Ph.D. Degree

Our Ph.D. Degree Program

Our GGCS doctoral degree prepares you to solve complex, long-term research problems. You can expect to graduate in four to five years and to work on a large research project, culminating in a dissertation. Our doctoral graduates join industries or go on to careers in academia, either as postdoctoral researchers or assistant professors.

Degree Requirements

• Admission Requirements

• Consideration for the PhD program admission requires completion of Graduate Studies’ online application, with fee by the stated admission deadline. The application for consideration for program admission requires the following: 

     •  Bachelor’s degree 
     •  Three letters of recommendation 
     •  Submission of transcripts 
     •  3.0 Minimum GPA 
     •  English Language Examination scores (if applicable) 
      -- TOEFL: Score 80 or higher 
      -- IELTS: 7.0 or higher 
     •  Graduate Studies online application 
     •  GRE scores are NOT required
  
  In addition to the admission requirements stated above, applicants are expected to demonstrate proficiency at the undergraduate level in three fundamental areas of Computer Science. The specified UC Davis courses exemplify the material:
  
  ♦   Computer Science Theory Area (one course)
      -- ECS 120 (Theory of Computation)
      -- ECS 122A (Algorithm Design and Analysis)
  
  ♦   Software Area (one course)
      -- ECS 140A (Programming Languages)
      -- ECS 160 (Software Engineering)
  
  ♦   Operating Systems Area (one course)
      -- ECS 150 (Operating Systems and System Programming)
      -- ECS 154B (Computer Architecture)

  These are referred to as the Prerequisite Proficiency Requirements. A grade of B or higher is required for each course used to satisfy these requirements. Specific information regarding these requirements may be found at this website.
  
  Deficiencies
  Students may be admitted with one or more deficiencies in the Prerequisite Proficiency Requirements. It is expected that the student will complete these proficiency requirements by the time the student takes their Qualifying Exam (QE).

• Dissertation Plan
• GGCS offers Plan B as described under Section 520 in the UC Davis Division Academic Senate Regulations. Plan B specifies a three member (minimum) dissertation committee. An exit seminar is optional.
• Advanced Proficiency Requirements
• The coursework requirements for the PhD degree is comprised of: Core Area course requirements (12-units), Elective course requirements (20-units), and Research units (13-units). The coursework required for the PhD degree is 45-units in total.
  
  A student must have an overall GPA of 3.3 for the PhD degree to be awarded, and a B or better in all coursework used to satisfy the degree requirements. 
  
  Core Area Courses (12-units)
  At the graduate level, the Computer Science curriculum is classified into three Core Areas: Theory, Software, and Systems. The following table lists the current set of course offerings for each of the Core Areas.
  
  ♦   Computer Science Theory Core Area
      -- ECS 220 Theory of Computation
      -- ECS 222A Design and Analysis of Algorithms
      -- ECS 240 Programming Languages
      -- ECS 256 Performance Evaluation
  
  ♦   Software Core Area
      -- ECS 231 Large-scale Scientific Computation
      -- ECS 235A Computer and Information Security
      -- ECS 245 Analysis of Software Artifacts
      -- ECS 260 Software Engineering
      -- ECS 261 Program Verification
  
  ♦   Operating Systems Core Area
      -- ECS 201A Advanced Computer Architecture
      -- ECS 251 Operating Systems
      -- ECS 252 Computer Networks
      -- ECS 265 Distributed Database Systems
  
  4-units from each of the three Core Areas are required with a grade of B or better.
  
  Elective Courses (20-units)
  These courses should be selected in consultation with the student’s Research Advisor/Major Professor. A grade of B or better is required for all elective courses. 
  
  ♦   At most 4-units (one course) of UC Davis upper-division undergraduate coursework, completed as a UC Davis graduate student, may be counted as an elective. Non-ECS upper-division courses must be approved by the student’s Major Professor to count as an elective
  
  ♦   At most 12-units (three courses) of UC Davis graduate coursework outside of ECS, completed as a UC Davis graduate student, may be counted as an elective with approval from the student’s Major Professor (Students may find a list of suggested non-ECS courses in the FAQs at the bottom of this webpage)
  
  ♦   At most 12-units (three courses) of ECS 289A-M may be counted as an elective. Non-ECS special topics graduate courses must be approved by the student’s Major Professor to count as an elective.
  
  Research (13-units)
  GGCS students will register for research units (ECS 299) in most quarters. While students will end up taking many units of ECS 299, only a specified number of research units may be counted towards the degree requirements. 
  
  ♦   For the PhD degree, up to 13-units may be from ECS 299.
  
  Note: Full-time students must enroll in a minimum of 12-units per quarter. As per UC regulations, students may not enroll in more than 12-units of graduate level courses, nor more than 16-units of combined undergraduate and graduate level courses.
  
  English Language Requirement (If Applicable)
  Any student who does not meet the English proficiency criteria described in the Graduate Student Course Requirements – English as Second Language Policy (GC2018-02) is required to enroll in an appropriate English language course as listed in the policy. Any courses taken in satisfaction of this requirement do not count towards the units required for graduation.
   
• Special Requirements
• To become a Teaching Assistant (TA) for any course offered by the Department of Computer Science, a student is required to complete the course ECS 390 (Teaching of Computer Science). This course does not count towards the degree requirements.
  
  The Graduate Group requires all PhD candidates demonstrate at least one quarter of
  University/College–level teaching experience. This can be fulfilled by: 
       a) Being a Teaching Assistant (TA) in a course which includes lecturing or leading a
  discussion section.
       b) Teaching a course at a Community College or California State University.
       c) Being an Associate Instructor (AI) for a course at UC Davis.
  
  In addition, each student is encouraged to participate in an optional exit seminar, however it is not required. If the graduating PhD candidate opts to give an exit seminar, they may do so by presenting their research to the UC Davis academic community. This seminar will take place after all committee members have approved the dissertation, but before the dissertation has been filed with Graduate Studies.
• Advising Structure and Mentoring
• The Major Professor is the faculty member who supervises the student’s research and dissertation. This person must be a member of the GGCS and serves as the Chair of the Dissertation Committee.  Graduate Advisors, faculty who are appointed by Graduate Studies, are a resource for information on academic requirements, policies and procedures, and registration information. The Graduate Program Coordinators assist students with identifying a Major Professor, identifying TA and GSR appointments, and general university policies. 
  
  Graduate students are encouraged to review The Mentoring Guidelines provided by UC Davis Graduate Studies, as well as the additional resources included in the GGCS Graduate Student Handbook.
• Committees

• Admissions Committee
  Once the completed application, all supporting material, and the application fee have been received, the application will be submitted to the Admissions Committee. The Admissions Committee consists of 15 –20 faculty who are members of GGCS. Based on a holistic review of the entire application, a recommendation is made to accept or decline an applicant’s request for admission. The recommendation is forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies for final approval of admission. 
  
  Notification of admissions decisions is sent by Graduate Studies. Applications are due by the deadline listed on the Program website for admission to the class starting the following Fall Quarter. (There is no application to be considered for Spring admission)

  Qualifying Examination Committee
  The student, in consultation with their Major Professor, must nominate five faculty to serve on the Qualifying Examination (QE) Committee. The five-member committee must include the Major Professor who must be selected before the QE Committee is formed. One of the committee members is selected to be the Chair of the Qualifying Exam Committee. The membership of the Qualifying Exam Committee must satisfy the following conditions: 
  
  ♦   The chair of the committee must be a member of the Academic Senate of UC Davis, and a GGCS member
  ♦   The Major Professor must be on the Qualifying Exam Committee but cannot be chair of the committee 
  ♦   At least three members of the committee must be faculty members of the Academic Senate of the University of California and GGCS members 
  ♦   As external (non-UC Davis) personnel routinely play major roles in collaborating with and mentoring graduate students, at most one can serve on the Qualifying Examination Committee, if approved. An external committee member should avoid any real or perceived conflict of interest (COI) with the student. If there appeared any perceived COI (e.g., the external member and the student are employed by the same company), the student should provide statements explaining why the COI does not exist. GGCS Educational Policy Committee will review the statements. 
  
  The five nominations (along with any COI statement from the student) are submitted to Graduate Studies via GradSphere by submitting the Qualifying Examination (QE) Application form. The application is reviewed for formal approval in accordance with the Doctoral Qualifying Examinations Policy (GC2005-02). The QE Committee conducts the exam, and the QE Chair submits results to Graduate Studies via GradSphere.
   

  Dissertation Committee
  The Dissertation Committee consists of three members who will guide the student in research. Graduate Studies must approve this committee. Guidelines for choosing the members of the Dissertation Committee are as follows:
  
  ♦   The Chair of this committee must be a member of the Graduate Group in Computer Science.
  ♦   The Chair of the Dissertation Committee is the student’s Major Professor
  ♦   At least two of the members must be members of the Academic Senate of the University of California.
  ♦   At least two of these members must be members of the Graduate Group in Computer Science.
  ♦   The composition of the dissertation committee is entered on the Advancement to Candidacy Form.

  The role of the Dissertation Committee is to advise the doctoral student on the research topic and methods, and then to review the final completed dissertation for acceptance. The Chair of the Dissertation Committee should determine the scope and desire of each individual committee member regarding their involvement and assistance with the research and dissertation review at the time the dissertation committee is constituted. 
  
  Students are expected to meet with the Chair of the Dissertation Committee quarterly. Dissertation Committee members are expected to read and comment on a dissertation within four weeks from its submission. This time limit policy does not apply to summer periods for faculty holding nine-month appointments. The student and the Chair of the Dissertation Committee will coordinate a timeline for the student to present the thesis to the Dissertation Committee. This timeline must allow all Dissertation Committee members enough time to fulfill their responsibilities within the four-week deadline.

• Advancement to Candidacy
• Before Advancing to Candidacy for PhD, a student must have:
  
  ♦   Satisfied all requirements set by the graduate program
  ♦   Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.3 in all coursework undertaken (except those courses graded S or U)
  ♦   Passed the Qualifying Examination. (QE)
  
  The student is expected to pass their QE and Advance to Candidacy by the end of the 9th quarter in the PhD program. 
  
  The form for Advancement to Candidacy for the PhD Degree must be submitted via GradSphere. The completed form includes the list of Dissertation Committee members. The student must file the Advancement to Candidacy paperwork and pay the candidacy fee in order to be officially promoted to be a candidate for PhD. Refer to the Graduate Council Doctoral Qualifying Examinations Policy (GC2005-02) for further details
   
• Qualifying Examination and Dissertation Requirements

• Qualifying Examination
  General Information
  To be eligible for the Qualifying Examination (QE), the student must have satisfied all course requirements, have satisfied all prerequisite proficiencies, and must have at least a 3.3 GPA in courses taken in the program of study. Passing the QE makes the student eligible for Advancement to PhD Candidacy. The student is expected to pass their QE and Advance to Candidacy by the end of the 9th quarter in the PhD program. 

  The primary purpose of the Qualifying Examination is to validate that the student is academically qualified to conceptualize a research topic, to undertake scholarly research and to successfully produce the dissertation required for a doctoral degree. The Qualifying Examination is intended to evaluate the student’s command of the field, ensuring that the student has both breadth and depth of knowledge, and must not focus solely on the proposed dissertation research. In addition, the Qualifying Examination provides an opportunity for the committee to provide important guidance to the student regarding their chosen research topic. 
  
  The Qualifying Examination is a formal examination to ascertain the student’s readiness to conduct PhD level research. It consists of two parts – a written portion and an oral portion. Prior to the oral portion of the Qualifying Examination, the student must prepare a Dissertation Prospectus (more commonly referred to as the Research Proposal) containing a thorough discussion of a proposed dissertation topic. The Research Proposal is the written portion of the Qualifying Examination.

  Written Portion of the Qualifying Exam: The "Research Proposal"
  The written portion of the exam consists of a Research Proposal (more formally referred to as the Dissertation Prospectus). The Research Proposal should be provided to the members of the Qualifying Examination Committee at least two weeks before the Qualifying Exam. The Research Proposal is an independently prepared proposal describing the student's dissertation-specific research aims, hypotheses, progress to date, and approach. Concepts within the research proposal can be discussed with others (such as the student's Major Professor and peers), but the writing of the proposal should be solely the student's work (i.e., no editorial assistance is allowed) as the proposal will serve as evidence of the student's proficiency in scientific writing. The length of the Research Proposal is determined by the student in consultation with their Major Professor. 
  
  The Qualifying Examination committee will be responsible for assessing the quality and the feasibility of the proposed research. They will be responsible for assessing that the student's writing proficiency is satisfactory before advancement to candidacy. Furthermore, the Research Proposal will provide information that may be discussed during the oral portion of the Qualifying Examination.

  Oral Portion of the Qualifying Exam
  The oral portion of the Qualifying Examination will be up to 3 hours in length. While the examinations may differ in structure, depending on the area of research and the members of the examining committee, the common prescribed format consists of two parts. In the first part of this examination the student will be asked to give a presentation of the Research Proposal. The committee may question the student on the proposal to assess their understanding of the research topic, the prior art, the validity of the hypothesis, and the feasibility of the approach. Typically, the recommended time for this presentation without any questions is 45 to 50 minutes. However, with questions, this can be longer. In the second part of the oral portion of the Qualifying Examination, the committee member will question the student to determine the student’s competence in both the major and minor areas of study. The goal is to assess if the student is proficient in the background material that will be required to successfully complete the proposed research. 
  
  The committee will evaluate the student's general qualifications for a respected position as an educator or leader as well as the student's preparation in a special area of study based upon relevant portions of the student's previous academic record, performance on specific parts of the examination, and the student's potential for scholarly research as indicated during the examination.

  Outcome of the Exam
  The committee will reach a decision on the student’s performance immediately after the oral exam. The Chair must submit the QE Report to Graduate Studies via GradSphere within 3 business days of the exam. The committee, having reached a unanimous decision, will inform the student of the exam outcome:

  ♦   Pass -- In this case, the student can apply to the Graduate Studies for Advancement to Candidacy for the degree. At this time, a Dissertation Committee is officially selected to direct the student in the research, and to guide the student in the preparation of the dissertation. The committee must be approved by Graduate Studies.

  ♦   Retake -- In this case, the committee must specify on the QE Report whether the student is required to retake all or part of the examination, list any additional requirements, and state the exact timeline for completion of requirements to achieve a “Pass”.
  
  ♦   Fail -- In this case, the student is not permitted to continue in the Ph.D. program.

  If the committee is unable to reach a unanimous decision, the QE Report must explain the opinions of the majority and minority of the committee. The committee must inform the student of the non-unanimous outcome and the majority and minority opinions of the committee. The student may also provide a statement for consideration by the Graduate Council Administrative Committee (GCAC). See the “Non-unanimous Committee Decisions” section in the Graduate Council Doctoral Qualifying Examinations Policy (GC2005-02) for more details. 
  
  If a unanimous decision takes the form of “Retake” or “Fail,” the Chair of the QE committee must include in the QE report a statement, agreed to by all members of the committee, explaining their decision. If a student receives a “Retake,” they may attempt the QE one additional time. In such cases, the QE report must be provided to the student in writing, setting out clear expectations, specific conditions, and an approximate timeline for completion of additional requirements. The QE chair will meet with the student approximately one week following the first attempt to discuss the expectations for the second exam. 
  
  After a second examination, the only outcomes possible are “Pass” or “Fail.” Only one retake of the qualifying examination is allowed. If the student receives a “Fail” on the first or second attempt at the exam, the student will be recommended for disqualification from the program to the Dean of Graduate Studies (see Graduate Studies Disqualification and Appeal Policy).

  The Dissertation
  The PhD dissertation demonstrates the ability of the student to carry out an independent original research project of high quality. It reflects a level of attainment in research and not the fulfillment of a list of requirements. An acceptable PhD dissertation is not only an original contribution to the field, but it is generally characterized by a broad scope of universal applicability. The dissertation must be submitted to each member of the dissertation committee at least one month before the student expects to make requested revisions; committee members are must respond within 4 weeks, not including summer months for nine-month faculty. Informing committee members of progress as writing proceeds helps the members to plan to read the dissertation and provide feedback within this time frame. The dissertation must be approved and signed by the dissertation committee before it is submitted to Graduate Studies for final approval.

  Filing the dissertation with Graduate Studies is the last requirement for the PhD The deadlines for completing this requirement are listed each quarter on the Graduate Studies website. A candidate must be a registered student, or in Filing Fee status, at the time of filing a dissertation, except for the summer period between the end of the Spring Quarter and the beginning of Fall Quarter. The dissertation will be prepared, submitted and filed according to regulations instituted by Graduate Studies. Satisfaction of this requirement must be verified by the Dissertation Committee Chair.
  
  PhD students are encouraged to browse Graduate Studies' webpage which covers topics including formatting guidelines, an overview of the filing process, filing deadlines, and more.

  Exit Seminar (Optional, but encouraged)
  Each student is encouraged to participate in an exit seminar, but it is not required. If the graduating Ph.D. candidate opts to give an exit seminar, they may do so by presenting their research to the UC Davis academic community. This seminar will be administered by the Dissertation Committee and will take place after all committee members have approved the dissertation, but before the dissertation has been filed with Graduate Studies. The seminar should have a duration of 1 hour consisting of a talk by the student of duration 50 minutes long with 10 minutes allowed for questions. The seminar is open to the general public. Adequate scheduling of the exit seminar is the responsibility of the student.

• Normative Time to Degree
• It is expected that the student will complete the Prerequisite Proficiency Requirements within the first none quarters of study, the Advanced Proficiency within the first six quarters of study, and the Qualifying Examination between the sixth and ninth quarters of study. Completion of all requirements is normally accomplished in fifteen quarters of study. 
  
  Students who fail to complete all the requirements within the normative time period are referred to the Educational Policy Committee of the Graduate Group. The Committee considers the student's entire record, including grades, SPA reports and solicited letters of support, particularly from the student's Major Professor. The Committee exercises wide discretion: it may decide that no action is necessary (i.e., when a student has one or more quarters to complete the requirements); that the student should be allowed more time in which to complete the requirement; that certain of the requirements should be waived; that certain remedial actions should be taken; or that the student should be advised to leave the program. The committee attaches great weight to the Major Professor’s letter of support. It is therefore extremely important that students involve themselves in research under some faculty member very early in the program - preferably by the end of their third quarter.
• Typical Timeline & Sample Schedule (classes may vary and can be taken in different quarters than what is listed) 

• THESIS	Fall	Winter	Spring
  Year One	ECS 201A (4 units)  ECS 293A (1 unit)  ECS 390 (1 unit)  ECS 299 (6 units) 12 TOTAL UNITS	ECS 260 (4 units)  ECS 289G (4 units)  ECS 299 (4 units) 12 TOTAL UNITS	ECS 222A (4 units)  ECS 240 (4 units)  ECS 299 (4 units) 12 TOTAL UNITS
  Year Two	ECS 235A (4 units)  ECS 265 (4 units) ECS 299 (8 units) 12 TOTAL UNITS	ECS 299 (8 units)  ECS 271 (4 units) 12 TOTAL UNITS	ECS 299 (12 units)  12 TOTAL UNITS
  Year Three	ECS 299 (12 units)  (Program of Study  submitted and approved) 12 TOTAL UNITS	ECS 299 (12 units)  (Application for  Qualifying Exam  submitted and approved) 12 TOTAL UNITS	ECS 299 (12 units)  (Qualifying Exam Passed;  Advance to PhD Candidacy) 12 TOTAL UNITS
  Years Four - Six	Dissertation Research Completion Optional Exit Seminar

  
  The following are important notes related to the above table. 
       1.  ECS 299 units are assigned to meet the 12 units requirements for the quarter. 
       2.  Course offerings change year to year. What is shown is just an example. 
       3.  These samples do not take into account the student’s need of fulfilling certain prerequisite proficiency requirements. Depending on the added workload, the student may need additional quarters to complete any outstanding requirements.
  
  Students may find a Tentative Course Schedule for the current/upcoming academic year linked towards the top of this website: https://cs.ucdavis.edu/schedules-classes. This is a tentative plan, and courses may change. Please use the Course Search Tool for the most detailed and current course information.

• Sources of Funding

• Financial assistance for graduate study comes in the form of fellowships, Teaching Assistantships (TA), and Graduate Student Research (GSR) positions. 
  
  The standard form of PhD graduate student support in a combination of 50% TA positions, 50% GSR positions, and fellowship for the first six quarters (two years) in the program. The majority of the continued funding for the remainder of the student's time in the PhD program will be in the form of a 50% GSR position. 

  GGCS fellowships from the program are also offered periodically. These are typically awarded for either merit or need, or a combination of both.
  
  In addition, there are also external fellowships. We strongly encourage all qualified applicants to apply for external fellowships offered by both government and private agencies. Recipients of fellowships such as NSF, NPSC, and DOE fellowships are highly regarded as applicants. A complete list of external fellowships and their respective deadlines can be found on Graduate Studies’ website.

• PELP, In Absentia and Filing Fee Status
• Information about PELP (Planned Educational Leave), In Absentia (reduced fees when researching out of state) and Filing Fee status can be found in the Graduate Studies website.
• Academic Accommodations
• Students requiring academic accommodations to complete degree requirements must register with the Student Disability Center (SDC) and initiate the interactive accommodation process. Academic accommodations cannot be granted retroactively, and it is the student’s responsibility to follow the appropriate process for requesting accommodations in advance of needing them to complete a degree requirement (e.g., coursework, comprehensive exam, etc.).
• Leaving the Program Prior to Completion of the Ph.D. Requirements
• If a student leaves the program prior to completing the requirements for the PhD, they may still be eligible to receive a Master’s degree if they have fulfilled all the requirements (see Master’s Degree Requirements). Students must submit a Change of Degree Objective form via GradSphere. 
  
  Please contact the GGCS staff for support and one-on-one advising if you may be in this situation. If advising appointments are full, please send us a message at csgradadvising@ucdavis.edu to inquire about booking an appointment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

For a full list, please visit our webpage for FAQ's for Current Students

• How do I get a Ph.D. in computer science?
• The requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy are the satisfactory completion of the advanced proficiency requirements, qualifying examination, completion of an approved program of study, and writing a dissertation approved by your thesis committee. The time frame varies but the following list shows the approximate time frame and sequence to follow:
  
  Typical Time to Degree: 5-7 Years
  ♦  Complete Prerequisite Proficiency Requirements
  ♦   Complete Core Area course requirements (12-units, i.e., 3 classes)
  ♦   Complete Elective course requirements (20-units, i.e., 5 classes)
  ♦   Complete 13-units of Research (ECS 299)
  ♦   Coursework counted towards the degree totals 45-units (i.e., 8 classes total)
  ♦   Optionally, get a Master’s degree along the way
  ♦   Qualifying Exam (Taken when all coursework is complete: 6th-9th quarter of study)
  ♦   Advance to Candidacy
  ♦   Approved Dissertation and optional Exit Seminar
   
• How many courses must I take?
• At least eight (8) graduate courses are required for the PhD degree requirements. This is exclusive of seminar (290, 290C, 298) and research (299) units. This may include all courses taken in the Master’s program if applicable. 
  
  A grade of B or better must be obtained in all coursework used to satisfy degree requirements.
• What is a Program of Study?
• The student, in conjunction with the Research Advisor, develops the program of study. The form is available from csgradadvising. For a PhD student, this includes both a "Major" and "Minor" area of study. No course with a grade less than a B can be used on the program of study. 
  
  The major area must include at least 20-units of coursework (five classes) that form a consistent research area of Computer Science. The minor area must include at least 12-units (three classes) that form a complimentary "minor" area. The 13-units of 299 units may be added to the "major" area. 
  
  This form is completed at the time that the student submits their application to take the Qualifying Exam (QE). When complete, the student must submit the form to the graduate student service advisors for approval from the Educational Policy Committee.
• What is the teaching requirement?
• The Graduate Group requires all Ph.D. candidates to demonstrate at least one quarter of college level teaching experience. We strongly recommend that at least one of these quarters includes lecturing or leading a discussion section.
• What is the process for setting up my Qualifying Exam?
• At least two months before you plan to take your Qualifying Examination, find a suitable time when your planned committee members can all attend in-person. Allow for approximately 2.5 – 3 hours for the exam in total. Next, coordinate a room reservation on COWS. 
  
  Once the date is set, complete the Qualifying Examination Application via GradSphere. This form is required at least 4 weeks before your scheduled QE date. There are no exceptions to this timeline, so please plan accordingly.
• I have questions about preparing and filing my dissertation. Who do I talk to?

• For assistance in the preparation of your dissertation, see the Graduate Studies website on filing your dissertation. You are responsible for observing the filing dates and for preparing the dissertation and title page in the proper format. 

  Filing your dissertation is the last step in the process leading to the awarding of your degree. 

• What is the exit seminar?
• In the exit seminar, the candidate’s research is presented to the UC Davis academic community. This seminar is administered by the dissertation committee, and takes place after all committee members have approved the dissertation, but (usually) before the dissertation has been filed with Graduate Studies.
  
  In GGCS, an exit seminar is not required, however students are encouraged to give one. The exit seminar is optional.
• Can I take classes outside Computer Science?
• Yes, you may take up to 12-units (3 classes) of electives outside Computer Science in a related area, and they will count towards your Ph.D. degree requirements.