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Informal Guide to the Ph.D. and Engineer Programs

Date modified: November 6, 2007

The Ph.D. and Engineer degrees are the most advanced degree programs offered by the School of Information Technology & Engineering at George Mason University.  The definitive source of information about the requirements for these programs is the university Catalog, but because of the inherent flexibility of these programs, the Catalog provides limited guidance to a student faced with decisions such as deciding on a course to take or choosing an advisor.  This guide attempts to provide such guidance.

If you discover errors on this web page, please contact itephd@gmu.edu.

General Guidance for Prospective Students

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Should I apply to one of these programs?

A Ph.D. degree can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding of educational experiences. You can work closely with a faculty mentor, performing original research, and tackling challenging and unsolved problems. But a Ph.D. degree is not for everyone.

You should ask yourself why you want a Ph.D. degree. Not all jobs and careers require one. In fact, in some careers a Ph.D. degree can be a disadvantage, since it can make you appear overqualified for a job. A Ph.D. degree can take a long time to complete (see below). Not all students who begin Ph.D. programs complete them.

A Ph.D. program teaches you how to perform independent research in a specialized subject area. The major challenge is the completion of the doctoral dissertation, which requires you to work by yourself, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, for a period that can take several years. It requires determination and self-motivation.

If these challenges and opportunities excite you, then by all means apply to the Ph.D. program.

For those requiring advanced (post-master’s) training, but without the interest in the research aspects of the Ph.D. degree, the Engineer degree may be more appropriate.

The Engineer degree combines the course work of the Ph.D. program with an applied project of shorter duration than a doctoral dissertation. It is aimed at working professionals seeking advanced (post-master’s) training.

In some cases, it may make more sense to get a second master’s degree, rather than enroll in a Ph.D. or Engineer program.

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What are career prospects for graduates of the Ph.D. program?

It is difficult to give a general answer to this question, since the answer can depend on the particular specialization and goals of the student.

Many of our doctoral students are already employed, and continue with their current jobs when they graduate. Such students may receive a promotion when they graduate. In some cases, the employer has subsidized the education of the student, and in such cases the employer may have clear and specified goals for the employee.

Certain careers may require a Ph.D. degree. This is commonly true for faculty positions at a university. (Some of our graduates take faculty positions when they graduate.) Depending on the university, a faculty position may involve mostly teaching, or it may require a mix of teaching and research. Graduates may also consider teaching positions at community colleges or similar educational institutions. These positions typically place less emphasis on research.

Another source of employment is in government laboratories or research installations.

Some companies (more commonly, these are larger companies) have research divisions which hire Ph.D. graduates.

There are a variety of sources of information about jobs. The University has an office of Career Services. Job notices are also posted on bulletin boards in the Science and Technology II building.

Because many jobs for Ph.D. graduates are specialized, professional journals and magazines are often a good source of information. Students should also consult their advisors for suggestions.

Some job notices are sent to the e-mail list of doctoral students. If you wish to be added to this list, send e-mail to itephd@gmu.edu.

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How should I prepare for advanced graduate work?

The Ph.D. and Engineer degrees can, to a great extent, be customized to each student, since the requirements for the degrees are flexible (at least in terms of subject matter). For this reason, you should be clear, perhaps before you even apply for the program, what skills and knowledge you wish to acquire in the program. This is not the same as choosing a dissertation topic. For example, you might want to learn more about a specialized topic such as distributed data bases, artificial intelligence, or signal processing. You might want to acquire a technical skill such as computer-aided design. Or you might wish to study an application area such as transportation modeling.

You should then make sure that your chosen topics are studied in our School. This information can be obtained by examining the topics covered by our master’s programs, since these topics reflect the research interests of our faculty.  You should also look at faculty biographies.

You may also wish to contact a faculty member who does research in an area that interests you to discuss your plans.

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About the Degrees

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What Ph.D. and Engineer programs do you offer?

We currently offer three Ph.D. programs: Information Technology, Computer Science, and Electrical & Computer Engineering.

Within the Ph.D. program in Information Technology, a variety of concentrations are available:

The concentrations provide more focused guidance within the Information Technology Ph.D. program, but also restrict the choices that a student can make.  If a student completes the requirements of the concentration, then the name of the concentration becomes an official part of the degree name and appears on the transcript (but not on the diploma).  Choosing a concentration is optional; students are not required to choose a concentration.  In fact, for some students (particularly those with interdisciplinary interests) the concentrations will be overly restrictive.

In addition, we offer the Engineer degree in Information Technology.

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Where can I find complete information about these programs?

Official information on all of our degree programs is available from the university Catalog.  There are also web pages for each of the Ph.D. programs that provide program information and other guidance:

·        Ph.D. in Information Technology

·        Ph.D. in Computer Science

·        Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering

·        Engineer degree in Information Technology

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How do I choose among these programs?

The Ph.D. program in Information Technology covers all aspects of research in the School of Information Technology & Engineering, and is especially appropriate for interdisciplinary research. Students with more specialized interests may choose one of the concentrations within the program (see above), or (if their research interests are appropriate) one of the other two Ph.D. degrees offered (either Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering).

The other two Ph.D. programs focus on the advanced applications and the underlying mathematical and computational systems that make up their respective fields.

For those interested in advanced (post-master’s) training, but who are less interested in the research training associated with the doctoral dissertation, the Engineer degree may be more appropriate.

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Should I choose a concentration within the Information Technology Ph.D. program?

See above.

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What are the requirements for completing the Ph.D. degree?

The specific requirements for each degree are listed in the university Catalog.  Broadly speaking, there are six main requirements:

1.      Breadth requirement:  The qualifying exams measure whether a student has a basic understanding of the topic area corresponding to the title of the degree.

2.      Specialized course work:  The student, in consultation with the advisor, selects a set of courses that will help to give the student specialized knowledge of the student’s chosen research area.

3.      Comprehensive examination:  This examination is typically taken after the student has completed course work and qualifying exams.  The purpose of the exam is so that the student’s dissertation committee can determine if the student is ready to conduct research in the chosen research area.

4.      Dissertation proposal:  This document gives details on the student’s planned dissertation.  It typically has four main parts: (a) a description of the general topic area of the dissertation; (b) summary of existing research in the topic area, together with reference citations; (c) a precise description of the student’s research questions and/or hypotheses; and (d) a plan for conducting the research.

5.      Dissertation:  The written document describing the research and results.

6.      Defense:  A public forum where the student presents the results of the research to the dissertation committee, along with anyone else who chooses to attend.  The student will typically be asked questions about the research, and will be expected to defend the results of the work against challenges and inquiries from the committee and the general public.

The individual degree programs and concentrations have varying rules for the qualifying and comprehensive examinations, and varying restrictions for the selection of specialized courses.  You should consult the university catalog for details.

The dissertation proposal is an especially important requirement.  The dissertation research is the least structured part of the Ph.D. degree.  It lacks the time limits and structure of a course, and many students find this period of the degree especially challenging.  The dissertation proposal helps to provide some structure and guidance.  In addition, the Information Technology Ph.D. program requires that its students take the one-credit course IT 990 to help them prepare their dissertation proposal.

The general requirements assume that the student already has a master’s degree.  If not, the student must also complete the equivalent of a master’s degree as part of the requirements.

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What are the requirements for completing the Engineer degree?

The requirements for the Engineer degree in Information Technology are similar to those for the Ph.D. program in Information Technology.  Broadly speaking, they are:

1.      Course work:  The student, in consultation with the advisor, selects a set of courses that will help to give the student specialized knowledge of the student’s chosen application area.  Students can use up to two qualifying exams to substitute for up to 6 credits of course work.

2.      Project proposal:  This document gives details on the student’s planned project.  It typically has four main parts: (a) a description of the general topic area of the project; (b) summary of existing work in the topic area, together with reference citations; (c) a precise description of the student’s project goals; and (d) a plan for conducting the work of the project.

3.      Project:  The written document describing the applied project and results.

4.      Defense:  A public forum where the student presents the results of the project to the supervisory committee, along with anyone else who chooses to attend.  The student will typically be asked questions about the project, and will be expected to defend the results of the work against challenges and inquiries from the committee and the general public.

The general requirements assume that the student already has a master’s degree.  If not, the student must also complete the equivalent of a master’s degree as part of the requirements.

Students who are not sure whether they wish to complete the Ph.D. or the Engineer degree should enroll in the Ph.D. degree, since it is easier to transfer from the Ph.D. to the Engineer degree than to transfer in the other direction.

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If I complete the Engineer degree, can I later go on to the Ph.D. degree?

Yes.  Students who are awarded an engineer degree will be able, at a later date, to work toward a PhD in Information Technology. Some restrictions and limitations will apply.

Such students will be able to apply for a reduction of up to 12 credits in their course requirements. The request must satisfy the rules for transfer credit at the university, and the courses must be relevant to the student's planned dissertation research. In addition, the qualifying examinations for the doctoral program will be waived for such students. All other requirements for the doctoral program must be satisfied by such students.

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How long does it take to complete a Ph.D. or Engineer degree?

Because research is unpredictable, a definite time period cannot be specified. Most of our Ph.D. students complete their degree in 3-5 years. We do not have extensive data yet for the Engineer degree, but we expect that it will reduce the time required by at least one year.

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If I have trouble completing the Ph.D. degree, what choices do I have?

Sometimes students discover that they are unable to complete the Ph.D. degree.  It might happen because of changes in their careers or personal lives, or just because they decide that a Ph.D. degree is not appropriate.   A simple but often unsatisfying choice is just to leave the university without getting a degree.  A better choice might be to transfer to one of our M.S. programs, or to transfer to the Engineer degree.  An advantage of switching to the Engineer degree is that it is possible to return at a later date and continue on to the Ph.D. (see above).

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Guidance for Current Ph.D. and Engineering Students

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How should I prepare for the qualifying exams?

Students in our Ph.D. programs must complete a set of qualifying exams to demonstrate basic knowledge. These exams are related to courses within our master’s programs, and students may wish to take these courses to prepare for the exams. (In the Information Technology programs, courses taken to prepare for the qualifying exams may not be included in the set of specialized courses discussed below.)

For the Information Technology program, further information on the qualifying exams is available online; there are also web pages set up for the Computer Science exams, and for the Electrical and Computer Engineering exams.

It is up to each student to decide how to prepare for the qualifying exams.  Some students will decide to study the material on their own, or in a group with a few other students.  Others may wish to take the corresponding courses.  Or you might use a mix of preparation techniques, depending on the particular exam you are studying for.  It is recommended that you discuss this issue with your advisor.

In all cases, you should prepare seriously for the exams.  Studying for the exams is important for your success; it also makes you better prepared for the later stages of the Ph.D. program.

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How should I prepare for the comprehensive exam?

The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to determine if you are prepared to conduct doctoral research in your chosen research area.  In the Computer Science program it consists of an oral exam and a written exam.  In the Information Technology program it consists of an oral exam and an optional written exam.  In the Electrical & Computer Engineering program it consists of an oral exam.

Typically the student will take this exam soon after completing the course work for the degree. Based on the student’s research topic, the committee will give the student guidance on what materials to study.  The study list might refer to the materials for a particular course, some or all chapters of a textbook or monograph, a list of journal articles, or some other set of materials.

The exam is scheduled at the convenience of the student and the committee.  There are no set dates, nor is there a set structure for the exam beyond that specified above.

In the Information Technology Ph.D. program, students are allowed two chances to pass the comprehensive exam.

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How should I select courses to take?

Of course, you must satisfy the requirements for the degree, as listed in the university catalog.  Students should discuss all course choices with their advisor.  Courses should be chosen to match your research interests, as well as to help prepare you for work on your dissertation.

Advanced courses on specialized topics may not be offered on a regular or predictable basis.  Often, specialized courses may be offered on a one-time basis, and students may decide to alter their plans to take advantage of these opportunities.

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What can I do if there is no course offered in a topic that interests me?

Course credit is available for individualized reading and research in an area not aligned with a currently taught course. You will need to get a faculty member to supervise (and possibly participate). To make it part of your plan of study requires the agreement of your advisory committee.  Only one directed reading course can be included as part of your plan of study.

It may also be possible for you to take a course offered at one of the other universities in the area, via the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

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How should I select an advisor?

In many cases a student will have two advisors, an “academic advisor” at the beginning of the program, who assists you in selecting courses and qualifying exams, and a “dissertation advisor” who guides you in your dissertation.  Sometimes these are the same person.

If you have spoken with faculty members before applying to the Ph.D. program, then you may ask one of these faculty members to be your academic advisor. Otherwise, an academic advisor will be assigned to you as part of the admissions process.  If no academic advisor has been assigned to you, or if you do not know the name of your academic advisor, contact Lisa Nolder.

You should treat your academic advisor as a preliminary advisor. It is your responsibility to get to know the faculty and, if appropriate, identify a dissertation advisor who is better suited to your interests.

Each student should get to know the relevant faculty, and then make an active choice about the person that they want as their dissertation advisor.  It may be the same person that is acting as your academic advisor, but even so, you should be sure that this is the right person to supervise your dissertation.  There are various criteria that might be used to make the decision: (a) the research interests of the faculty member, (b) whether the faculty member is willing to have you as an advisee, (c) the availability of the faculty member (i.e., how many advisees the faculty member has), (d) how well you get along with the faculty member, (e) the advising style of the faculty member.

Supervising a doctoral student takes a great deal of time. For this reason, a faculty member may limit the number of advisees that he or she supervises. You may need to be flexible in your choice of a dissertation advisor.

It is essential that you meet with your academic advisor before taking any courses. You should discuss your choice of courses with your advisor throughout your degree program. If you do not, then there is no guarantee that a course you take will count towards your degree.

Your advisor (academic or dissertation) can act as a champion for your cause and will help to let you know when you are ready for the various stages of your academic program.

Not all of our faculty members can serve as dissertation advisors; the faculty member must be a member of the University’s graduate faculty.  A list of possible advisors is available here.

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How do I get to know the faculty and their research?

Many faculty members have web pages that describe their research and teaching interests. You might wish to look up some of their publications to get further information (although you should not get too discouraged if these publications are difficult to understand). During the first two weeks of the semester, many students sit in on lectures to determine which courses to take, and this can be an opportunity to see and hear a faculty member. You can take a course from a faculty member. You can also make an appointment to meet with a faculty member.

In addition, faculty members in the Computer Science Department and the Information & Software Engineering Department conduct special seminars to familiarize students in the Computer Science Ph.D. program with their work.

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How and when do I form a dissertation committee?

Typically, a student begins to form a dissertation committee near the end of taking the advanced courses.  It is recommended that you discuss the selection of the dissertation committee with your advisor.  Members of the committee should provide expertise relevant to your research interests.  Often, students choose faculty members from whom they have taken courses.

For the Ph.D. program in Information Technology, the committee must consist of at least four members of the university’s graduate faculty.  Three of these members must be from the School of IT&E, and they must represent at least two different departments.  A list of IT&E members of the graduate faculty is available here.

Additional people may be added to the committee, beyond the minimum four members, without regard to their affiliation or educational credentials.

For the Engineer degree in Information Technology, the committee consists of at least three people, two of whom must be members of the IT&E graduate faculty.

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How do I select a dissertation topic?

You should work with your dissertation advisor to determine a dissertation topic. Let the advisor know the topics that interest you, and your personal goals for your degree. A dissertation topic should then develop out of these discussions.

Faculty members differ in their approach to the selection of dissertation topics.  Some faculty members will insist that their students work on particular projects that are closely related to the faculty member’s own research, and will provide detailed guidance in the selection of a dissertation topic.  Other advisors may only offer broad guidance, and expect the student to identify an appropriate dissertation topic independently.

For the Ph.D. program, the dissertation topic must correspond to original research.  Research, by its very nature, is unpredictable. The research project might not turn out as you expect. To get the fullest possible satisfaction from the Ph.D. degree, you should keep in mind the skills and knowledge you want to acquire while completing your degree, and use these as a measure of progress.

Many of our students work in jobs that relate to their dissertation work. We encourage such students to choose dissertation topics related to their jobs. There are several advantages to this. First, the student brings expertise to the dissertation. Second, the student may have access to co-workers, data, and equipment that can contribute to the dissertation. Third, the student may be able to persuade his or her employer to support their dissertation work on the job, since the dissertation may be of value to the employer.

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How else can I familiarize myself with the Ph.D. and Engineer programs?

You should attend dissertation and project defenses that relate to your interests. These defenses are public events, and anyone may attend. Notices of defenses are posted on the bulletin board across from Room 100, Science & Technology II Building.

You may also wish to look at sample dissertations.  These are available at the University Library, as well as online through Proquest’s Digital Dissertations web site.  (This is a commercial web site, but the university has a subscription to the service.  To benefit from the subscription, see the instructions at the library’s web site.)

It is also a good idea to get to know other Ph.D. and Engineer students.

Each semester, students who are beginning dissertation work give public presentations of their dissertation proposals. These are open to the public, and notices are posted to the e-mail list of Ph.D. and Engineer students.

The e-mail list of Ph.D. and Engineer students is maintained by the Associate Dean. This list is used to distribute notices of dissertation defenses, dissertation proposal presentations, funding opportunities, and other news items of interest to students.

In addition, orientation sessions for new Ph.D. and Engineer students are held each fall and spring semester, in the week before the beginning of the semester.

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list, please contact Lisa Nolder.

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Are there orientation sessions that I can attend?

Every Fall and Spring semester, we present an orientation session for newly admitted graduate students. It is usually held the week before the beginning of the semester. For an indication of the information provided at one of these sessions, please see the notes from a recent session.

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Stages in the Information Technology Ph.D. and Engineer Degrees

The major steps in the Information Technology Ph.D. and Engineer degrees are listed below.  Follow the links to learn more about the policies and procedures for each step, including the forms and approvals that are necessary.  See also the sections on the requirements for the Ph.D. and Engineer degrees.

 

 

Qualifying exams [optional for Engineer degree]

All students wishing to take qualifying exams must fill out a Request for Qualifying Exams form, have it signed by your advisor, and have it approved by the Associate Dean one month before the qualifying exams are to be offered.  Qualifying exams are offered twice a year, during the week before the start of classes.  Please see the URL below for the exact dates.

Information on Qualifying Exams

Request for Qualifying Exams form

Coursework

Ph.D. students are required to complete 24 credits of advanced course work.  Since almost all courses are worth 3 credits, most students will take eight courses.  Students in the Engineer program must complete 30 credits of advanced course work (although qualifying exams can be used to substitute for up to 6 credits of course work).  Students must prepare a plan of study with the assistance of their advisor and submit it for approval to the Associate Dean by the end of the second year after admission.  At this time, students must also submit an advisory committee form listing their dissertation committee to the Associate Dean for approval.

Plan of Study form

Advisory committee form

Comprehensive exam [only for Ph.D. degree]

The comprehensive exam is usually taken after completing qualifying exams and coursework, although in some cases the exam will be taken earlier.  Students will contact their advisor and committee to discuss the material that will constitute the subjects of the exam, and the type of exam to be taken.  Currently, an oral exam is required, but there is the option of an additional written exam of up to 8 hours.   

The advisor then sends a memo to the Associate Dean, stating: (a) name of student, (b) members of committee, (c) date(s) of exam, (d) format of exam.  Once the request is approved by the Associate Dean, the exam can then be scheduled and prepared.

The examining committee consists of your dissertation committee, plus anyone else that your dissertation committee thinks ought to attend.  Typically, only the dissertation committee will be involved.

Comprehensive Exam form

Dissertation proposal

The dissertation proposal is typically prepared after completing all courses and exams, although preliminary work on the proposal may begin earlier. While preparing the proposal, students may enroll in IT 996 or 998; Engineer students enroll in IT 996 and Ph.D. students in IT 998.  IT 996/997/998/999 are dissertation credits, and do not correspond to a scheduled class.  The university has established individual sections of IT 996/997/998/999 for each dissertation advisor; to find out the section number for your advisor, contact John Powers in the IT&E Student Services Office (room 160, S&T II).  Students are also required to take the one-credit course IT 990 or 991, which is offered every Fall and Spring semester.  (IT 990 is for Ph.D. students and IT 991 is for Engineering students.)

To gain approval for the proposal, a student must submit a written dissertation proposal to the advisory committee, and make an oral presentation to the advisory committee.  Once the committee has approved the proposal, the student must submit a Proposal Presentation and Admission to Candidacy form to the Associate Dean for approval, along with a copy of the written proposal.  Once final approval is obtained, you will receive a letter confirming the decision.  A copy will be sent to the registrar to record your advancement to candidacy.

Students in the Ph.D. program must complete 24 credits hours of IT 990 (1 credit), 998, and 999, and at least 12 of these credits must be in IT 999.  Students are not permitted to register for IT 999 until they have advanced to candidacy.  Thus, if you do not advance to candidacy quickly enough, you may be required to enroll for IT 998 credits that cannot be applied to your degree.

Students in the Engineer program must complete 12 credits hours of IT 991 (1 credit), 996, and 997, and at least 6 of these credits must be in IT 997.  Students are not permitted to register for IT 997 until they have advanced to candidacy.

Proposal Presentation and Admission to Candidacy form

Dissertation and Defense

All dissertations must meet the formatting and printing requirements of the library.  The library has an online guide for theses and dissertations (see below), and has staff members who can review the formatting of your dissertation.  It is strongly recommended that you contact the library staff as you begin to write your dissertation, and not wait until your dissertation is complete.  (See also the section on dissertation formatting below.)

All students must obtain approval for their written dissertation from their advisory committee, and defend their work in a public defense.  Ph.D. students must also have a pre-defense with their advisory committee before scheduling their final defense.

Once the advisory committee has given approval for the defense, the student must submit an Approval to Defend form to the Associate Dean for approval, along with a copy of the written dissertation.  The Approval to Defend form should be submitted at least four weeks prior to the date of the final defense, to allow time to publicize the defense as required by the University.  Students should also submit to the Associate Dean (via e-mail): (a) a copy of the title and abstract of the dissertation, (b) a list of publications resulting from the dissertation, (c) information on future employment after graduation.

Students must be registered for IT 997 or IT 999 the semester of the defense.

The Associate Dean must be present at the student’s final defense for the Information Technology programs.  Scheduling can be arranged by calling his assistant at 703-993-1499, or by coming to room 160, S&T II.  Also, all members of the advisory committee must attend the defense.

Students who do not meet the library’s deadline for the submission of the dissertation will not be allowed to graduate during that semester.  Dissertations are due at the library by 5pm on the last scheduled Friday of classes for the semester.  Students must submit both an Intent to Graduate form and a Graduation Application by earlier deadlines.  It is recommended that you work with the assistant to the Associate Dean during your final semester, to ensure that all administrative requirements are met.

Graduation web page

Approval to Defend form

Final Dissertation checklist

Guide for a Successful Dissertation Defense

Library Thesis and Dissertation Guide

 

 

Guidance for Students whose Enrollment has Lapsed

Students are considered inactive if they do not enroll in two consecutive semesters.  (For the discussion here, we are only considering the Fall and Spring semesters; we are ignoring the summer sessions.)

 

Depending on the amount of time that you have been inactive, the following procedures will need to be followed in order to re-enroll in your degree program:

 

Inactive for two semesters to two years:

 

Inactive between two and six years:

 

Inactive more than six years:

 

Applications to the Programs

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How do I apply to the program?

You must complete and submit a Graduate Application form. You are encouraged to apply online. Alternatively, you can obtain a .pdf of the application packet by either (1) sending an e-mail to itegadm@gmu.edu; or (2) downloading the application form at http://admissions.gmu.edu.

Applicants to the Information Technology Ph.D. or Engineer programs should also submit the self-evaluation form.

For additional information, contact Lisa Nolder.

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What are the deadlines for applying?

The deadlines are listed in the Graduate Application form (see above). We are often able to accept applications after the deadline (especially for applicants with U.S. citizenship), although we cannot guarantee that late applications will be processed before the beginning of the requested semester.  If you apply after the deadline, you cannot apply online, but must submit a paper application.

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Do I need a master’s degree before I apply to the program?

Generally, a master’s degree in a related field is required for admission to our Ph.D. and Engineer programs. However, well-qualified students without an appropriate master’s degree may apply directly to these programs.

The Information Technology Ph.D. and Engineer programs recommend that applicants have a master’s degree in an information-technology related area. The Computer Science Ph.D. program recommends a master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Ph.D. program recommends a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering or some related area.

Having an appropriate master’s degree may enable applicants to pass qualifying examinations without further master’s-level course work.

A student who applies without a master’s degree may be admitted to one of our master’s programs instead of the Ph.D. program.  This is an indication that the admissions committee felt that the applicant did not meet the higher standards for applicants in this situation.  The student may re-apply for the Ph.D. program while completing the M.S. program.  This does not increase or alter the requirements for ultimately obtaining the Ph.D. degree.

The descriptions of the individual programs are written assuming that a student has a master’s degree. Students without a master’s degree will have to complete the equivalent of an appropriate master’s degree as part of their program of study. In some cases it may be possible to obtain transfer credit for graduate course work taken elsewhere.

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Are there other admission requirements?

Applicants are evaluated on the strength of their academic backgrounds. Basic requirements include an undergraduate grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) and a graduate grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Note that these are minimum requirements, and that the admissions committee may be highly selective in making its decisions.

For complete details on admission requirements, see the web sites for the individual programs mentioned above.

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Do I need to take the GRE or the TOEFL?

The TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required for those whose native language is not English, unless the person has completed a degree from a U.S. university.  For admission, applicants must have a minimum score of 230 on the computer-based TOEFL exam; applicants with scores lower than this will be denied admission.

For the Information Technology Ph.D. and Engineer programs, the general GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is required of applicants who have degrees from foreign universities.

For the Computer Science program, the GRE subject exam in Computer Science is normally required. If the general GRE scores are submitted, they will be considered.

For the Electrical and Computer Engineering program, the general GRE exam is required.

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Practicalities

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How much will it cost to complete a Ph.D. or Engineer degree?

Current information on tuition, fees, and living expenses is available at http://admissions.gmu.edu/ugrad/money.html.

Students in the Information Technology Ph.D. program must enroll for a minimum of 48 credit hours. If a student takes courses to prepare for all the qualifying examinations, then the student will have to enroll for a minimum of 60 credit hours. Most of our Ph.D. students complete their degree in 3-5 years; we expect students in the Engineer program to complete their degrees in 2-4 years.

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Can I go to school part time?

There are certain categories of students (e.g., foreign students attending university on a student Visa) who are subject to laws and regulations that require full-time enrollment.  But, if you are not in such a category then you can attend part time.  In fact, many of our students do go to school part time.

Each of our graduate courses is offered in the evening, on a one-day-a-week basis. There is no residency requirement (i.e., you are not required to attend school full time for one or more semesters).

If you are absent from the University for a semester or longer, you should make special arrangements, or your enrollment may be terminated. For further information, contact Lisa Nolder.

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Can I skip a semester?

It is important to be continuously enrolled as a Mason student while you pursue your degree. You must be continuously enrolled if you have been admitted to candidacy (see above).

Being continuously enrolled means that you are enrolled for at least 3 credit hours every fall and spring semester while you pursue your degree; however, students who have completed all required dissertation hours (both 998 and 999) need only be registered for one credit of dissertation each semester.  If you are not required to maintain continuous enrollment, you can miss a single semester without penalty.

If you miss two consecutive fall and spring semesters, then the university will designate you as “inactive” in its records.  To continue with your degree you must apply for re-enrollment and, if you are re-admitted, then you must comply with the catalog requirements in place at the time you re-enroll.  If the degree requirements have changed considerably, then you may not be able to get credit for all the courses that you have taken.

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Can I obtain credit for courses taken elsewhere?

This may be possible, but there are restrictions. You should contact our office for more information.

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Do I need to begin my degree program in the Fall semester?

No, you can start during the Fall, Spring, or Summer semester.  During the summer semester, there are relatively few advanced courses offered; however, it may be possible to take courses associated with the qualifying exams.

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Is financial aid available?

Financial aid for graduate students is available from several sources. Here is a summary of the most common sources of funding.

For students enrolled in or admitted to one of our graduate programs, fellowships are available. The student should apply by May 1 (for the Fall semester) or November 1 (for the Spring semester) of any year. Fellowships are not available for the Summer semester. Application forms are available online; further information can be obtained from John Powers. Typically, fellowships provide supplementary or temporary support; they do not provide full or long-term assistance. Students requiring full support should consider the programs listed below.

The departments within the School of Information Technology & Engineering hire Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs). You should contact the chair of the department associated with your program/research to inquire about these positions. For new students, this is a common source of financial support.

Individual faculty members support Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) through their research grants. These positions depend on the availability of external funding, and normally are awarded to doctoral students working closely with the corresponding faculty member(s).

Faculty members within the School of Information Technology & Engineering can apply for special student funding opportunities. As with research funding, this funding is normally received by doctoral students working closely with the corresponding faculty member(s).

Support is available from the University's Office of Student Financial Aid. In addition, many campus offices hire students (computer laboratories, the library, etc.).

Finally, scholarship and fellowship opportunities are available from outside the university. Notices of such programs are sent to the e-mail list of doctoral students. If you wish to be added to this list, send e-mail to itephd@gmu.edu.

Additional sources of funding are described at Mason’s Financial Aid office.

Unfortunately, there is no single office that handles all financial aid programs for students.

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How do I enroll when I am finished taking courses?

Students who have completed course work should enroll for dissertation credit.  To do this, Ph.D. students enroll for courses number 990, 998, or 999; Engineer students enroll for 991, 996, or 997.

The course numbers 990/991 correspond to the 1-credit dissertation proposal course that is required by some of our programs.  Course numbers 996/998 are for students who have not been admitted to candidacy, and course numbers 997/999 are for students who have reached candidacy.  Candidacy means that a student has completed all degree requirements except for the dissertation and defense.

For the Ph.D. programs, a total of 24 credits of 990/998/999 are required, and at least 12 of the credits must be taken as 999.  There is an advantage to reaching candidacy efficiently, since otherwise there is the risk that you will have to continue enrolling for 998 credits, and excess 998 credits cannot be applied to the degree.

For the Engineer program, a total of 12 credits of 991/996/997 are required, and at least 6 of the credits must be taken as 997.  Thus there is a similar advantage to reaching candidacy efficiently.

Some students are required to be full-time (see below), but for others there is typically no advantage to enrolling for more credits of 996/998 and 997/999 than necessary.  If you are not required to be full-time, then (assuming that your advisor approves) you may wish to enroll for just 3 credits per semester and wait until your final semester to enroll for all the remaining credit hours required for your degree.

Once you have reached candidacy, you must maintain continuous enrollment until you graduate; see above for details.  Also, you must be enrolled for at least 1 credit of 997/999 in the semester you graduate, which may affect you if you want to graduate during the summer semester.

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What are the rules for full-time enrollment?

The rules for full-time enrollment are complicated, and are described in detail in the university catalog (see Academic Policies: Graduate Policies).

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What should I do if I have additional questions or concerns?

You should contact Lisa Nolder with general questions and concerns, as well as for questions about the Information Technology programs (Ph.D. and Eng.).  If you are encountering some sort of difficulty (for example, if you need to drop a course), you should contact Lisa Nolder as soon as possible, so whatever options for resolution can be found while there is time to act.  For questions about the Computer Science program, contact Ann Hamill (ahamill2@gmu.edu, 703-993-1530); for the Electrical & Computer Engineering program, contact Minoti Shah (minotis@gmu.edu, 703-993-1570).

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Are there format rules and style guides for dissertations?

There are specific format rules for dissertations, and they must be satisfied or the university will not accept your dissertation.  Bob Vay at the Mason library is the person to talk to regarding proper dissertation format (rvay@gmu.edu, 703-993-2222). There is an online guide for dissertations and theses.

The University also provides an online guide to writing in information technology and engineering.

See also the Dissertation and Defense section above.

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Is the Engineer degree a doctorate?

This program is run by the office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies. This is not a doctoral degree, but it allows students to combine advanced course work of the Ph.D. degree in Information Technology with an applied project.  The Ph.D. degree has a requirement of original research.  Also, it is possible to continue on from the Engineer Degree to the Ph.D. (as described in the Mason Catalog).

The graduation procedures and regalia for the Engineer Degree are specialzed in that the masters gown is worn with an Engineer hood.  When you order your regalia from the Bookstore, but sure to mention to the staff that you are an Engineer Degree student.  During Convocation and Graduation, Engineer Degree students are not hooded on stage, but will walk after the Ph.D. students and before the masters students.

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Links and Contact Information

§         Forms

§         Checklists & Guides

§         Contact Information

Forms

Checklists and Guides

Contact Information

  • IT&E Student Services Office
  • Information Technology Ph.D. and Engineer programs
  • Computer Science Ph.D. program
  • Electrical & Computer Engineering Ph.D. program
    • Ph.D. program
    • Room 230, S&T II
    • Andre Manitius (Department Chair) and Jessica Faye Skinner (Administrative Assistant)

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