PHD

PRIORITY REVIEW DATE January 15, 2010

OVERVIEW
Admission to the PhD program in Computing and Information Sciences is highly competitive and successful applicants will, in general, have records considerably stronger in breadth or quality than the minimum standards suggest. Applicants should also be aware that meeting the requirements does not guarantee admission.

Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their prior academic record and their potential for creative research. Admissions decisions are made by the admissions committee for the program, which is comprised of the faculty members of the program. Admissions decisions will generally be made in the winter/spring for admissions in the Fall quarter.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION:

  • Baccalaureate degree or its recognized equivalent. Since the doctoral program in Computing and Information Sciences encompasses a wide variety of disciplines, we seek students with diverse backgrounds. While many students will come from a computing-related discipline, students in engineering, science, the humanities, fine arts, business and other disciplines who have sufficient computing backgrounds are also encouraged to apply.
  • Strong record of academic achievement as indicated by official transcripts.
  • One full year of study in programming and computing concepts. More advanced computing courses are desirable.
  • Strong mathematical background in subjects such as Discrete Mathematics and Probability and Statistics.
  • Aptitude, vision, and experience (if applicable) in computing and information sciences related research.

APPLICATION MATERIAL:

  • Official transcripts (in English)
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE), basic exam score within last 5 years.
  • A statement of purpose, containing, but not limited to, research experiences and interests, motivation to pursue Ph.D. and long-term goals.
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Recommendations from at least two individuals who are well-qualified to assess the student's potential for success in a Ph.D. program.
  • (Optional) Professional or research paper sample(s), if available.
  • (For students whose native language is not English) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A score of at least 570 on the paper-based test, 88 on the internet test, or 230 on the computer-based test is required.

INTERVIEW

An interview by the admissions committee and additional faculty may be required for candidates on a case by case basis. This interview may be via telephone.

ASSISTANTSHIPS

Research and teaching assistantships, including tuition and stipend, are available and awarded on a competitive basis. Application for assistantships should be included in the student's application materials.

TRANSFER CREDIT

Students transferring into the program from a Masters program in a computing and information sciences discipline, or in a related domain-specific discipline, may be granted up to 28 quarter-based credit hours towards the Ph.D. degree requirements. However students are not eligible to earn an additional M.S. degree if the student already holds an M.S. degree in a computing and information sciences degree or related field from RIT or another university.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications can be mailed to:

Rochester Institute of Technology
Office of Graduate Enrollment Services
58 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, New York 14623-5604

To apply online:
http://www.rit.edu/emcs/ptgrad/grad_admission.html