Computer science

The Ph.D. in computer science is a 78-credit program designed to prepare you for leadership roles in research, innovation and technology development. Through advanced coursework, independent research and faculty mentorship, you’ll develop the expertise to solve complex challenges at the intersection of engineering and computer science. The program will equip you to advance solutions in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, high-performance computing and other emerging areas of computing.

Explore program courses in the University Catalog

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the Doctor of Philosophy in computer science will demonstrate advanced knowledge of computer science theory and application, conduct original research that advances the field and apply rigorous research methods to solve complex computing problems. They will communicate technical concepts effectively through scholarly writing and oral presentations, evaluate the strengths and limitations of existing knowledge, and contribute meaningful, publishable research while demonstrating leadership, ethical responsibility and independent inquiry in academic, industry and research settings.

Program format

Depending on your interests, your academic adviser will help you develop a focused plan of study for the Ph.D. computer science degree. Some examples include:

• Cybersecurity
• Survivable systems (fault-tolerant computing)
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Collaborative virtual environments
• Data science

The program combines advanced coursework, seminars, research methods and independent research under faculty mentorship. You must complete qualifying and preliminary examinations before conducting original dissertation research. The degree culminates in a written dissertation and a public final dissertation defense.

Faculty expertise

Work alongside faculty with expertise in:  

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
• Deep learning and neural networks  
• Data science and predictive analytics  
• Natural language processing (NLP)  
• Intelligent systems and AI engineering  
• Trustworthy, ethical and secure AI  
• Adversarial machine learning  
• Computer vision and pattern recognition  
• Evolutionary computation and optimization  
• Robotics and intelligent industrial automation  
• High-performance and large-scale computing

Connect with program faculty

University of Idaho is committed to making graduate education accessible and helping students navigate the cost of earning an advanced degree. In addition to financial aid and scholarship opportunities, many graduate students receive funding through assistantships, research opportunities and other forms of academic support.

Here are a few key resources to help you understand graduate tuition, funding opportunities and available financial support:

• Submit your FAFSA: Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important first step in accessing federal financial aid and certain institutional funding opportunities.
• Estimate your cost of attendance: Visit U of I’s cost of attendance page to explore estimated tuition, fees and living expenses associated with your graduate program.
• View a breakdown of tuition and fees: Visit the Student Accounts page to explore current tuition rates, fees and detailed cost information based on your program, residency status and enrollment level.
• Explore scholarships and graduate funding opportunities: Graduate students may qualify for scholarships, fellowships and other funding opportunities based on academic achievement, area of study and professional experience.
• Learn about assistantships: Many graduate programs offer Research Assistantships (RAs), Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Graduate Assistantships (GAs), which may provide tuition support, stipends and valuable professional experience. Assistantship availability and funding levels vary by program and department.
• Connect with your program: Funding is competitive, and faculty may provide funding through a variety of external agencies and industry partners. Contact our faculty to learn more about these funding opportunities.
• CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service - The U of I Center for Secure and Dependable Systems has maintained its status as a National Science Foundation CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service Program participant for over 20 years, securing more than $20 million in total funding to train students to work at the highest levels of government.

If you have questions about financial aid, scholarships or graduate funding, U of I’s experienced financial aid counselors and graduate program staff can help you explore options and make informed financial decisions throughout the admissions process.

View financial aid resources

Recognized STEM Program

This program is recognized as a STEM program by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and may be eligible for the 24-month STEM optional practical training extension for international students.

Learn more about STEM approved CIP/degree codes

Have questions about the program, research opportunities or the graduate student experience? Connect with our program team for personalized guidance about curriculum, faculty mentorship, application requirements and graduate funding opportunities.

Computer Science contact:
Hasan Jamil
jamil@uidaho.edu

For questions related to admissions, application materials, transcripts or enrollment steps, contact Graduate Admissions:

Graduate Admissions contact:
graduateadmissions@uidaho.edu
208-885-4001

Interested in research areas or finding a faculty mentor? Explore faculty expertise, research interests and advising opportunities on the department’s faculty page.

Find Department of Computer Science faculty advisors

Applicants for the Ph.D. in computer science must meet the following degree-specific admission requirements:

Program availability:

• Semester intake: Fall and Spring
  • Eligible for out-of-state tuition waiver through the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) for qualifying applicants
  • Open to international applicants, including those requiring F-1 or J-1 visa status
• Deadlines: General application deadlines
• Start dates:
  • View the academic calendar to see start and end dates

University requirements

• Education level: Bachelor's degree in a similar field
  • Transcripts for all post-secondary education will be required. Unofficial transcripts may be used for initial admission review. Official transcripts send directly by the issuing institution(s) will be required upon admission. View more information on the Graduate Admissions page.
• GPA: 3.0 (Applicants with a lower undergraduate GPA who have relevant professional experience in the field, have already earned a graduate degree, or have completed graduate-level credits may still be considered for admission with approval from the academic program.)
• GRE: Not required
• Letters of recommendation: Three
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• Valid picture ID (required to verify students’ identity and will be kept confidential)
• English proficiency (for applicants whose education was completed in countries where English is not an official language).
  • Accepted tests: TOEFL: 4.5, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 115, PTE-A: 58. Learn what qualifies as proof of English proficiency.
• Prerequisites: To enter the computer science doctorate program, competence in the following areas must be demonstrated:
  • Knowledge of a structured, high-level language (CS120)
  • Algorithms and data structures (CS121)
  • A full year of calculus
• If prerequisite requirements are met, a student who does not have an adequate coursework background in computer science may be admitted with deficiencies in:
  • Computer organization and architecture (CS150)
  • Computer languages (CS210)
  • Computer operating systems (CS240)
  • Software engineering (CS383)
  • Analysis of algorithms (CS395)
  • Or theory of computation (CS385)
• Other requirements: Statement of purpose (SOP)
  • In the SOP, include a paragraph detailing at most three possible topic areas you would like to do your Ph.D. on and identify at most three faculty members in order of preference whom you would like to choose as your possible major professor. To increase your chances of a proper match with the proposed faculty members, visit their web pages, and propose a research problem you would like to tackle with your proposed major professor(s).
  • Ph.D. applicants are encouraged to include a research proposal in the SOP and justify why a specific faculty is chosen as the proposed major professor.
• Application Fee: $50

Application and admission process:

Applications are submitted online and are specific to the program and term selected. Applicants seeking admission to multiple programs must submit a separate application for each program.

Before submitting an application, applicants must provide personal and academic information from all post-secondary institutions attended, recommender information, required program-specific materials, and their intended program and start term.

Applicants seeking admission to the Ph.D. are encouraged to identify and contact a potential faculty advisor or major professor during the application process. Early identification of an advisor can help ensure that a faculty member in the applicant’s area of interest has capacity to supervise the student and appropriate research opportunities are available. Applicants should consult the College of Engineering website to identify faculty whose research aligns with their academic and research interests.

Applications are reviewed for admission by the academic program. Only complete applications, including required letters of recommendation and payment of the application fee, will be forwarded for evaluation and admission decision. Applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their applications early to allow sufficient time for a thorough review.

International students seeking F-1 or J-1 visas must provide financial documentation demonstrating their ability to cover the cost of attendance. This documentation is required only after admission.

Visit Graduate Admissions to learn more and start your application.