The Computer Science Department will be conducting a normal admissions cycle for Fall 2027 matriculation, consistent with our approach to Ph.D. admissions in previous cycles. This includes a full review of all submitted applications and a commitment to the financial aid described below.
Application Timeline
Academic Background
Applicants to the Doctor of Philosophy program must have a strong academic background and hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited academic institution in computer science, computer engineering, information systems, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
Candidates must have taken courses in data structures, computer hardware, algorithms, and mathematics, such as discrete structures, calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics. Ideally, applicants will have conducted and published research through experiences at work or in undergraduate or graduate studies.
Admission to the Ph.D. Program
The Ph.D. program accepts applications annually to begin study during the following Fall semester; we do not currently solicit applications to begin study in Spring semesters. Students may apply for the Ph.D. program before or after earning an M.S. degree.
Ph.D. students in good standing receive financial support during the first five academic years of their program, including tuition, health insurance, and a service stipend assistantship.
Information about the application process may be found below or by visiting our FAQ for Prospective Students.
- Applications are accepted online beginning in mid-July. Visit the Office of Graduate Admissions application page to begin an application.
- Applications received by the final submission deadline are eligible for a full review, including financial aid consideration.
- The admissions committee begins reviewing applications after the priority submission deadline and notifies admitted students in early March.
Admissions Requirements
Successful Ph.D. applicants will hold a B.S. or M.S. degree in computer science or a closely related field or will have significant coursework or professional experience in computer science. A strong background in computer science topics, including data structures and algorithms, hardware and architecture, and computer programming, as well as mathematics, including discrete mathematics, probability and statistics, linear algebra, and calculus, is expected. Prior research experience and/or publication, either in an academic or professional setting, is favored.
- All applicants must meet the requirements specified by the University Office of Graduate Studies in their application FAQ. Additionally, our program requires a TOEFL score of at least 90 or an IELTS score of at least 7.0 to apply.
- We encourage applicants to consider this Tutorial on Writing a Statement of Purpose while preparing your application materials.
All programs and activities are open to all Georgetown University applicants regardless of race, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or any other characteristic protected under University policy or applicable law.
Cognitive Science Concentration
Students applying to our Ph.D. program can apply simultaneously to the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Cognitive Science program. This program is designed to enable Ph.D. students in Psychology, Linguistics, Philosophy, Neuroscience, and Computer Science to pursue a concentration in Cognitive Science. Students accepted to the Cognitive Science concentration take courses and create an advisory committee of faculty members from multiple departments at the University, which can include the Departments of Psychology, Linguistics, Computer Science, Philosophy, Neurology, Biology, and/or Spanish and Portuguese. Students will graduate with a Ph.D. from their home department with a Concentration in Cognitive Science.
To apply for admission, select “yes” in response to the Cognitive Science question in the application portal and submit a short (1-page) essay describing your interest in cognitive science. Note that your application will be reviewed alongside the other applications in Computer Science. Applying to the Cognitive Science Concentration may open up additional funding sources, so it is to your advantage to do so if the concentration aligns with your goals. It is also possible to apply to the Concentration later, after starting the Ph.D. in Computer Science. You may direct questions about applying to the Concentration to CBPR@georgetown.edu.
Ph.D. Program Requirements and Milestones
The Ph.D. program requirements include completing graduate-level coursework; passing a core and area qualifying exam; completing Ph.D. seminar courses; completing an Apprenticeship in Teaching program; and proposing, writing, and defending a research dissertation.
The information below is an overview of these requirements. The official requirements, procedures, and policies are kept in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Ph.D. Coursework
Ph.D. students must complete coursework equivalent to the M.S. Computer Science requirements, consisting of either 30 credits (10 courses) or 24 credits (8 courses) plus the writing of a Master’s Thesis. Upon completion of this requirement, Ph.D. students who have not yet earned a Master’s degree may apply to receive an M.S. in Passing (equivalent to an M.S. Computer Science) from Georgetown.
Ph.D. students who complete an M.S. degree prior to joining the program may receive Advanced Standing credit equivalent to some or all of this requirement, effectively reducing the total number of courses needed.
Qualifying Examinations
Ph.D. students must satisfy two qualifying exam requirements: the core qualifying requirement and the area qualifying requirement.
- The core qualifying requirement evaluates a student’s breadth of computer science knowledge and is completed by earning strong grades in three courses at Georgetown. This requirement can be (and often is) completed simultaneously with the coursework requirement above.
- The area qualifying requirement evaluates a student’s depth of understanding in an area of their choice and consists of a written literature review to be read and assessed by a committee of faculty.
Ph.D. Seminars
Ph.D. students must take a total of three seminar courses designed to explore current literature and research across computer science disciplines. These seminars are taken after completing the coursework and qualifying requirements.
Apprenticeship in Teaching Workshop Program
Ph.D. students must complete the Apprenticeship in Teaching (AT) Program administered by Georgetown’s Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship. This program consists of a series of workshops on teaching pedagogy. It may be completed at any time in the program, but it is usually done after the qualifying process is complete.
Dissertation Proposal and Defense
Ph.D. students must propose, perform, and defend a novel research project of significant importance or impact in the form of a written dissertation.
- Students must first select a research topic and write a proposal outlining the scope of the problem; prior work in the area; and a blueprint for performing research work and measuring success or completion. This proposal is presented to a committee of faculty who must approve the proposal.
- Upon completion of the research work, a written dissertation detailing the results must be written and defended publicly before the faculty committee who must unanimously approve the work.
Timeline of Degree Milestones
Ph.D. students entering the program immediately after completing a B.S. typically complete the degree in five years; the timeline below is based on a five-year course of study.
| Year | Semester | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Start Ph.D. coursework |
| 1 | 2 | Select a Ph.D. research adviser |
| 2 | 3 | |
| 2 | 4 | Complete Ph.D. coursework |
| 3 | 5 | |
| 3 | 6 | Complete area qualifying exam |
| 4 | 7 | |
| 4 | 8 | Complete Dissertation Proposal |
| 5 | 9 | Complete the AIT Workshop Program |
| 5 | 10 | Complete Dissertation Final Exam |