How long does it take to get a Ph.D. in computer science?

Requirements. To get accepted into a doctorate computer science program, you must first obtain a bachelor's degree in computer science or another relevant area. Many programs also require you to obtain a master's degree in preparation. Candidates for these programs also often have to submit the following:

• GRE scores

• Letters of recommendation

• Projects they have worked on or research they have engaged in

Bachelor's degree programs in computer science typically take four years to complete, while a master's program in the field can take one to two years. Obtaining a master's degree in computer science increases the chances a student will be accepted into a computer science doctorate program.

Specializations. Most candidates wanting to complete a computer science doctoral degree seek to specialize in the field or want to teach at the college level as a computer science professor.

All students must be able to show academic success in their previous educational programs and exhibit a desire to continue their learning and research in a Ph.D. program.

Ph.D. in computer science timeframe. A Ph.D. in computer science normally takes four to five years to complete. This breaks down into course credits ranging from 72 to 90 credits, diversifying Ph.D. programs in this field.

Many students choose to pursue interdisciplinary degrees in these programs. Students have the option to focus purely on computer science or one of the following areas:

• Algorithms, combinatorics, and optimization

• Human-computer interaction

• Software engineering

• Language and information technologies (IT)

• Machine learning

• Computational biology

• Robotics

• Artificial intelligence (AI)