Doctoral program · Rossin College
PhD in Computer Science
The PhD in Computer Science at Lehigh University’s P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science trains students to design, conduct and communicate original research in computer science.
- Degree awardedDoctor of Philosophy in Computer Science
- DepartmentComputer Science and Engineering
- Typical time to degree5 to 5.5 years
- Credit hours72 minimum
- Fall deadlineDecember 15
- GRENeither accepted nor reviewed
- Application fee$50 USD
Overview
What the PhD in Computer Science is
The program is built around becoming an independent researcher. The first year gives every student the same footing in research methods, programming and algorithms. Breadth courses then take you into at least three of four areas: artificial intelligence and data science; robotics and computer vision; systems, hardware and networking; and interdisciplinary applications.
Research begins early, and the qualifier is a project rather than only an exam: a committee of three computer science and engineering faculty judges a written project and a public oral presentation. The dissertation must describe substantial original work, of a quality to merit publication in a reputable conference or journal, and you teach one course and attend research seminars to sharpen how you communicate.
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering maintains the authoritative program detail. See the department page.
Research
Research on intelligent, connected and human-centered computing
Faculty and doctoral students in computer science take on large, complex problems: making machines that learn and reason, building robots and embedded devices that work in the physical world, designing computing systems and networks that scale, and using computing to understand people, society and the living world.
Artificial intelligence and learning
Many of today’s hardest problems involve more data than people can examine alone. Researchers in this area develop methods that let computers learn from data, reason about what they find and support decisions, with courses spanning natural language processing, deep learning, reinforcement learning and data mining.
Focus topics: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning.
Robots and embedded devices
Robots and embedded devices must sense their surroundings and act on them in real time. Work in this area connects computation to the physical world, from mobile robots and computer vision to small devices that carry computing into everyday settings.
Focus topics: Robotics, Embedded Systems.
People, society and the life sciences
Computing is only useful when people can use it and trust it. Researchers in this area study how people interact with technology and with one another through it, and apply computing to biological questions such as structural bioinformatics and genomics.
Focus topics: Human-Centered Computing, Social Computing, Bioinformatics.
Systems and networking
Every application depends on the systems and networks beneath it. This area examines operating systems, networks, distributed and parallel computing, mobile computing and network security so that computing infrastructure can grow without breaking.
Focus topics: Systems, Networking.
Degree requirements
What the doctorate requires
72 credits for students admitted without a prior master’s degree; at least 48 credits with a prior master’s degree; 42 credits with a prior master’s degree from Lehigh. Lehigh publishes the following complete set of requirements.
- Credit hours
Students admitted without a prior master’s degree complete 72 credits toward the PhD, and students admitted with a prior master’s degree complete at least 48 credits. Students admitted with a prior master’s degree from Lehigh University complete 42 credits. Beyond the first-year and breadth requirements, credits may come from any combination of free electives chosen with your advisor, supervised research credits (for example CSE 492) and dissertation credits (CSE 499). The remaining research credits are earned through dissertation credits or maintenance of candidacy credits. No course graded below C- counts toward the degree.
- First-year core
Nine credits: CSE 406 Research Methods, CSE 411 Advanced Programming Techniques and CSE 440 Advanced Algorithms.
- Breadth requirement
Nine credits: one graduate course at the 400 level in at least three of four breadth areas, which are Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; Robotics and Computer Vision; Interdisciplinary Applications; and Systems, Hardware and Networking. Provisional courses may count toward a breadth area with the consent of the PhD program director.
- GPA requirement
Maintain a GPA of 3.5 across the three required first-year courses and the three required breadth courses.
- Qualifying examination
A committee of three faculty members in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering must pass you on a written Qualifier Project and an oral Qualifier Exam. The project requires substantial research activity, as defined by the committee, and the exam requires a public oral presentation of the project.
- Admission to candidacy and general examination
A committee of at least three faculty members from the department and one external member must pass you on a written and oral examination, taken in the same semester, that demonstrates your capacity and proficiency in your field of study. The examination includes an evaluation of your plan of work toward general mastery of your major field. If you do not pass on the first attempt, you receive one additional chance or are required to leave the program. All core and breadth courses must be complete before the general exam.
- Dissertation and defense
A dissertation describing substantial original research in your major research area, written under the direction of a dissertation advisor and of sufficient quality to merit publication in a reputable conference or journal. You defend it before a committee of three faculty members from the department and one external member.
- Teaching
To advance your communication skills, you serve as a teaching assistant for one course in the department.
- Research communication
During the first two years, you attend six research seminars per semester.
- Courses that do not count
Courses with an ESLP or EAPC subject code, undergraduate-only 300-level courses (CSE 300: Apprentice Teaching), ENGR 492: Summer Research and ENGR 496: Summer Work Experience do not count toward the degree.
- Foreign language
Competence in a foreign language is not required.
Curriculum
Core and required courses
| Code | Course | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 406 | Research Methods | Technical writing, literature, data, and ethics. |
| CSE 411 | Advanced Programming Techniques | Advanced programming and software engineering. |
| CSE 440 | Advanced Algorithms | Randomized algorithms and amortized analysis. |
Careers
Where graduates work
Computer science alumni lead research and build intelligent software across technology, finance and higher education.
A doctorate in computer science prepares you for research leadership, research and development, and academic and industry research roles. Lehigh alumni in this field work mostly in information technology, with many others in education, finance, defense and space, healthcare and telecommunications. Roles include research scientist, applied scientist, machine learning scientist, assistant professor, staff engineer, technology consultant and senior director of engineering.
Employers where our alumni most often work include:
- Amazon
- Meta
- JPMorgan Chase
- Microsoft
- Vanguard
- Palo Alto Networks
- Bloomberg
Alumni also work at Lutron Electronics, Databricks, Lockheed Martin, Baidu, Seegrid, Qualcomm and NVIDIA.
Based on current employers of Lehigh computer science alumni, all degree levels, who graduated between 1996 and 2025.
Funding
Financial support
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department. Funding covers PhD tuition and a stipend.
PhD students are supported through several financial mechanisms, most generally categorized as research assistantships (RA), teaching assistantships (TA), and fellowships. All support mechanisms generally include a monthly stipend and tuition. Up to 20 hours per week of work assignments are associated with TA and RA positions. Fellowships require no service. Financial support is merit-based, not need-based. Lehigh’s Pasteur PhD Partners (P3) Fellowship is a further opportunity.
Pasteur PhD Partners (P3) Fellowship
- PhD applicants wishing to be considered for financial assistance should submit a complete application no later than December 15 for a fall semester start.
- Named opportunities open to Rossin College doctoral students include the Rossin Research Scholars program, Pasteur PhD Partners (P3), and the SEED-EF NSF National Research Traineeship, see special opportunities for Lehigh PhD students.
- Financial aid for Lehigh’s graduate programs consists mainly of fixed-rate federal student loans through the Office of Financial Aid.
- Loan eligibility requires enrollment at least half-time, six credits during the academic year, three credits in summer.
- Emergency loans and grants are available through the Graduate Life Office.
Admissions
How to apply
Applications for admission, all semesters, all levels, are completed online. Applications open September 1; PhD applications for fall admission are due December 15 for financial aid consideration.
Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
What to submit
- Completed online application
- Official transcripts (with English translation for international applicants)
- Statement of purpose / essay
- Letters of recommendation (typically three)
- Résumé or CV
- Application fee of $50 USD
Computer Science and Engineering requirements
- Prior degree: A bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
- GPA: A GPA of 2.75 out of 4.0 is required, and a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 in your major is preferred.
- Deadline: The application deadline is December 15 for a fall start.
GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any Rossin College graduate program.
English proficiency minimums
| Test | Minimum score |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | Overall 81 (old scale) / 4 (new scale); Speaking 22/4, Writing 20/4, Reading 20/4, Listening 16/4 |
| IELTS | Overall 6.5; Speaking 6.5, Writing 6, Reading 6.5, Listening 6 |
| Duolingo English Test | Overall 125; Speaking 125, Writing 120, Reading 125, Listening 110 |
| Cambridge | Overall 176; Speaking 176, Writing 169, Reading 176, Listening 169 |
| Pearson (PTE) | Overall 68, with 53 or higher on each band |
Scores expire two years from the test date. MyBestScore and One Skill Retake formats are not accepted. Waivers are available for applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of an English-speaking country, earned a U.S. degree with two or more years of in-person study, earned a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country, or studied or worked full-time in an English-speaking country for two or more years within the last five.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Which department at Lehigh offers the PhD in Computer Science?
The PhD in Computer Science is offered by Lehigh University’s Department of Computer Science and Engineering, within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Full program detail, faculty and current requirements are maintained on the department’s own page: https://engineering.lehigh.edu/cse/academics/computer-science-phd
How long does the PhD in Computer Science take?
5 to 5.5 years. Coursework comes first and research follows quickly, ending with a dissertation and a public defense.
How many credits does the PhD in Computer Science require?
72 credits for students admitted without a prior master’s degree; at least 48 credits with a prior master’s degree; 42 credits with a prior master’s degree from Lehigh.
Do I need a master’s degree to apply to the PhD in Computer Science?
No. Students are admitted with or without a prior master’s degree. Those without one complete 72 credits, those with one complete at least 48, and those with a prior master’s degree from Lehigh University complete 42.
What GPA do I need for the PhD in Computer Science?
A GPA of 2.75 out of 4.0 is required, and a GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 in your major is preferred. You apply with a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field.
Is the GRE required for the PhD in Computer Science?
No. GRE scores are neither accepted nor reviewed for any P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science graduate program.
What is the application deadline for the PhD in Computer Science?
The application deadline is December 15 for a fall start. At the college level, PhD applications for fall admission are due December 15 for financial aid consideration, and applications open September 1. Application open dates and deadlines are determined by individual departments. Contact the department concerning relevant deadlines and available start terms.
How much is the application fee?
The application fee is $50 USD. Applications for admission at all levels are completed online through Lehigh’s graduate application portal.
What courses make up the first year of the PhD in Computer Science?
Nine credits across three courses: CSE 406 Research Methods, CSE 411 Advanced Programming Techniques and CSE 440 Advanced Algorithms.
What are the breadth requirements?
Take one graduate course at the 400 level in at least three of four breadth areas: Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; Robotics and Computer Vision; Interdisciplinary Applications; and Systems, Hardware and Networking. You must keep a GPA of 3.5 across the three first-year courses and the three breadth courses.
How does the qualifying examination work?
A committee of three faculty members in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering must pass you on a written Qualifier Project and an oral Qualifier Exam. The project requires substantial research activity, and the exam is a public oral presentation of the project.
What are the general examination and the dissertation defense?
The general examination is a written and oral exam, taken in the same semester, before a committee of at least three department faculty members and one external member, and it includes an evaluation of your plan of work. You get one additional chance if you do not pass. The dissertation must describe substantial original research of a quality to merit publication in a reputable conference or journal, and you defend it before three department faculty members and one external member.
Do PhD students in Computer Science teach or attend seminars?
Yes to both. You serve as a teaching assistant for one course in the department, and during the first two years you attend six research seminars per semester.
Is the PhD in Computer Science funded?
All PhDs at the Rossin College are 100% fully-funded, however, funding sources may vary by department. Funding covers PhD tuition and a stipend.
What research areas can I work in as a PhD in Computer Science student?
Research on intelligent, connected and human-centered computing published by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering: Artificial intelligence and learning; Robots and embedded devices; People, society and the life sciences; Systems and networking.
Who do I contact about the PhD in Computer Science?
The department can be reached at cs@lehigh.edu or (610) 758-3065. General Rossin College graduate inquiries go to engineering@lehigh.edu.
What courses do students take in the PhD in Computer Science?
Required courses include Research Methods, Advanced Programming Techniques and Advanced Algorithms. Other courses students can choose from include Natural Language Processing, Fundamentals of Machine Learning, Semantic Web Topics, Deep Learning, Intelligent Agents, and Reinforcement Learning and Markov Decision Processes, among others. Coursework is planned with your advisor and doctoral committee, and the Lehigh course catalog carries the current requirements.
Contact
Talk to the department
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Address
Building C, Lehigh Mountaintop Campus
113 Research Drive
Bethlehem, PA 18015
Phone and email
(610) 758-3065
cs@lehigh.edu
P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science
19 Memorial Drive West
Bethlehem, PA 18015
engineering@lehigh.edu
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