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FAQ
- What's the difference between a Ph.D. degree and an M.S. degree?
- The emphasis is on research. To earn a Ph.D. a student must complete
a significant research project that advances knowledge in their field.
The required courses and exams help the student prepare for their research
projects, and in the final phase of the Ph.D. program the student presents
a dissertation proposal, carries out the research, and then writes and
defends the final dissertation.
Participation in a research project is optional for M.S. students. Many
of our M.S. students often do work on research projects, for example by
enrolling in research seminars, or working as research assistants, or by
writing an M.S. thesis. Usually these projects are part of a larger
research program defined by a faculty member, whereas the research that
is the basis of a Ph.D. dissertation is original research carried out
individually by the student.
- What research programs distinguish UO from other universities?
- The University of Oregon has a long tradition of interdisciplinary
research. A wide variety of research institutes bring together faculty
and graduate students from several departments to work on projects that
span traditional disciplinary boundaries. CIS faculty are members of
several of these institutes. Many also work individually with researchers
from a variety of other fields, including biology, geosciences, mathematics,
and psychology.
Within the field of computer science we have internationally recognized
research groups working in software engineering, networking, human-computer
interaction, and artificial intelligence.
See also:
Research pages
Research Institutes at UO
- Does the department have affiliations with national labs, companies,
or other research organizations?
- Yes, mostly through collaborative research projects with these other
organizations. Faculty members write grant proposals and have ongoing
funded research programs with other universities and national labs; our
graduate students have spent summers working at corporate labs and
government research labs; and we receive a wide variety of support from
grants and contracts with the computer industry.
- Should I have a strong interest in a specific research area before
I apply for the Ph.D. program?
- You should have a strong desire for a career in research, but you
do not have to have narrowed your choices down to one specific area.
Many entering Ph.D. students have worked on a variety of projects or
taken several different undergraduate classes that have sparked their
interest, and it is natural to want to learn more about these areas
before committing to one particular field for dissertation research.
However, before you choose UO or any other university, you should
make sure the department has a variety of research projects that
interest you.
- Do I need to have a B.S. in Computer Science?
- In general yes, however, it is quite common for people to switch fields and do graduate study in computer science after earning an undergraduate degree in another field. Students who majored in math or science and have considerable
experience with computing (for example a minor in CS) may be admitted
directly to the M.S. or Ph.D. program. Others might be given conditional
admission, with the stipulation that they take specified undergraduate
courses to fill in gaps in their background.
For some students it may be more appropriate to enroll in a Second
Baccalaureate program and earn a B.S. in computer science before
considering graduate school. We have an Accelerated Master's Degree
Program for students who are currently enrolled in the undergraduate
program at UO and who meet minimum GPA requirements.
See also:
UO Bulletin
- Do I need to have an M.S. before I apply for a Ph.D.?
- No. When we evaluate Ph.D. applications we are looking for information
that will help us assess the student's preparation for doing Ph.D. level
research. This could include prior research experience or a clear statement
of goals that explains which areas the student is interested in and their
experience in those areas. Many undergraduates have had a chance to work
on research projects in their advisor's labs or have other experience that
shows they have a strong interest in research and are ready to start work
on a Ph.D. degree.
- I think I might eventually want to continue for a Ph.D., but I'm
not sure; should I apply now for the Ph.D. program or for the M.S. program?
- If you want to do research and there are research programs in our
department that match your interests, apply now for the Ph.D. program. If
you later decide your goals have changed there are options for graduating
with an M.S. degree.
If you are not yet sure you want to work on research projects or have not
narrowed your interests to a particular specialization, you should
apply for the M.S. program.
- How long does it take to complete the M.S. program? The Ph.D. program?
- The M.S. program typically requires two years. The first part of the
Ph.D. program is defined by a directed research project. Students who enter
the program without an M.S. degree usually complete this phase in two years,
spending much of that time taking many of the same courses M.S. students
take. Students who already have an M.S. usually finish their directed
research project in one year.
The total time to earn a Ph.D. depends on the size and complexity of the
dissertation research. This part of the program may be as short as two
years, in which case the total time for a Ph.D. would be three or four
years. For students working on large, complex projects the dissertation
research itself may require four years or more, for a total time of up to
seven years.
- Is a thesis required for an M.S. degree?
- An M.S. thesis is optional. The M.S. degree requires a minimum of
54 credits of coursework. A student may earn all these credits through
regular courses, or they may choose to earn up to 12 of the 54 credits by
working on a final project or an M.S. thesis. Students who want to complete
a final project or thesis meet with a faculty member to define the size
and scope of the project.
- Do I need to take the GREs?
- You must take the verbal, quantitative, and analytical tests. The
computer science area exam is optional, but recommended, especially for applicants to the Ph.D. program.
- As an International applicant requesting funding in the form of a fellowship, is it really necessary for me to provide a score for the Test of Spoken English in my application materials?
- Teaching Fellowships being awarded to new students are more likely than Research Fellowships, and our fellowship opportunities typically involve daily communications with native-English speakers. While in some cases we do admit International students without a TSE score, the following Graduate School policy should be noted: International students awarded graduate fellowships for teaching-related positions are required to take a SPEAK test at the start of their first fall term, unless they already have a TSE score of at least 50. (A SPEAK test is similar to the TSE.) Individuals scoring below 50 on the SPEAK test are required to attend language support classes and may be subject to limitations on the kinds of activities they may carry out as GTFs.
It is to the applicant's advantage to have their English-speaking skills documented before submitting their application to our Graduate Program.
- Instead of taking the Test of Spoken English, couldn't I just get a phone interview to verify my English-speaking skills?
- Phone interviews are only arranged with strong applicants after careful file review. One variable in the review process is the TSE score.
- Do my letters of recommendation have to be from former professors?
- We need letters from people who have had a chance to evaluate your
coursework or research experience, which usually means former professors.
If you have worked in a research lab, a letter from a current or former
project director is acceptable.
While we prefer letters from former professors, one of your three
recommendations could come from a job supervisor. If you have three letters
from former professors but want to include an extra letter from a supervisor
we will use that letter, as well.
- When can I expect to hear whether I have been accepted?
- We usually make initial offers by early March. Additional offers may
be made as late as April. If you are also applying for financial aid
we will try to make the fellowship offer at the same time we notify you
of your acceptance into the graduate program, but in many cases fellowship
offers are made at a later date.
- Can I transfer graduate credits from another college or university?
- Yes, with certain limitations. As an M.S. student you can transfer
up to 15 credits, provided you earned a B in each course you want to
transfer and the course credits were not used to satisfy the requirements
for another degree (e.g. if you took a graduate level course as an
undergraduate and used those units as part of your undergraduate degree
you cannot transfer those credits). All transfer requests are subject
to departmental approval, and in turn Graduate School approval.
- Are there teaching or research fellowships available for new students?
- Yes, entering graduate students are often supported with either
teaching or research fellowships. You can apply for a fellowship when
you apply for admission to the graduate program.
Teaching fellowships are offered by the graduate admissions committee.
Research fellowships are offered by faculty heading research groups,
depending on their expected level of funding.
See also:
Financial Aid in CIS
- What other sources of support are available?
- Students often apply for support from the National Science Foundation,
the U.S. Department of Energy, or from corporations that support graduate
research fellows (e.g. Xerox and IBM).
See also:
Financial Aid at the U of O
- Are there opportunities to do an internship while I am a graduate student?
- It is quite common for admitted graduate students to work for a summer
at a national research lab or in an industrial research lab. Longer stays,
or internships during the academic year, are also possible. Internships
are available only after the student is already enrolled in the program.
- What social, cultural, or recreational activities are available to students?
- For activities in the CIS department, visit our
activities pages.
For information about other activities in Eugene, try these links:
Outdoor Program
Recreational Sports Program
EMU Craft Center
U of O Campus Listings
