The PhD program welcomes candidates with strong training in any of the disciplines related to modern information processing, with an emphasis on computer science and mathematics.  Research and teaching form the essence of our doctoral program.  Our curriculum is designed to develop the intellectual skills essential for the rapidly changing character of research and to meet the demands of academe and industry.  Students develop their own advanced study focus, working with faculty mentors on topics ranging from the core computer science discipline to diverse scholarly interactions within the School of Engineering and the University.

Doctoral studies in the Department of Computer and Information Science offer the opportunity for rewarding exploration and research.   Research opportunities span a wide range of theoretical and application topics including robotics, vision, natural language processing, databases, formal methods, real-time systems, computer architecture, machine learning, programming languages, graphics, network security, software engineering, bioinformatics, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations with fields such as biology, genetics, linguistics, mathematics, and electrical engineering. 

Our research laboratories offer myriad possibilities for exploration.  Presentations by outstanding leaders in their fields at our departmental and laboratories' colloquia provide rigor, breadth, and relevance to the research and education experience.  The University of Pennsylvania's twelve schools and fifty research centers create an academic environment whose synergy informs research and education in the Department of Computer and Information Science.

Our faculty prepare our doctoral students to be tomorrow's innovators, leaders, and visionairies.  The Department of Computer and Information Science is an exciting place to be - we invite you to join us .

Information about research opportunities can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/departmental/research.shtml

Information about our faculty can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/departmental/faculty/

Information about graduates of the doctoral program can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/phd-graduates.shtml

Information about courses can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/ugrad/all-courses.shtml

Information about applying can be found at www.cis.upenn.edu/grad/applications.shtml

Full details on degree requirements can be found in the CIS Graduate Handbook.

Click here to access a list of current graduate students.

Click here to read The Ph.D. Grind, A Ph.D. Student Memoir by Philip Guo.