Welcome to Computer Science at Stanford University!

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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 for the PhDYear One: • CS 300 • Rotation program, choosing a permanent

research advisorTwo: • Completing Breadth requirements • 3 units of coursework from at least 4 different

faculty members • Filing for Candidacy Three: • Quals

• Teaching requirementFour: • Reading committee Form and thesis proposalFive, Six: • Complete 135 units

• Orals• Dissertation

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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

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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

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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-requirements• Get your classes waived ASAP, don’t 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

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Teaching requirementMust 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.

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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, etc.

Assistantships

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Teaching Assistantship/Course Assistantship50% 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)• Expectation of 10 hours/week of work

PhD Students must have equivalent of two 50% CAships 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 principal dissertation

advisor and at least two additional readers• At least two committee members must be CS professors or

joint CS professors.

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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 a University Oral Exam Schedule form at 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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Sept 22 First day of Autumn Quarter; instruction beginsSept 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!http://exploredegrees.stanford.edu/academiccalendar

Important Dates