Masters Program |
PhD Program
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Program Requirements
Program requirements can be found on the Graduate Calendar.
You must also maintain good Academic Standing and follow the rest of the General Graduate Regulations.
Guidelines for Completion of a Doctoral Degree
Overall Timeline
The recommended timeline to complete PhD in Computer Science is 9-12 terms (3-4 years). You can click on each stage below to learn more:
⇒ Must be completed by the end of your 2nd term
You must complete 1.5 credits of 5000-level COMP OCICS courses. You and your supervisor will work together to choose which courses will be most beneficial for your research topic. The Admission Committee may also impose additional program requirements (for example, language scores, additional coursework, etc.)
A full list of courses can be found on the Carleton Graduate Calendar. Please note: not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session you consult the public class schedule.
Once your coursework is complete, your supervisor must complete the Comprehensive Committee & Reading List form. The Committee consists of your supervisor, one OCICS member from uOttawa, and one OCICS member from Carleton. They will establish the topics and readings that you must complete to take your comprehensive exam. Once this form is completed and approved, you will be able to register in your comprehensive exam: COMP 6907.
Progress report
The Progress Report allows the Graduate Advisors to track your progress and provide any needed support. You will need to complete the Student Progress Report in December and April of each year. This form must be approved by your supervisor.
⇒ Must be completed by the end of your 4th term
After the reading list is approved, you will be allowed to register in COMP 6907. Once you register in COMP 6907, you must maintain continuous registration until you have completed your comprehensive exam.
A comprehensive exam consists of three written exams followed by an oral exam. There is one major written exam (typically 3 hours to complete) and two minor written exams (typically 2 hours to complete). The three written exams are typically scheduled on three straight days, with the oral exam taking place a week after your final written exam.
When you are ready to write your exam, your supervisor will submit the Comprehensive Exam Specification form. This form must be submitted at least three weeks before your examination date.
If you are successful in your exam, you will then be allowed to register in your thesis proposal: COMP 6908.
For more detailed information on COMP 6907, visit the link below:
Progress report
You will need to complete the Student Progress Report in December and April of each year. This form must be approved by your supervisor.
⇒ Must be completed by the end of your 6th term
After you have successfully passed your comprehensive exam, you will be allowed to register in COMP 6908. Once you register in COMP 6908, you must maintain continuous registration until you have successfully defended your thesis proposal.
The Doctoral Thesis Proposal is a written document that consists of four elements:
- Defining the problem addressed
- Relating the problem to state-of-the-art literature
- Reporting on the hypothesis, goals, and any initial results
- Outlining the proposed research methodology and validation procedure(s)
Your supervisor will establish a Doctoral Thesis Proposal Committee. This Committee will be responsible for your grading.
When you are ready to defend your proposal, your supervisor will complete the Scheduling a Doctoral Proposal form. This form should be completed four weeks prior to your oral defence.
If you are successful in your oral defence, then you will be allowed to register in your doctoral thesis: COMP 6909
For more detailed information on COMP 6908, visit the link below:
Progress report
You will need to complete the Student Progress Report in December and April of each year. This form must be approved by your supervisor.
⇒ Must be completed by the end of your 12th term
After you have successfully defended your proposal, you will be allowed to register in COMP 6909. Once you register in COMP 6909, you must maintain continuous registration until you complete your degree.
Seminar requirements
While working on your thesis, you must also complete your PhD Seminar requirements. This requirement can be fulfilled by giving two presentations at a conference, research group, and/or at the departmental level.
Seminar abstracts and the completion of the PhD Seminar Requirement form must submitted to grad.scs@carleton.ca to complete this requirement.
This must be completed one term prior to your thesis defence, i.e. if you plan on defending in the Winter term then you must complete the seminar requirements by the end of the prior Fall term at the latest.
Doctoral thesis
The Doctoral Thesis must report the results of original research and builds from your thesis proposal.
When you are close to defending your thesis, your supervisor will submit the PhD Thesis Defence Committee Specification form. This will begin the process to schedule your examination (i.e. your oral defence). You will need to upload an electronic copy of your thesis at least six weeks in advance of the actual date of your examination.
The exam consists of an oral presentation, two rounds of questioning regarding your thesis, and closing statements. The Thesis Examination Policy describes the examination process in more detail.
Once you have made any necessary revisions to your thesis, you will upload for approval by your supervisor and by Graduate Studies. If Graduate Studies determines that you have fulfilled all the requirements of the PhD then your thesis will be sent to the Carleton Library and you will be recommended for graduation.
For more detailed information on COMP 6909, visit the link below:
Progress report
You will need to complete the Student Progress Report in December and April of each year. This form must be approved by your supervisor.