Department of Computer Science Graduate Program Rules and Regulations

All graduate degrees at the University of Massachusetts must satisfy the Graduate School conditions outlined in the Graduate School Bulletin (the Graduate Student Handbook provides additional helpful information but is less official). In addition, the Department of Computer Science requires that certain guidelines be observed for all graduate degrees in Computer Science. These pages detail the combined departmental and graduate school regulations for all students admitted after the Fall of 1994.

These pages are intended to give students the means of managing their own degrees, but are not intended to replace your faculty advisor or the Graduate Program Director. It is wise to use all the resources at your disposal to plan your graduate experience effectively.

The department has three degree programs, a Masters-only track, a PhD-only track, and a combined track that results in both a Masters and PhD degree.  In general, to get a graduate degree in Computer Science from UMass, you must meet curricular requirements, engage in research, and pass various exams.

A complete list of requirements for each of the tracks is available at the links below:

• MS-only program
• MS/PhD program
• PhD-only program

• Information about expected progress toward degrees
• Types of assistantships and how they work
• Your academic advisor
• Your dissertation and committee
• Some mechanics of graduation
• Forms for graduate students
• Forms for faculty members and administrative assistants