Goals and Definitions
The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination is in place to assess a student’s understanding of the basic prerequisite concepts for entrance into the Doctoral program in Computer Science. It is also in place to assure that all incoming Ph.D. students have the ability to effectively reason with and integrate the underlying knowledge and concepts in the broad field of Computer Science. This ability is necessary to continue the student’s studies in the degree program. The goals of the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination:
- Assess a student’s general ability and background to enter the Doctoral program
- Give the student a positive learning experience that benefits their academic career
- Cover only required prerequisite breadth knowledge for the degree program
- Be consistent, uniform, and fair for students
This revision was approved in January 2024 and will be effective for students taking the exam in the spring of 2024.
Exam Topics
Below is a set of topics, (referred to as the Exam Topics) which are considered prerequisite knowledge for incoming students applying for entrance to the Ph.D. degree program in Computer Science. Any doctoral student conducting research in Computer Science must have a basic knowledge of the following three areas: 1) Design and Analysis of Algorithms; 2) Data Structures and Fundamentals of Programming; 3) Computer Operating Systems. These areas are aligned with the areas of the ACM/IEEE Computer Science Body of Knowledge namely, Programming Fundamentals (PF), Algorithms and Complexity (AL), and Operating Systems (OS).
A complete and detailed list of the topics covered will be published with ample time for students to prepare for the exam. A reading list will also be provided and will be manageable and focused for the student’s benefit. The reading list will reference a text book(s) and associated chapters that reflect the topics covered on the exam. See the Preliminary Examination Reading List for a complete and detailed list of topics and suggested reading list. The reading list is the official description of the exam topics.
Exam Format
The format will be a written examination. There will be one exam with three sections corresponding to the exam topics:
- Design and Analysis of Algorithms
- Data Structures & Fundamentals of Programming
- Computer Operating Systems
There will be three questions for each section of the exam for a total of nine questions. Students must answer all questions. The student must attempt all sections of the exam (unless it is a second attempt).
The exam will be administered during the last part of the semester: November in the Fall and April in the Spring. The exam will not be offered in the summer. Students will have a total time period of 4 hours in duration to comple