Shape your expertise while working with leaders in computing innovation.
Join a top ranked Ph.D. program where pioneering research spans the full spectrum of computer science, with opportunities to work alongside renowned faculty in both Ithaca, N.Y. and New York City campuses. Our program integrates cutting-edge research with interdisciplinary collaboration, connecting doctoral students with leading experts in computer science, engineering, and mathematics.
Our research excellence spans areas such as: artificial intelligence, computer graphics, systems, security, machine learning, and digital libraries, while maintaining our depth in traditional areas such as theory, programming languages, and scientific computing.
See and compare degrees.
Column Header: | MS/Ph.D. | MS | M.Eng. |
---|---|---|---|
Degree Awarded: | Master of Science (after A Exam); Doctor of Philosophy (after B Exam) | Master of Science | Master of Engineering |
Degree Differences: | Research degree; multiple years (typically 5-7 years total) | Two-year research degree. Small program with strong preference for Cornell undergraduates. | Principle one year master’s professional degree. |
Financial Support: | Emphasizes original research and requires the completion of a dissertation; aiming to contribute new knowledge to the field. | Specialized area coursework with the completion of a thesis; aiming to provide advanced knowledge and skills in a specific area of computer science. | Primarily focused on coursework with a capstone project that advances students' placement in industry jobs. |
Career Path: | Full support for duration of degree with good standing. Students supported by a combination of any of the following: teaching assistantships; graduate research assistantships, or fellowships. | Supported by teaching assistantships for fall and spring semesters with good standing. No guarantee of summer support. | Self-supported |
Research jobs in industry/academia; teaching positions. | Development or research jobs in industry; Ph.D. programs; teaching positions. | Development jobs in industry |
Explore the curriculum - the path to your Ph.D.
The Graduate Field of Computer Science seeks to produce well-rounded researchers who have demonstrated both breadth in computer science and depth in specific areas of concentration.
Although the program is designed to be flexible, students in the CS Ph.D. program must complete several requirements imposed both by the Field and by the Cornell Graduate School.
- Complete competency requirement
- Complete breathe requirement
- Submit a dissertation
- TA for at least two semesters
- Form a special committee
- In residence for at least six semesters, four if MS degree at enrollment
- Complete two minors, one external to CS, one internal
- Pass A and B exams
The Field believes that knowledge of Computer Science at the undergraduate level is an indispensable foundation for doctoral study in CS. Ph.D. Candidates are expected to demonstrate competency at the high undergraduate level in four areas of computer science: Artificial Intelligence; Programming Languages; Systems; and Theory.
Ph.D. students must take at least five approved 5000/6000-level courses for grade credit. These courses must cover at least three different CS areas and all three CS research styles, see below for specifics.
The requirement is intended to expose students both to the research problems and techniques associated with different research areas, and also to the different value systems of various computer science research styles that differ in how they evaluate and validate research results.
The areas are as follows:
- Algorithms and theory of computation, including algorithms, complexity theory, cryptography, logical and type-theoretic foundations of computer science.
- Artificial intelligence, including robotics, computer vision, natural language processing, information organization and retrieval, and machine learning.
- Systems, including concurrency, parallel computing, networks, distributed computing, and data management.
- Programming languages and methodology, including applied logic, automated reasoning, and compilers.
- Scientific computing and applications, including graphics and computational biology.
The research styles are the following:
- Theoretical. The theoretical research style is characterized by constructing formal models of computation that are validated primarily by mathematical proof.
- Systems. The systems research style focuses on how to improve computing platforms by making them faster, more reliable, more secure, etc. Validation is primarily empirical or experiential.
- Applied. The applied research style develops new methods for using computers to solve problems of interest. Validation is achieved primarily by demonstrating empirically that these methods are effective for the problem.

Program structure
During the first two semesters, students become familiar with the faculty members and their areas of research by taking graduate courses, attending research seminars, and participating in research projects.
By the end of the first year, each student selects a specific area and forms a committee based on the student's research interests. This “Special Committee” of three or more faculty members will guide the student through to a Ph.D. dissertation. Ph.D. students that decide to work with faculty members based at Cornell Tech typically move to New York City after a year in Ithaca.
Special Masters in computer science for P.h.D. students in other fields
A Master's degree in Computer Science (CS) is available to students enrolled in a PhD or MS/PhD program in Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Information Science, or Statistics.
All courses taken in fulfillment of these requirements must be taken for grade credit, and grades of B– or better in all coursework are required.
Minor amendments to these requirements for a particular student, such as the substitution of one course for another, may be made on a case-by-case basis with the unanimous approval of the special committee and the DGS of CS. Please note all course requirements must be completed within two semesters of taking the A exam.
- 4 residence units
- A Computer Science field member on the special committee
- Passing an A-exam in the student's major field of study
- Knowledge of CS 2110, CS 3110 and CS 4410/4411 (e.g., by having taken these courses at Cornell, or equivalent courses at other institutions)
- Two of the following courses: CS 6410, CS 6110, CS 6320, CS 6820
- In addition to 4 and 5, any two CS courses numbered 5000 and above (lecture/practicum pairs such as CS 5120/5121, CS 5320/5321, and CS 5620/5621 count as one course).
All courses taken in fulfillment of these requirements must be taken for grade credit, and grades of B– or better in all coursework are required.
Minor amendments to these requirements for a particular student, such as the substitution of one course for another, may be made on a case-by-case basis with the unanimous approval of the special committee and the DGS of CS. Please note all course requirements must be completed within two semesters of taking the A exam.
Ph.D. candidates wishing to receive a master's degree from CS must apply formally. The student must obtain approval from all members of the special committee and apply to the Graduate School for this degree. There is an application form available for this purpose (link below). You must apply to the Graduate School for this degree. To apply, fill out the Application Requirements, have the appropriate parties sign the form and submit it along with your A Exam Schedule form to gradstudserv [at] cornell.edu or deliver to 143 Caldwell Hall. Once all requirements have been completed, have the appropriate parties sign the Approval part of this form and submit it to gradstudserv [at] cornell.edu or deliver to 143 Caldwell Hall.
Formal registration in CS is not required.
The member of the student's special committee representing CS is primarily responsible for supervising the content of the program of study as it pertains to the master's degree. That member must be present at the A-exam.
If the student should leave the PhD program or transfer to a different major field that is not one of the approved major fields, the student may still receive the master's degree in CS if all other requirements have been met.
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