students holding fellowships, traineeships, or other awards are required to carry 9 or more credits each semester, and 5 or more during the summer session. All international students must register for at least 9 credits during the fall and spring semesters.

The College of Engineering requires that every new engineering teaching assistant complete ENGR 588, the Graduate Teaching Seminar, during their first semester as a teaching assistant where they are responsible for teaching in the classroom (actual classes, recitations, or labs).

Time Limits and Other Constraints
M.S. or M.Engr. degrees must be completed within eight years of admission to degree status. A doctoral student is required to complete the program, including acceptance of the doctoral thesis, within eight years from the date of acceptance as a candidate.

Prior scheduling of comprehensive and final oral exams for Ph.D. candidates is required at least four weeks in advance. The exams may be canceled if documents (specifically, the thesis proposal and thesis, respectively) are not delivered to committee members at least two weeks prior to exams. Final oral exams and dissertation submissions must meet published deadlines each semester or summer for graduation at the end of that semester or summer.

Over some twelve-month period during the interval between admission to candidacy and completion of the Ph.D. program, the candidate must spend at least two semesters (which may include the semester in which the candidacy examination is taken) as a registered full-time student engaged in academic work at the University Park Campus.

After passing the comprehensive exam and meeting the two-semester full-time residency requirement, the student must maintain continuous registration for each fall and spring semester (beginning with the first semester after both of the above requirements are met) until the Ph.D. thesis is accepted and approved by the doctoral committee. Note that if a student is in residence during summers, he/she must also register for summer sessions. Post comprehensive students can maintain registration by registering for credits in the usual way or by registering for noncredit 601 or 611, depending on whether they are devoting full-time or part-time to their thesis preparation. Students who do not register are subject to retroactive tuition assessments.

To be eligible for candidacies, comprehensives, and final orals, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 is mandatory. Also, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 is mandatory to receive a graduate degree from Penn State.

Normal Academic Progress
Students pursuing graduate degrees in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering are expected to complete the minimum credit requirement each semester and to maintain an acceptable academic grade point average. Acceptable is understood to mean a minimum 3.00 GPA. Students who fall below these standards will be considered on academic probation. If a student remains below this standard for two consecutive semesters, he/she may be terminated. For Ph.D. students, normal academic progress also entails the undertaking of, with a strongly demonstrated effort in each Exam each time it is attempted, the candidacy exam. See the section on Ph.D. Candidacy Examinations for the complete guidelines. Please note that the normal academic progress requirement plays a strong role in determining continuing financial support.

Duration of Assistantship Support
Those students who initially enter one of our departmental programs with support from a Teaching Assistantship are guaranteed support for four 15-week semesters provided that they show continued acceptable (as defined above) academic progress, and fulfill the obligations of their Teaching Assistantship. In addition, international students are expected to pass the Test of Spoken English or complete all required courses. All Ph.D. students must also satisfy the Ph.D. English Proficiency testing.

Advisors
Each graduate student will be assigned a graduate advisor upon entry into one of our graduate programs. This advisor will assist the student in planning a preliminary graduate degree program. This key process is to both insure that students have met background requirements and to help prepare a schedule of courses for the first semester of enrollment. This advisor will remain the graduate advisor until the student forms a committee to advise the student on a technical paper, an M.S. thesis, or Ph.D. thesis.

). The student should discuss research opportunities with faculty in the department. After obtaining the agreement of a faculty member to serve as research advisor, the student may choose to have this research advisor serve as their academic advisor as well; the graduate secretary must be notified of this choice. The student will then form the appropriate research committee.