{"id":19149,"date":"2024-08-28T09:57:16","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T13:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=19149"},"modified":"2026-08-07T15:13:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T19:13:59","slug":"program-requirements-and-timelines-phd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/program-requirements-and-timelines-phd\/","title":{"rendered":"Program Requirements and Guidelines"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Program Requirements and Guidelines\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"flex p-4 rounded-md cu-alert cu-alert--info not-prose\">\n\n            <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" stroke=\"currentColor\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-slot=\"icon\" class=\"w-8 h-8\">\n            <path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"m11.25 11.25.041-.02a.75.75 0 0 1 1.063.852l-.708 2.836a.75.75 0 0 0 1.063.853l.041-.021M21 12a9 9 0 1 1-18 0 9 9 0 0 1 18 0Zm-9-3.75h.008v.008H12V8.25Z\"><\/path>\n        <\/svg>\n    \n    <div class=\"w-full ml-3\">\n        <p class=\"text-base md:text-lg mt-0.5 font-semibold\">\n            THESIS REGISTRATION\n        <\/p>\n                    <p class=\"text-sm md:text-base text-cu-black-900\">\n                <em><em>Any student (full-time or part-time) registered in a program of study that requires a thesis is required to <strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">enrol <\/strong>in that <strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">thesis in their first term of registration <\/strong>and must <strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">maintain registration in all successive terms<\/strong> (including the term in which the student is examined) until their thesis is completed. Completion is defined as submission of a final grade to Graduate Studies after any modifications or revisions.\u00a0<\/em><\/em>\n            <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"phd-program-requirements\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">PhD Program Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Program requirements can be found on the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.carleton.ca\/grad\/gradprograms\/computerscience\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Graduate Calendar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must also maintain good&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.carleton.ca\/grad\/gradregulations\/#academicstanding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Academic Standing<\/a>&nbsp;and follow the rest of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.carleton.ca\/grad\/gradregulations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General Graduate Regulations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/calendar.carleton.ca\/grad\/gradprograms\/computerscience\/#PhD_Computer_Science\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Program Requirements \u2197<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    <div class=\"grid gap-6 mx-auto my-6 cu-column md:gap-10 md:grid-cols-2 md:my-10 first:mt-0\">\n        \n<div class=\"cu-column-content\">\n    \n\n<h3 id=\"program-specific-information\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Program-Specific Information <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jump to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#coursework\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#coursework\">Course work<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#comp6907\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#comp6907\">COMP 6907 &#8211; Doctoral Comprehensive<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#proposal\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#proposal\">COMP 6908 &#8211; Doctoral Thesis Proposal <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#phdthesis\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#phdthesis\">COMP 6909 &#8211; Doctoral Thesis <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#seminar\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#seminar\">PhD Seminar Requirement <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#progressreport\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#progressreport\">Progress Report<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#timelimits\">Time Limits for Program Completion <\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#candidacy\" type=\"internal\" id=\"#candidacy\">Doctoral Canadidacy <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"coursework\">Course work<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 2nd term of initial registration (full-time students)\u00a0<\/strong><br><strong>\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 4th term of initial registration (part-time students)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must complete 1.5 credits of 5000-level COMP <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocics.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">OCICS courses<\/a>. 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 <em>(for example, language scores, additional coursework, etc.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A full list of courses can be found on the <a href=\"https:\/\/calendar.carleton.ca\/grad\/courses\/COMP\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/calendar.carleton.ca\/grad\/courses\/COMP\/\">Carleton Graduate Calendar<\/a>. 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 can consult the <a href=\"https:\/\/central.carleton.ca\/prod\/bwysched.p_select_term?wsea_code=EXT\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">public class schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once your coursework is complete, your supervisor must complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/comp-6907-phd-comprehensive-committee-reading-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comprehensive Committee &amp; Reading List<\/a> 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 for your comprehensive exam: COMP 6907.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    <div class=\"grid gap-6 mx-auto my-6 cu-column md:gap-10 md:grid-cols-2 md:my-10 first:mt-0\">\n        \n<div class=\"cu-column-content\">\n    \n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"comp6907\"><a id=\"COMP6907\"><\/a>COMP 6907 &#8211; Doctoral Comprehensive<\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 4th term of initial registration (full-time students)\u00a0<\/strong><br><strong>\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 8th term of initial registration (part-time students)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the reading list is approved, you will be allowed to register in COMP 6907. Once you register for COMP 6907, you must maintain continuous registration until you have completed your comprehensive exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you are ready to write your exam, your supervisor will submit the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/comp-6907-phd-comprehensive-exam-specification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Comprehensive Exam Specification<\/a> form. This form must be submitted at least three weeks before your examination date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are successful in your exam, you will then be allowed to register for your thesis proposal: COMP 6908.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more detailed information on COMP 6907, visit the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/current-students\/graduate-students\/program-requirements-and-guidelines\/comp-6907-phd-comprehensive-exam\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COMP 6907 &#8211; Comprehensive Exam<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    <div class=\"grid gap-6 mx-auto my-6 cu-column md:gap-10 md:grid-cols-2 md:my-10 first:mt-0\">\n        \n<div class=\"cu-column-content\">\n    \n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"proposal\"><a id=\"COMP6908\"><\/a>COMP 6908 &#8211; Doctoral Thesis Proposal <\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 6th term of initial registration (full-time students)<\/strong><br><strong>\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 12th term of initial registration (part-time students)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Doctoral Thesis Proposal is a written document that consists of four elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Defining the problem addressed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Relating the problem to state-of-the-art literature<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reporting on the hypothesis, goals, and any initial results<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Outlining the proposed research methodology and validation procedure(s)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your supervisor will establish a Doctoral Thesis Proposal Committee. This Committee will be responsible for your grading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you are ready to defend your proposal, your supervisor will complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/comp-6908-scheduling-a-phd-doctoral-proposal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scheduling a Doctoral Proposal<\/a> form. This form should be completed four weeks prior to your oral defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are successful in your oral defence, then you will be allowed to register in your doctoral thesis: COMP 6909<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more detailed information on COMP 6908, visit the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/current-students\/graduate-students\/program-requirements-and-guidelines\/comp6908-doctoral-thesis-proposal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COMP 6908 &#8211; Doctoral Thesis Proposal<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n        \n    <div class=\"grid gap-6 mx-auto my-6 cu-column md:gap-10 md:grid-cols-2 md:my-10 first:mt-0\">\n        \n<div class=\"cu-column-content\">\n    \n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"phdthesis\"><a id=\"COMP6909\"><\/a>COMP 6909 &#8211; PhD Thesis <\/h4>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Doctoral Thesis must report the results of original research and builds on your thesis proposal. When you are close to defending your thesis, your supervisor will submit the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/current-students\/graduate-students\/forms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PhD Thesis Defence Committee Specification<\/a> form. This will begin the process to schedule your examination (i.e. your oral defence). The exam consists of an oral presentation, two rounds of questioning regarding your thesis, and closing statements. The <a href=\"https:\/\/gradstudents.carleton.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/Thesis-Examination-Policy-revised-Jan-2022-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thesis Examination Policy<\/a> describes the examination process in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have made any necessary revisions to your thesis, you will upload it 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For more detailed information on COMP 6909, visit the link below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/current-students\/graduate-students\/program-requirements-and-guidelines\/comp-6909-doctoral-thesis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COMP 6909 &#8211; Doctoral Thesis<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"seminar\">Seminar Requirement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must also complete your PhD Seminar Requirement. This requirement can be fulfilled by giving two presentations at a conference, research group, and\/or at the departmental level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Seminar abstracts and the completion of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/current-students\/graduate-students\/forms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PhD Seminar Requirement form<\/a> must be submitted to <a href=\"mailto:grad.scs@carleton.ca\">grad.scs@carleton.ca<\/a> by the end of third year (ninth term) for full-time students and by the end of the fifth year (15th term) for part-time students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"progressreport\">Progress report<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You will need to complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/student-progress-report-doctoral-programs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Student Progress Report<\/a> twice a year (December and April). This form must be approved by your supervisor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"timelimits\">Time Limits for Program Completion <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Full-time Studies <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>At the end of six years of full-time registration in a Carleton Ph.D. program, a formal extension must be requested through the Office of Graduate Studies.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part-time Studies <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>All Ph.D. students admitted as part-time students are expected to complete their program of study within nine years (27 terms).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"candidacy\">Doctoral Candidacy <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Ph.D. student who has completed all of their program milestones except the Ph.D. thesis shall be given the status of Ph.D. Candidate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is expected that<strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\"> full-time Ph.D. students will advance to candidacy by the end of their third year (ninth term)<\/strong> of study.\u00a0Failure to achieve candidacy by the end of the third year of study will result in loss of status and removal from the program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In exceptional circumstances, at the end of the third year, a student may apply for a formal extension of up to one year (maximum three terms) through the Office of Graduate Studies.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Part-time Ph.D. students must achieve candidacy by the end of their fifth year (15th term)<\/strong> of study.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PhD Program Requirements Program requirements can be found on the&nbsp;Graduate Calendar. You must also maintain good&nbsp;Academic Standing&nbsp;and follow the rest of the&nbsp;General Graduate Regulations. \u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 2nd term of initial registration (full-time students)\u00a0\u21d2 Must be completed by the end of the 4th term of initial registration (part-time students)\u00a0 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[],"class_list":["post-19149","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19149"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19149\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25702,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19149\/revisions\/25702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=19149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}