These degrees offer a specialized track Computing Degree Program. The requirement includes the student to focus their energy in a Computer Engineering electives. It also allows flexibility for a student to consultation with their committee.
There are two degree programs: M.S. and PhD. Within for course-only, project, and thesis based programs.
MS in Computing: Computer Engineering
PhD in Computing: Computer Engineering
For more information about the Computer Engineering Track and Admission, please contact Erik Brunvand (elb 'at' cs.utah.edu).
Computer Engineering Computing Degree Track Faculty (proposed)
Rajeev Balasubramonian (Architecture)
Richard Brown (mixed-signal microcontrollers, solid-state sensors)
Erik Brunvand (VLSI, Async circuits, Architecture)
John Carter (OS, distributed computing)
Al Davis (Architecture, VLSI)
Ganesh Gopalakrishnan (Formal verification)
Sneha Kasera (Networks)
John Regehr (Embedded computing)
From Electrical and Computer Engineering
Priyank Kalla (CAD for VLSI)
Chris Myers (Async circuits)
Ken Stevens (VLSI, Architecture)
MS in Computing: Computer Engineering
General Requirements: The M.S. requires 30 total semester hours of graduate course work (including thesis hours for the thesis option). There are five required courses consisting of one mandatory course and four courses from a focus area.
Required course: CPSC 6810 Computer Architecture Plus, four additional courses in an area of specialization:
VLSI: CPSC 6710 - Digital VLSI
CPSC 6770 - Advanced Digital VLSI
CPSC 6720 - Analog IC Design
CPSC 6740 - CAD of Digital Circuits
CPSC 6830 - VLSI Architecture
CPSC 6750 - Synthesis and Verification of Async VLSI
CPSC 6745 - Testing and Verification of Digital Circuits
Architecture: CPSC 7810 - Advanced Architecture
CPSC 7820 - Parallel Architecture
CPSC 5460 - Operating Systems
CPSC 6470 - Advanced Topics in Compilation
CPSC 7460 - Distributed Operating Systems
CPSC 6480 - Networks
CPSC 6490 - Network Security
Systems: CPSC 6780 - Embedded Systems
CPSC 6785 - Advanced Embedded Systems
CPSC 5460 - Operating Systems
CPSC 6470 - Advanced Topics in Compilation
CPSC 7460 - Distributed Operating Systems
CPSC 6480 - Networks
CPSC 6490 - Network Security
Formal Analysis:
CPSC 6100 - Foundations of Computer Science
CPSC 6110 - Formal Methods for System Design
CPSC 6740 - Computer Aided Design of Digital Circuits
CPSC 6750 - Synthesis and Verification of Async VLSI
CPSC 6760 - Modeling and Analysis of Biological Networks
CPSC 6745 - Testing and Verification of Digital Circuits
CPSC 6962 - Algorithms
With approval from their supervisory committee, students can form their own area of specialization by proposing four elective courses that correspond to a coordinated plan of study.
M.S. Degree Options: There are three options for the M.S. degree:
Coursework Option: In this option all the course requirements are fulfilled through graduate courses (no thesis hours). Independent study (maximum of 3 hours) and seminars are included in the course total.
Project option - Similar to the coursework option with independent study on project topic required with a project report submitted to the independent study advisor. A minimum of 3 hours and maximum of 6 hours of independent study are allowed.
Thesis option - This option involves research on a thesis area and a written thesis submitted to the graduate school. A minimum of 6 thesis hours are required, and there must be at least 20 classroom hours in the program of study. Independent study (maximum of three hours) is permitted only when it is self-contained and not related to the thesis.
Additional courses on the program of study must be approved by the student's committee.
Administrivia:
Supervisory Committee. An M.S. committee consists of three members. A committee typically consists of School faculty, but may include one qualified external member. The committee should be formed by the second semester of enrollment in the M.S. program, although a committee may be revised later by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee.
Any School of Computing regular faculty member or track faculty member may serve as a supervisory committee chair. Research or clinical faculty may chair supervisory committees if accorded that privilege by the regular faculty. Individuals who are not faculty members may serve on supervisory committees if nominated by the regular faculty on the committee, and endorsed by the Graduate Studies Committee and School Director. The Dean of the Graduate School must grant final approval of all supervisory committees.
Program of Study. Course work listed on the approved Program of Study form must consist of at least 30 semester hours of graduate course work and thesis research. At least 6 semester hours of thesis research (CS 6970 equivalent) and 20 semester hours of graduate course work must be included for the thesis option.
At least 24 semester hours must be completed in resident study at the University of Utah. Students must be registered for a minimum of 3 semester hours during the semester in which the thesis is defended.
The Program of Study form should be filed with the School in the second semester of study and with the Graduate School prior to taking the comprehensive examination. The Program of Study form must be submitted to the Graduate School by the last day of the semester preceding the semester of graduation.
Thesis Proposal. In the thesis option the student should prepare and receive approval for a thesis proposal by the end of the third semester of study (not counting summers). A copy of the thesis proposal must be in the student's file. The thesis proposal must be approved at least one semester prior to the semester of the thesis defense.
Comprehensive Examination. The comprehensive examination for thesis-M.S. students is coupled to the thesis proposal. It consists of an oral examination on the thesis proposal and research area in a very broad sense. This examination is administered by the student's supervisory committee and should be completed by the end of the student's third semester of study (not counting summers) as a graduate student in the School. The examination should serve as the defense of the student's thesis proposal as well as to establish competence in the research area. The examination must be completed at least one semester prior to the semester of the thesis defense.
Completing Program of Study. An M.S. student is expected to devote the necessary time to courses and research in order to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Satisfactory progress includes personal participation in the research and teaching environment of the School on a day-to-day basis.
A full time student working on an M.S. program is expected to complete the degree requirements within two calendar years. Beyond this period a student generally does not receive graduate financial support from the School, and the tuition waiver does not apply. A student must petition the Graduate Studies Committee to continue beyond the third year. The Graduate School limits M.S. programs to four years.
PhD in Computing: Computer Engineering
General Requirements: 50 total hours of coursework are required of which at least 24 hours must be regular course work and at least 14 hours must be dissertation research. Up to 20 hours of previous work may be applied to this degree. There are five required courses consisting of three mandatory courses and two additional courses from a restricted list.
Required courses:
CPSC 6810 - Computer Architecture
CPSC 6710 - Digital VLSI
CPSC 6780 - Embedded Systems
Additional two courses from the following list:
CPSC 6770 - Advanced Digital VLSI
CPSC 7810 - Advanced Computer Architecture
CPSC 6470 - Advanced Topics in Compilation
CPSC 6875 - Advanced Embedded Systems
CPSC 6110 - Formal Methods for System Design
CPSC 6490 - Network Security
CPSC 7460 - Distributed Operating Systems
Students may modify these requirements by substituting courses or transferring courses from another institution at the discretion of the Track Faculty Committee chair and the students committee. Additional courses on the program of study must be approved by the student's committee.
Administrivia -
Supervisory Committee. Each student forms a supervisory committee whose members guide the student's research program. The committee conducts the student's qualifying examination and dissertation defense. A Ph.D. supervisory committee consists of five faculty members. At least three faculty members must be from the School, and at least one member from outside the School of Computing. Any School of Computing regular faculty member or track faculty member may serve as a supervisory committee chair. Research or clinical faculty may chair supervisory committees if accorded that privilege by the regular faculty. Individuals who are not faculty members may serve on supervisory committees if nominated by the regular faculty on the committee, and endorsed by the Graduate Studies Committee and School Director.
The Dean of the Graduate School grants final approval of all supervisory committees. Students must form this committee by the end of the second semester of study, although a committee may be revised later by petition to the Graduate Studies Committee.
Program of Study. Course work listed on the approved Program of Study form must comprise at least 50 semester hours of graduate course work and dissertation research, exclusive of independent study. Graduate course work applied toward an M.S. degree may be included. At least 14 semester hours of dissertation research (CS 7970 equivalent) and 27 semester hours of graduate course work must be included.
One year of study must be spent in full-time residency at the University (i.e., the student must enroll for a minimum of nine hours per semester for two consecutive semesters, summer optionally excluded). After the residency requirement is fulfilled, registration for three semester hours of Ph.D. Dissertation Research is considered a full load.
The Program of Study form should be filed with the School in the second semester of study and with the Graduate School prior to taking the qualifying examination. The Program of Study form must be submitted to the Graduate Records Office no later than the last day of the semester preceding the semester of graduation.
Comprehensive Examination. The Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination tests for breadth of knowledge across the discipline of computing. Each Track Faculty Committee (TFC) shall offer a comprehensive examination for its track members. This is typically done through the student's committee preparing comprehensive exam questions for the candidate.
Dissertation Proposal. The student should prepare and receive approval for a dissertation proposal by the end of the sixth semester of study (not counting summers).
Qualifying Examination. After passing the Comprehensive Examination, all Ph.D. students must pass a Qualifying Examination, as specified by the Graduate School. The Qualifying Exam consists of a written part, to be conducted first, and an oral part. The written part of the Qualifying Examination will cover the candidate's general area of specialization in sufficient depth to demonstrate preparation for conducting Ph.D.-level research.
The oral part comprises the dissertation proposal defense. At the supervisory committee's option, it may also include follow-up questions relating to the written part of the exam. Students should pass their Qualifying Examination by the end of their sixth semester of study, not counting summer enrollment. The Qualifying Examination must be completed no less than one semester prior to defense of the dissertation.
Completing Program of Study. A Ph.D. student is expected to devote the necessary time to courses and research in order to make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Satisfactory progress includes personal participation in the research and teaching environment of the School on a day-to-day basis.
Dissertation. The completed dissertation must be published either in its entirety (through a legitimate publisher of the student's choice or through University Microfilms) or as one or more articles accepted for publication in approved scholarly journals. An abstract of each dissertation must be published in University Microfilms' Dissertation Abstracts International.