Welcome to Computer

Science at Stanford
University!

Reminders:
Pick up keys for
Gates
building
at Rm 176.
If you have not
taken a picture
yet, please come
to Rm 196 by the
end of the day.
Complete the
Emergency
Health and Safety
training online.
EHS-4200
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Overview of Academic Requirements

Year
for the PhD
One:

CS 300
Rotation program, choosing a
permanent
research advisor
Two:
Completing Breadth requirements
3 units of coursework from at least 4
different
faculty members
Filing for Candidacy
Three: Quals
Teaching requirement
Four:
Reading committee Form and thesis
proposal
Five, Six: Complete 135 units
Orals

CS 300
Faculty speak about research
Must attend 2/3 of sessions
Record attendance online

Rotation
Option to rotate with three different
professors
Goal: find a permanent advisor by the end
of Spring quarter

Courses
Must take 3units of coursework from 4
different professors
Must take CS 300 fall quarter
135 total units to graduate
Very few restrictions on classes
Classes can be taken across the
university, but please talk about your
plan with your advisor

Breadth Requirements:
Goal is to give students an understanding of
the core areas in CS
Must be completed in your first two years of
the program
Requirements can be waived by previous
coursework taken. Review details online at
https://cs.stanford.edu/content/academic-re
quirements
Get your classes waived ASAP, dont let it
go!
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Candidacy:
Contract between student and university;
requirement to file form after the end of
your second year.
Breadth requirements must be completed to
file for candidacy.
Candidacy starts your 5 year clock for
completing the PhD
Form must be signed by your permanent
research advisor

Teaching requirement
Must complete at least 4 units as a course
assistant (CA) or teaching fellow (TF) for
courses in Computer Science that are
numbered 100 or above (with the exception
of freshman seminars, which do not count
toward meeting the CA requirement).
Earning one unit means working 10 hours
per week for one quarter.

Assistantships
CA: Course Assistant
Like a Teaching Assistant
Works for a particular course
Responsibilities include: grading, office
hours, contributing to
assignments/exams, teaching sections,
occasional guest lectures, etc.
RA: Research Assistant
Works with a particular faculty member
Responsibilities include: conducting
research, supporting research project,

Teaching Assistantship/Course
Assistantship
50% Support

8, 9, or 10 units of tuition remission

Must take at least 8 and no more than 10 units
Stipend (~$8800 for quarter)
Expectation of 20 hours/week of work

25% Support
5 units of tuition remission
Only subject to university unit range (min: 8, max:
20)
Stipend
(~$4400
for quarter)
PhD
Students
must have
equivalent of two 50% CAships
Expectation of 10 hours/week of work
to graduate
Can mix 50% and 25% appointments as long as the
equivalent of 100% (= 2 x 50%) total is satisfied
PhD students have priority in CA assignment process

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Quals:
Tests your knowledge in your specialization
Must be completed by the end of your third
year
Only allowed to take the quals twice

Reading Committee Form and Thesis

proposal
Typically one year after quals
Goal is to enable students to get better
formative feedback from their Reading
Committee on what directions to take to
successfully complete a quality dissertation.
Reading Committee composed of the principal11

Orals or Defense of the Dissertation:

A public presentation lasting approximately
one hour, followed by questions from the
examining committee in a private session.
Schedule your orals during the quarter
preceding the one in which you intend to
submit the final draft of your dissertation.
Submit aUniversity Oral Exam Schedule
format least two weeks before the proposed
Orals date

Dissertation
Reading committee must approve of
dissertation
Submitted online or in person at registrar

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Important
Dates

Sept 22 First day of Autumn Quarter; instruction

begins
Sept 22 Preliminary Study List deadline
(Must be enrolled in at least 8 units to
avoid late fee)
Oct 10 Final Study List deadline
(All course enrollment, units, grading basis
must be finalized)
Oct 26 Axess opens for Winter Quarter course
enrollment
*Please review your academic calendar for more!
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http://exploredegrees.stanford.edu/academiccale