Graduate Handbook

Admission

The University of Iowa Computer Science Department offers three graduate degree programs: a research-oriented PhD degree; a practice-oriented MCS degree, and an MS degree, which is typically only granted to students working towards the PhD. A subtrack in software engineering is available within the MCS program; in addition, interdisciplinary studies programs at both masters and doctoral levels are available through the Graduate College.

Choice of Program

Candidates are advised to apply directly to the program best suited to their eventual academic goal. Students interested in pursuing research or academic careers should apply to the PhD program, while those seeking additional preparation for industrial careers should apply to the MCS program.

Students applying to the PhD program need not have a master's degree prior to admission. PhD candidates may opt to receive either an MS or an MCS degree while working towards the PhD, although there is no requirement they do so. Students who hold a master's degree upon entering the PhD Program may apply for transfer credit of those courses towards the PhD program requirements (see Section 3.2.7 of this handbook).

Students applying to the PhD program who are not selected for admission will automatically be considered for admission to the MCS program if they do not already hold a master's degree.

Minimum Requirements

Students seeking admission to our graduate programs are subject to both the minimum standards set by the Graduate College and also to specific departmental standards. The basic requirements are:

• a total number of courses equivalent to a four-year undergraduate degree;
• a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale;
• strong GRE scores -- required for PhD applicants, strongly recommended for MCS applicants -- (V+Q+130*W≥1800, where V=verbal, Q=quantitative, and W=analytic writing); and
• if applicable, a minimum computer-based TOEFL score of 213 (550 for the paper-based test or 81 for the Internet-based) or a minimum IETLS score of 7.0 (with no section score lower than 6.0). However, students scoring below 250 on the computer-based test (600 on paper-based or 100 on Internet-based) are generally not admitted.

Please be aware that these are minimum scores, and that students admitted typically score much higher.

Application Process

The candidate may file an application for admission online (available at The University of Iowa web site http://www.uiowa.edu/admissions/) or download the form to print it off. The candidate must also submit official transcripts, test scores and other supporting material (e.g., a statement of purpose) by the designated deadline for the session in which admission is requested. The University of Iowa application fee must be paid before the application is considered.

Application Deadlines

Those seeking admission for the fall semester must have their completed applications on file by February 1. For full consideration, all supplementary materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation and statement of purpose) should also be received by that date. We do not, in general, accept applications for spring or summer admission.

Admission Criteria

Admission decisions for both the PhD and MCS programs are based on prior academic performance, letters of recommendation, scores on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL, if applicable), as well as the applicant's written statement of purpose. Students are not admitted directly to the MS program; it is only awarded to selected students working towards the PhD.

The successful applicant will have strong grades in the following key areas:

• Math foundations (calculus, discrete math, probability, numerical analysis, etc)
• Programming (C, C++, Java) and programming language foundations
• Data structures and algorithms
• Software and hardware systems

Conditional Admission

In exceptional circumstances, a student who does not meet the criteria for regular admission may be granted conditional admission. The Department will specify the conditions a student must meet to achieve regular status and will assume responsibility for advising the student. Typically, these conditions are satisfactory completion of one or more undergraduate classes. The student must fulfill the conditions within two sessions of registration in the Graduate College, or face dismissal. Admission in this special category is reserved for cases where there are strong indications for success in the program.

Early Admission

A student who is within 6 semester hours of having satisfied all the requirements for the bachelor's degree at The University of Iowa or any other accredited college may be granted early admission to the Graduate College. With early admission, the student may begin their graduate course work at the same time they are completing their last semester of undergraduate study.

Joint BA/MCS and BS/MCS Programs

Current UI students enrolled in the Department’s joint bachelor’s/master’s program may share up to 12 semester hours of coursework counted towards both graduate and undergraduate program requirements.

Deferred Admission

Students admitted to either the PhD or MCS program may request a deferral of admission for up to one year beyond the originally specified matriculation date. While such deferrals are automatically granted, students offered admission with financial support who defer their start date will not be guaranteed the same financial package the following year.

Readmission

Students who are admitted to the Graduate College, but who then fail to register for a period of 36 months or more must apply for readmission. Acceptance is dependent upon departmental approval for the session in which readmission is desired. Consideration of the application for readmission will be governed by the departmental and Graduate College admissions standards in effect at the time of reapplication.

Reconsideration

Candidates not selected for admission may request reconsideration the following academic year without preparing a new application by contacting The University of Iowa Office of Admission and requesting a change in session, or by requesting that the CS Graduate Program Administrator initiate the change. Note that it is the candidate's responsibility to ensure that any updated information or documentation is provided before subsequent application deadlines.

Dual Degrees

Students in the doctoral program of another UI department may elect to pursue getting an MCS degree concurrent with their doctoral program. Students will need approval from their home department before requesting admission to the MCS program. Contact the CS Graduate Program Administrator for more information.

Change in Program

The Department recognizes that a student's goals may change once they begin graduate study. Any student contemplating such a change in status should discuss the issue with their advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies.

After consulting their faculty advisor, students opting to drop from the PhD to the MCS program may do so by filing an appropriate Graduate College Change of Status form with the Department Graduate Program Administrator. Such requests are almost always approved.

Students originally admitted to the MCS program may also request a change in status in order to enter the PhD program. Note, however, that since the PhD is the more selective of the two programs, a request to change from the MCS to the PhD program is not approved automatically, and will receive the same level of scrutiny afforded external applicants to the PhD program.

Last modified: September 7, 2007