Graduate

Ph.D. Preliminary Examination

The Ph.D. Preliminary Exam tests a student's breadth of knowledge in computer science. The exam is based on subject matter normally included in a CIS undergraduate major plus one year of full-time graduate study. The preliminary exam is a written exam, given in 3 parts or major areas: Systems, Software, and Theory. The exams are given once a year in January, and each major area (Systems, Software, and Theory) is given on a separate day. Each student is expected to take the exam in each of the three areas. The three areas and their subareas are as follows:

• Area 1: Systems
  • Subarea Computer Architecture:
    Relevant Course CISC 662
  • Subarea Operating Systems:
    Relevant Course CISC 663
  • Subarea Networks:
    Relevant Course CISC 650
• Area 2: Software
  • Subarea Computer Graphics:
    Relevant Course CISC 640
  • Subarea Compilers:
    Relevant Course CISC 672
  • Subarea Artificial Intelligence:
    Relevant Course CISC 681
• Area 3: Theory
  • Subarea Design and Analysis of Algorithms:
    Relevant Course CISC 621
  • Subarea Theory of Computation:
    Relevant Course CISC 601
  • Subarea Logic in Computer Science:
    Relevant Course CISC 604

The subareas of a given major area can be changed from year to year with faculty approval. Each subarea exam contains four problems. Each problem is intended to take approximately 1/2 hour.

As part of the plan of study submitted prior to the exam dates, students planning to take the exam must specify 2 subareas to be assessed from each of the Systems, Software, and Theory areas.

On each exam day (1 area per day), the student is given only the two selected subarea exams. A student should answer exactly 2 problems out of the 4 problems for each of their selected subareas. A student will answer a total of 12 problems for the entire preliminary exam.

If a student fails the preliminary exam, their second attempt must be the next time the exam is offered. A student may choose different subareas on the second attempt. A student may attempt to pass the preliminary exam at most 2 times.

» Preliminary Exam Reading List

» Past Preliminary Exam Questions

UD launches regional initiative to expand cyber security training in Delaware, Maryland

The University of Delaware today announced that it will mount a targeted cyber security initiative to train future cyber sleuths to address this emerging need by developing cyber security-related course offerings and establishing a pipeline of graduates skilled in the theories and practices required to address these challenges.

2012-13 Distinguished Speaker Series

February 27, 2013
DILMA DA SILVA
Principal Engineer and Manager, Qualcomm Research
System Software for Cloud Computing
11:00AM-12:15PM
Trabant Movie/Lecture Theatre

UD professor works to overcome challenges in harnessing power of multicore computer processors

This research will enable a greater percentage of programs to benefit from multicore processors by providing feedback to programmers so that they can improve the code, and by integrating adaptability so that a broader range of programs can achieve increased speed.

'House Hunters Walrus' - UD camera system records sea ice, identifies ideal walrus habitats

A University of Delaware research team, led by Chandra Kambhamettu, professor of computer and information sciences, has developed a novel camera system to map the surface topography of Arctic sea ice.

Named Chair

Michela Taufer, associate professor at the University of Delaware, has been named the David L. and Beverly J.C. Mills Chair of Computer and Information Sciences.

Driver's ed for robots

How do you teach a robot to get into vehicle and drive it? Three University of Delaware professors plan to figure it out by the end of next year.

CIS Lecture Series

» All COE Events

CIS Biz

• Faculty
• Staff
• Graduate Students
• Undergrad Students