Ph.D. in Computer Science

Ranked among the top 20 programs in the U.S., our Ph.D. program features world-renowned faculty, interdisciplinary research, and a spirit of collaboration. Students admitted into the PhD-only program usually arrive at UMass, having already earned an MS degree at an accredited University. Ph.D. students must pass 6 core requirements, complete 18 credits (credits include core courses taken to pass core requirements), and 18 Dissertation Credits.

Admission is very competitive. We typically accept 10 to 15% of students applying to our graduate programs. Backgrounds vary: we have students from engineering, math, computer science, electrical engineering, psychology, and social sciences. With such a diverse group, an emphasis is placed on letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and GPA.

We educate a community of responsible innovators prepared to solve problems across industries leveraging computational thinking and technology. We provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to pursue rewarding careers and do good in a rapidly changing world.

We deliver on the promise of computing by developing secure, fair, trustworthy, easy-to-use, and helpful technologies that advance science, improve our quality of life, and contribute to society's progress. We work across fields to meet these goals, collaborating with researchers and industry partners from many disciplines.