Program: Computational Science, Ph.D. - San Diego State University

Apr 01, 2025

2024-2025 University Catalog

(Major Code: 07992) (Academic Plan Code: 773006PHDS)

Students must apply and be admitted to University of California, Irvine (UCI) and SDSU; however, prospective students must apply to UCI first. Qualified applicants will then be given application instructions to SDSU. Admission will be granted to a limited number of qualified students. Completed applications are due by December 15 for the fall term, although later applications may be allowed at the discretion of the admissions committee. The admissions review process may include personal interviews of applicants.

The following materials should be submitted electronically to the Computational Science Research Center at San Diego State University. Refer to the Graduate Admissions website (http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/admissions/grad/programs/index.html) for application instructions. Consult the department website (http://www.csrc.sdsu.edu/doctoral_checklist.html) for details concerning required materials.

Three letters of recommendation from former or current professors, supervisors, or other appropriate persons;
Applicant’s statement of purpose, explaining their interest in the program;
Current resume;
Joint doctoral program in computational science application form;
Copies of unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

The program consists of a minimum of 62 units of coursework, independent study, and research (including transfer credit) distributed as follows. Any deviation from the program of studies must be done with the approval of the program director.

Minimum 18 units of graduate level coursework at SDSU (computational science program);
Minimum 20 units of graduate level coursework at UCI;
Minimum 24 units of research, practicum, dissertation, and graduate seminar at either institution;
Required participation in the Summer Research Survey.

Additional units of research, practicum, dissertation, and graduate seminar (COMP 800 at SDSU) may be taken at either institution. A student entering the program with a Bachelor of Science degree will satisfy the initial 18 unit requirement by completing a Master of Science degree in computational science at SDSU, then take 20 units of coursework at UCI. Students with an advanced degree other than computational science will complete appropriate courses and a research project to obtain the equivalent of an M.S. degree in computational science.

San Diego State University Courses

Students are required to take 18 units at San Diego State University. There is a core course requirement that must be satisfied with students taking the following courses (9 units):

MATH 636 - Mathematical Modeling Units: 3
COMP 605 - Scientific Computing Units: 3 also listed as
CS 605 - Scientific Computing Units: 3
COMP 670 - Seminar: Problems in Computational Science Units: 3

Additional Units

The additional units taken to make up the 18 unit requirement at SDSU are electives to be selected with the approval of the program director at SDSU and UCI.

University of California, Irvine Courses

Students are required to take 20 units at UCI. There is a core course requirement that must be satisfied with students selecting 12 units at UCI. Refer to the program’s website for a detailed listing of UCI courses at http://www.csrc.sdsu.edu/doctoral_curricula.html.

The additional units taken to make up the 20 unit requirement at UCI are electives to be selected with approval of the program director at SDSU and UCI.

Research Units at SDSU

COMP 897 - Doctoral Research Units: 1-9
COMP 898 - Doctoral Special Study Units: 1-3
COMP 899 - Doctoral Dissertation Units: 1-15

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination shall consist of a term research project supervised by a faculty mentor. The topic of the project will be approved by the program directors in consultation with the faculty mentor. The student will be required to prepare a written account of the research work performed and of its results, and offer an oral presentation before the members of the doctoral committee. This level of evaluation will be equivalent and coincide with the computational science Master of Science degree final examination.

Practicum and Doctoral Research

Dissertation research will be carried out here at one of the two institutions, at an industry, or at a national laboratory. In the latter two cases, its denomination is practicum.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal shall be submitted by the student to the doctoral committee no later than upon completion of the student’s third academic year in the program. The dissertation proposal will take the form of a scientific grant proposal to a major funding agency. The proposal will describe the research project that the student intends to carry out, on which the doctoral dissertation will be based. The student will also be required to deliver an oral presentation before the computational science doctoral committee.

Doctoral Dissertation

Upon completion of the dissertation research, the candidate will submit the dissertation to the doctoral committee. The candidate will also present a public oral defense of the dissertation. Before the presentation, an account of the work performed will be submitted for publication to a peer-reviewed, international research journal. Upon successful completion of the presentation, the candidate’s doctoral committee will make a recommendation to the graduate deans.