Overview
The University of Rochester Offers an Intensive Interdisciplinary Research-Oriented Ph.D. Program in Computer Science
The University of Rochester is a private co-ed research university in Rochester, New York. The campus is just a few miles south of downtown Rochester, and is located in a desirable area with a good local economy, plenty of recreation and housing, good health care and transportation, an enjoyable climate and cultural ambience, and a low crime rate.
The campus contains 158 buildings, including top-notch research facilities and departments, large libraries like the Sibley Music Library in the Eastman School of Music, and the Laboratory of Laser Energetics which operates the world's most powerful ultraviolet laser.
Rochester has over 9,000 students and over 2,000 faculty and staff, with a 9 to 1 student to teacher ratio that allows for small class sizes and lots of personal attention. In spite of being one of the country's smaller research universities, it is also one of the top research universities in the country, with an optics lab that is second to none. Students receive an education with a large amount of personal attention, preparing them for outstanding scholarly and professional achievement.
Graduate students work closely with faculty at the forefront of their fields to gain knowledge and become independent scholars. Over 400 Rochester graduates hold faculty positions in the nation's 25 top schools, from the Ivy League colleges to the country's best public universities.
Rochester's Computer Science Ph.D. Lets Students Focus Research on Artificial Intelligence, Systems, and Theory
The computer science Ph.D. program has only a single required course, which serves to introduce students to the computer science department and graduate research in general. After that, students may choose a course of study based on their own interests and backgrounds, in one of the three main research areas of artificial intelligence, systems, or theory.
In addition to the coursework and examinations, students are expected to complete research projects, take on assistantships, and finally complete a doctoral dissertation. Particular emphasis is placed on computer vision and robotics, natural language understanding and knowledge representation, systems and architecture, and theory of computation.
The first year is more classroom-focused, culminating in a comprehensive exam in the three main areas of CS, as well as a programming project completed with faculty supervision. Students may assist with department research, but do not generally direct their own research until the second year, during which time they must write a technical paper demonstrating critical independent thought in their chosen subject area. In the third year, students find a dissertation adviser and prepare preliminary results to present at a conference, defending a plan of research to complete the doctoral dissertation.
The department is based on cooperation, both between students and with faculty members, to create joint projects and papers. Students are very involved in the department, serving on committees, and having input into laboratory and hiring decisions. The URCS faculty includes 15 tenure-track professors, one research professor, one teaching professor, and five affiliated faculty members from brain and cognitive science and electrical and computer engineering.
URCS Students Receive Fellowships, Stipends, and Tuition Wavers, and are Prepared for Career Success as Researchers
URCS graduate students frequently lead the college in university fellowships. Many students are supported by external corporate and foundation fellowships. All others receive full department stipends, and all receive tuition waivers. This prepares students to be innovative independent researchers, making them likely to receive funding from colleges and corporations after graduation as well.
URCS graduate alumni have gone on to many careers at high-profile industries, academic institutions, and government positions. More than one third have gone on to academic careers, with nearly three dozen holding senior faculty positions at top universities, and another three dozen more recent grads holding junior academic positions. URCS graduates are also members of the technical staff at many of the world's leading research labs, including IBM, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Bell Labs, Intel, the Canadian Space Agency, and many more.
The University of Rochester is an Ideal Place to Live in Upstate New York, with Many Cultural and Natural Opportunities
The University of Rochester campus is in Rochester, NY, just two miles south of downtown. Rochester has been named as one of America's top ten most livable cities in the "Places Ranked Almanac," making it an ideal location for graduate students.
Rochester is doubly ideal for students who enjoy snow, as it averages roughly 100 inches each year. Winter sports enthusiasts can go cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, downhill skiing at Bristol Mountain, or even curling. Those less enthusiastic about snow may prefer to enjoy the many indoor cultural options that Rochester has to offer, from the coffee shops, restaurants, book stores, and movie theaters, to the concert venues and museums.
In warmer months, Rochester's parks and lakes provide lots of opportunities for natural recreation. Located on the historic Erie Canal and the Genesee River, and just five miles south of Lake Ontario, Rochester offers plenty of opportunities for sailing, canoeing, or even waterside hiking.
Various arts fairs and festivals also appear in warmer weather, such as the Lilac Festival to the Corn Hill Arts Festival. Professional baseball, hockey, and soccer teams have local games that students can view, and transportation between campus and the city is easy with the regional transit buses and the university's own shuttle bus.
