Overview
E-mail: graduate@eecs.ucf.edu
Phone: (407) 823-EECS
Ask for the EECS Graduate Front Desk
For specific questions:
Dr. Ron Dutton
Program Coordinator
Email: dutton@cs.ucf.edu
School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS)
Graduate Office
4000 Central Florida Blvd.
PO Box 162362
Orlando, FL 32816-2362
For more information on Graduate Studies and Research in the School of EECS:
Advanced Education for Endless Opportunities in the Development and Understanding of Computer Systems
A Masters and/or Ph.D. Degree in Computer Science from University of Central Florida provide endless opportunities for exciting, rewarding and successful careers in a mind-bending number of different and unique fields.
The Computer Science degree program in the School of EECS produces graduates with a high level of competency in understanding, applying, and enunciating the modern concepts, principles, methods, and theories necessary for the design and implementation of computing systems. The Computer Science graduate program also gives students an in-depth education that will meet the needs of business and industry in Florida and throughout the United States now and for decades to come.
Students in the CS graduate program receive a broad background in the areas of programming systems and languages, computer architecture, and computer science theory while specializing in a research area. Research interests of the computer science faculty include affective computing, applied perception, bioinformatics, computational biology, computational geometry, computer and network security, computer architecture, computer forensics, computer graphics, computer networks, computer vision, cryptography, data compression, database management systems, data mining, design and analysis of algorithms, evolutionary computation, genetic algorithms, graph theory, hardware/software co-design, image processing, machine learning, mixed and virtual reality, mobile computing, modeling and simulation, multimedia systems, natural language processing, neural networks, parallel and distributed processing, performance evaluation, programming languages, quantum computing, semantic web, software agents, software engineering, and VLSI systems. The program has a long and respected history, having conferred MS degrees since 1968 and the first Ph.D. degree in 1980. The Ph.D. degree gives the necessary research expertise for successful placement in either an industry or academic career.
Students successfully completing the CS graduate program with a Masters and/or Ph.D. will have exhibited breadth as well as depth of capability involving both theoretical aspects of computer science and practical considerations of computing.
Entertainment Engineering Thread:
The Masters Degree program in Computer Science also offers an Entertainment Engineering thread within the MS program. (See the Curriculum Tab for more information.)
Benefits & Features
- Courses are taught by experienced faculty members from top institutions around the world. They bring with them diverse backgrounds in industry, academics and research.
- EECS educators are recognized professionals and researchers who are known internationally and nationally for their outstanding achievements.
- Funding opportunities of several types are available for national and domestic students. Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
The History of Computer Science at EECS:
Computer Science at UCF has a long and well established history since 1968. The MS program is designed as a terminal degree especially suited to enhance career advancement and to provide the theoretical foundation to take advantage of the changing technological world in which we live.
Orlando, one of the nation’s most dynamic metropolitan areas and noted for its quality of life and vacation attractions, is the center of Florida's I-4 High Technology Corridor. This synergistic region is adjacent to University of Central Florida and UCF’s Research Park, which is one of the nation’s most successful research parks. UCF and its Research Park offer educational, research and career opportunities in a huge number of computer-science careers, including simulation and training, software development, optics, lasers, virtual reality, computer graphics and vision, gaming, robotics, micro-electronics and much more.
Computer Science is part of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS). The School of EECS currently has more than 60 full-time faculty members who are teamed with several outstanding lecturers and visiting professors. Ph.D. in Computer Science students are often supported through graduate teaching/research assistantships, and all receive a broad background in the areas of programming systems and languages, computer architecture and computer science theory. At the same time, each student will specialize in a research area under the individualized direction of an EECS faculty advisor. Research interests of the faculty include parallel computing, VLSI, artificial intelligence, computer vision, networking technology, graphics and simulation, databases, and design and analysis of algorithms. Visit Research for more information.
Masters in CS Curriculum
Masters students may choose one of two options – the thesis option or the non thesis option. Both are 30 semester hour programs. The latter requires more coursework and, of course, does not require that a thesis be written. One might think of a thesis as being a "mini" PhD dissertation. MS non-thesis option students must, in their last term, submit to the EECS Graduate Committee, a portfolio detailing all major activities in which they have participated as a result of their tenure in the program. This should include a SASS audit, resume, details of term papers, projects, etc. Graduate course descriptions in Computer Science are found online at the UCF Division of Graduate Studies online Course Catalogue. You may also visit the Computer Science Masters catalogue page.
MS Degree Requirements
a) CDA 5106 and COT 5405, both with a grade of B (3.0) or better. (6 credit hours)
b) A 5000 and 6000 level pair of courses in a single area of discourse, both with a grade of B (3.0) or better. (6 credit hours)
c) At most 6 credit hours of non CS coursework (approval must be received from the graduate coordinator prior to registration).
d) Thesis option – 6 credit hours of Thesis (CXX 6971) and at least 24 credit hours of coursework (at most 3 of these can be Independent Study credit).
e) Non Thesis option – A portfolio submission and at least 30 credit hours of coursework (at most 6 hours of these can be Independent Study credit).
f) A total of at least 30 semester hours of credit at the 5-6000 level of Computer Science courses (Prefixes CAP, CDA, CEN, CIS, CNT, COP, and COT). At least half of these credits (15) must be at the 6000 level, and under no circumstances can they contain CXX 7919 (Doctoral Research) credit, undergraduate credit, or 5000 level CGS courses.
PLAN OF STUDY (POS)
The Plan of Study (POS), sometimes referred to as the Program of Study, is an agreement between the student, the program, and the University that lists the coursework taken to satisfy the requirements for completing the degree. The POS for students is flexible and unique to each student. However, it must meet university, college, and department rules for minimum number of hours, etc. (see Degree Requirements, above).
All graduate students must have a Plan of Study (POS) on file, approved by the advisor and graduate coordinator, by the completion of 9 credit hours after entering the program. This is mandatory! The College of Graduate Studies automatically places a "hold" on future registration for non compliance. The default advisor for non thesis MS students is the Graduate Coordinator.
Students must maintain a minimum of 3.0 for each course on his or her final POS, as well as 3.0 GPA for all coursework taken since entering the program.
No course can be on a plan of study with a grade below 2.0. At most two courses can have a grade below 3.0. No coursework can appear on a POS that is more than 7 years old at the time of graduation.
The POS can, and usually will, be revised later to reflect changes in the courses actually taken, but it is crucial that a POS be on file, signed by the student and the faculty advisor, and approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator. Any variation from the POS must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator and then immediately reflected in an updated POS.
Transfer of credit
Students, with the approval of their advisor and the graduate coordinator, can transfer up to 9 credit hours, of B grade (3.0) or better, in graduate coursework (no Independent Study/Thesis credit) from another program at UCF or from an regionally accredited institution. This must appear on the initial POS submitted by the student within their first 9 credit hours in the CS graduate program.
The mechanics of transferring coursework must begin early in the first semester in order that the process is completed by the 9th credit hour. See the Graduate Secretary for details.
In no case can courses with a grade below a B (3.0) be transferred, nor can undergraduate credit.
Synopsis/Time Line
(1) Admission into the MS program
(2) File an initial Plan of Study (by the 9th credit hour)
(3) Decide between the Thesis and Non Thesis Options
Thesis Non Thesis
(4) Obtain a thesis advisor/committee (4) Complete coursework
(5) Complete coursework (5) Prepare and submit Portfolio
(6) 6 hours of thesis (Cxx 6971)
(7) Write and defend thesis
Entertainment Engineering Thread in the MS Program
The Computer Science MS program provides an Entertainment Engineering thread in cooperation with the Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy (FIEA) for students interested in specializing in computer games related areas. Students in this specialization have the same two required courses (CDA 5106 Advanced Computer Architecture I, and COT 5405 Design and Analysis of Algorithms), but must choose the required course pair from a restricted set. The choices are:
Additionally, students must undertake 6 credits of project work with FIEA taken in spring/summer. These 6 credit hours will replace the independent study hours for a non-thesis option student. All other requirements of Computer Science MS program remain equally applicable.
For more information, please view the Graduate Handbook.
Ph. D. in CS Curriculum
In this section, you will find information on:
The Computer Science Ph.D. program prepares students in the highest level of theory and practice of Computer Science, aiding with the development of research and instruction skills for positions in academia, industry and government sectors.
The Computer Science Ph.D. program produces professionals trained at the highest possible academic level in the theory and practice of Computer Science in order to meet current and projected market demands for Computer Science experts. CS Ph.D. students from the School of EECS at UCF graduate with proven abilities in research and instruction and have expertise suitable for positions in industry, academia and government.
Students in the program receive a broad background in the areas of programming systems and languages, computer architecture and computer science theory while specializing in a research area. Research interests of the computer science faculty include affective computing, applied perception, bioinformatics, computational biology, computational geometry, computer and network security, computer architecture, computer forensics, computer graphics, computer networks, computer vision, cryptography, data compression, database management systems, data mining, design and analysis of algorithms, evolutionary computation, genetic algorithms, graph theory, hardware/software co-design, image processing, machine learning, mixed and virtual reality, mobile computing, modeling and simulation, multimedia systems, natural language processing, neural networks, parallel and distributed processing, performance evaluation, programming languages, quantum computing, semantic web, software agents, software engineering and VLSI systems.
Ph.D. Degree Curriculum Requirements
a) A total of at least 72 semester hours of credits at the 5–7000 level. At least one half of these must be 6–7000 level and none can be undergraduate credit.
b) CDA 5106, COT 5405, and COT 6410, all with a grade of B (3.0) or better.
c) A total of at least 36 credit hours of CS coursework (Prefixes CAP, CDA, CEN, CIS, CNT, COP, and COT) and excludes Independent Study/Doctoral Research/Dissertation credits.
d) At least 15 credit hours of Dissertation (CXX 7980).
The Plan of Study (POS), sometimes referred to as the
Program of Study, is an agreement between the student, the program, and the University listing requirements for completing the degree. All graduate students must have an approved Plan of Study (POS) developed by the student and advisor that lists the specific courses to be taken as part of the degree. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in their POS, as well as in all coursework taken since entering the program.
No course can be on a plan of study with a grade below 2.0. At most two courses can have a grade below 3.0. No coursework can appear on a POS that is more than 7 years old at the time of graduation.
The initial POS must be filed prior to the completion of 9 credit hours after admission to the program. This is mandatory! The College of Graduate Studies automatically places a "hold" on future registration for non compliance. The POS can, and usually will, be revised later to reflect changes in the courses actually taken, but it is crucial that a POS be on file, signed by the student and faculty advisor, and approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator. Any variation from the current POS must be approved by the advisor and Graduate Program Coordinator and then immediately reflected in an updated POS.
The POS is flexible and unique to each student. However, it must meet university, college, and department rules for minimum number of hours, etc. (see Program Requirements, above). The final POS must be completed, submitted, and approved before the student will be allowed to register for dissertation hours (CXX 7980).
Transfer of credit
Students, with the approval of their advisor and the graduate coordinator, can transfer up to 9 credit hours, of B grade (3.0) or better, of graduate coursework (no Independent Study/Thesis credit) from another program at UCF or from an regionally accredited institution. This must appear on an initial POS submitted within the first 9 credit hours in the CS graduate program.
The mechanics of transferring coursework must begin early in the first semester in order that the process is completed by the 9th credit hour. See the Graduate Secretary for details.
If a student has an earned MS degree in CS, or a related area, they may, with the approval of the advisor and graduate coordinator, transfer up to 30 credit hours of actual coursework hours into the POS (no Independent Study or Thesis credit). This can occur after the initial POS, but must be approved prior to entering candidacy status.
In no case can courses with a grade below a B (3.0) be transferred, nor can undergraduate credit.
Many new students will already have an advisor who has recruited and agreed to at least partially support them in their research. Others must seek out and align themselves with a research advisor as quickly as possible. The choice of an advisor is not irrevocable, but it should not be taken lightly either. Often, an advisor has committed resources and made plans that were dependent upon your participation. Changes can only occur with the approval of the graduate coordinator. As noted below, a research advisor must be in place substantially prior to entering the Qualifying Review process.
After a student has been admitted into the PhD program and has a research advisor, there are several points in their academic career that require special attention. We cover these in more detail in the following.
To better ensure that PhD students have acquired the requisite background and are prepared to make a successful transition into the research phase of their academic career, the Schools Graduate Committee requires students to prepare a brief portfolio containing evidence of their academic performance, their research progress to-date, and an evaluation of this and related intangible evidence as provided by the students research advisor. The portfolio should contain a complete record of coursework (a SASS Audit) and a resume, particularly listing publications and submissions of conference and journal papers (but not the papers themselves). An initial evaluation must occur prior to entering the 19th credit hour of graduate work in the program. In most cases a second review will take place prior to beginning the 37th credit hour. In rare cases a single review may be sufficient. At the other extreme, again rare, students can be removed from the program for poor academic performance and/or inadequate performance in their assigned GTA/GRA responsibilities.
Review files must contain an evaluation and recommendation by the research advisor.
The Graduate Committee will entertain qualifying review portfolios after each Fall and Spring term. Students can avail themselves of the reviewing process at most twice. While a student may resubmit an updated portfolio in consecutive terms, this is not recommended.
Students who have not successfully navigated their way through the review by the 37th credit hour will be removed from the program.
After a final review, a Research Advisory Committee should be assembled. It must consist of at least four members. The chair (the students advisor) and at least two others must be CS faculty. A fourth member must be from outside the School of EECS. The latter selection can be delayed until after entering Candidacy.
Students must demonstrate their readiness for dissertation research by having authored or co-authored an accepted journal article or high quality conference paper. This should occur near the end of coursework. The appropriateness of the work and venue will be judged by the students dissertation advisory committee and, if deemed satisfactory, will result in a recommendation that the student be given Candidacy status. Admission to candidacy requires the approval of the program director and the college coordinator and is forwarded to the UCF College of Graduate Studies for status change. Only after admission to candidacy may a student register for doctoral dissertation hours (CXX 7980).
External members of dissertation advisory committee are often not appointed until after the student has entered candidacy. By general University guidelines, a student and his or her dissertation advisory committee must formally convene for the committee to appraise the students progress at least once per calendar year.
All transfer of credits, grade changes, and incomplete grades must be resolved prior to entering candidacy status.
Upon entering candidacy status, students must be registered continuously (including Summer) as full-time students until graduation. Students in candidacy status are considered "full-time" when enrolled in 3 credits of CXX 7980, Dissertation.
All PhD students must write a dissertation. Please visit
UCF Thesis and Dissertation. This must be preceded by an oral presentation of a written dissertation proposal, which, in turn, can not occur until a term after admission into candidacy status. The purpose of the written proposal, given to members of the research committee at least two weeks prior to the presentation, is to show the student has sufficiently explored the literature of a significant research problem in computer science to be able to embark upon solving that problem. The written proposal should detail a proposed methodology and plan for undertaking the research work, and its completion. Rules governing the proposal announcements, scheduling and committee attendance can be found in the
UCF Graduate Catalog.
The oral presentation of the proposal is open to the public and must be announced at least two weeks prior to it's occurrence. The presentation should last approximately 45 minutes to an hour, and it should show the student is aware of the background, has a good idea of the problem being attacked, and has a reasonable plan for carrying out the research. The committees role is to assess the significance of the proposed problem, the feasibility of the proposed solution, and to offer advice.
The proposal is not "cast in stone." It is a proposal. The research may change direction as new information is uncovered. That is perfectly acceptable and expected. Of course, if the direction of the research becomes too "off target" a new proposal should be considered. This is at the discretion of your advisor, committee, and the graduate coordinator.
The following can be found in the UCF Graduate Catalog (2009-10),
Dissertation, and is worthy of repeating here.
"The dissertation consists of an original and substantial research study designed, conducted, and reported by the student with the guidance of the Dissertation Committee. The written dissertation must include a common theme with an introduction and literature review, details of the study, and results and conclusions prepared in accordance with program and university requirements. The dissertation is expected to represent a significant contribution to the discipline. Since this work is original, it is very important that care is taken in properly citing ideas and quotations of others. Failure to do so is academic dishonesty and subject to termination from the program without receiving the degree. An oral defense of the dissertation is required."
Students are responsible for being completely aware of the rules and regulations in the "UCF Thesis and Dissertation Manual" which can be obtained from the link given above. Once the dissertation is in it's final stages, it must be submitted electronically to the UCF "Turnitin.com" system for format approval. Then, again, two weeks prior to the defense, for a check of originality (i.e., don't plagiarize – it will get you).
As with the proposal, the defense is announced and open to the public. Furthermore, the defense can not be scheduled in the same term as the proposal. Please see
UCF Thesis and Dissertation.
1) Admission into the PhD program
2) File an initial Plan of Study (By the 9th credit hour)
3) Obtain an advisor
4) Qualifying Review (Between 19th and 37th credit hour)
5) Form a Dissertation Advisory Committee
6) Candidacy (Paper acceptance)
7) Dissertation Proposal
8) Dissertation Defense
Admissions & Deadlines
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).
PLEASE NOTE: The College of Engineering and Computer Science at UCF suggests that you fill out a pre-application form before you complete the application for graduate admission. The deadlines for the pre-application form can be found on the Prospective Student Page on the College of Engineering and Computer Science website.
In addition to the general admission requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
MS in Computer Science
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- Official, competitive GRE score taken within the last five years.
- Résumé.
- Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
PhD in Computer Science
- One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended.
- Official, competitive GRE score taken within the last five years.
- Résumé.
- Statement of educational, research, and professional career objectives.
- Three letters of recommendation.
A score of at least 220 (computer-based test or paper-based equivalent) or 80 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for applicants from countries where English is not the official language or for applicants whose bachelor’s degree is not from an accredited U.S. institution. An undergraduate degree in Computer Science is desirable but not required. Applicants without a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science must demonstrate an understanding of the material covered in the following upper-division undergraduate courses:
- CDA 4150 Computer Architecture
- COP 4020 Programming Languages I
- COP 4600 Operating Systems
- COT 4210 Discrete Computational Structures
Applicants may choose to demonstrate their knowledge of these courses by scoring well on the Subject (Advanced) GRE in Computer Science. It is estimated that more than 85 percent of the Computer Science Subject Test directly deals with the material covered in these courses. Alternately, by contract with the graduate coordinator, students may take some or all of these as prerequisites.
UCF Graduate Admissions and UCF Graduate Admissions Counselors
E-mail: gradadmissions@mail.ucf.edu
Phone: (407) 823-2766
Online Application
Graduate Admissions
UCF Graduate Studies Mailing Address
UCF Graduate Studies
Millican Hall 230
PO Box 160112
Orlando, FL 32816-0112
Institution Codes
GRE: 5233
GMAT: RZT (College Code: 9R)
TOEFL: 5233
Application Deadlines
All application materials for the Masters in Computer Science program must be submitted by the appropriate deadline listed below.
Domestic Applicants
Fall Priority: Jan 15
Fall: Jul 15
Spring: Dec 1
Summer: Apr 15
International Applicants
Fall Priority: Jan 15
Fall: Jan 15
Spring: Jul 1
Summer: Nov 1
International Transfer Applicants
Fall Priority: Jan 15
Fall: Mar 1
Spring: Sep 1
Summer: Dec 15
For more information, please view the Graduate Handbook.
FAQ
How do I apply?
For information on general UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the Admissions and Registration section of the Graduate Catalog. Applicants must apply online. Please be sure to submit all requested material by the established deadline(s).
The College of Engineering and Computer Science requires that you fill out a pre-application form before you complete the application for graduate admission. The deadlines for the pre-application form can be found on the Prospective Student Page on the College of Engineering and Computer Science website.
When do I apply?
The best time to apply for admission to the program is for the fall semester when the first two beginning courses are offered. Students who have sufficient background can apply to any of the three semesters during the year (fall, spring, and summer). The application deadlines are: July 15 (fall semester), Dec 1 (Spring semester), and April 15 (Summer semester). (We also try to accommodate late applications if possible.) Please use the university's academic calendar to find important dates and other deadlines.
What are the admission requirements?
Please use the information on the Admissions Tab of this web section.
What is the cost for the program?
There is significant cost difference in tuition and fees between Florida residents and non-Florida residents. Please use the current tuition link for information about the cost for tuition and fees.
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
What are Fellowships?
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see Financing Grad School, which includes descriptions of UCF fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
For more information on Graduate Fellowships, visit:
E-mail: gradfellowship@mail.ucf.edu
Web: www.graduate.ucf.edu
Where do I get information on Graduate Financial Aid?
UCF Student Financial Assistance
Millican Hall 120
Telephone: 407-823-2827
Appointment Line: 407-823-5285
Fax: 407-823-5241
E-mail: finaid@mail.ucf.edu
Web: http://finaid.ucf.edu
How do I contact Graduate Admissions or a Graduate Admissions Counselor?
E-mail: gradadmissions@mail.ucf.edu
Telephone: + (407) 823-2766
Online Application
Graduate Admissions
UCF Graduate Studies Mailing Address:
UCF Graduate Studies
Millican Hall 230
PO Box 160112
Orlando, FL 32816-0112
Institution Codes:
GRE: 5233
GMAT: RZT (College Code: 9R)
TOEFL: 5233
Where else can I find information about the EECS Graduate Programs?
In the Graduate Handbook for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.