Students who have earned a Masters degree in Computer Science or a related field may receive transfer credits towards the PhD degree requirements.

Masters Degree from NC State without a Break in Studies

Students with a Masters in Computer Science or a related field from NC State who start the PhD degree in the semester immediately following the one in which they completed the Masters degree, i.e., without a “break” in their studies (a summer session does not constitute a “break”) have all 31 Masters credits transferred into the PhD degree. Therefore, such students only need to complete 41, rather than 72, credits to complete the PhD degree requirements. This credit transfer happens automatically – students do not need to take any action.

All Other Masters Degrees

Students with a Masters in Computer Science or a related field from either (1) other Universities or (2) NC State but who start the PhD degree two or more semesters after the completion of the Masters degree (i.e., following a “break” in studies), receive a “bulk” credit of 18 hours towards the PhD degree. Such students must complete 54, rather than 72, credits to complete the PhD degree requirements. This credit is received automatically and students do not need to take any action.Note that this is a “bulk” credit and that individual courses do not transfer; refer to the next section for course waivers offered by the department.

Core or 700-Level Course Waivers

A core or 700-level course waiver recognizes that students have taken an equivalent course as part of their Masters degree which satisfies part of the PhD course requirements. If a course is waived, students may take either a different course or research credits to reach the 72 credits required for the degree.

Masters Degree from NC State

Students with a Masters degree in Computer Science from NC State have completed at least three core courses, and perhaps additional core courses and/or 700-level courses, as part of the Masters degree requirements. All these courses may be used to satisfy the PhD course requirements, as long as the grade earned in each course is B or better. Students only need to take any additional core or 700-level courses to reach the full set of PhD requirements which consist of 1) two systems core courses, 2) two theory core courses, and 3) two 700-level courses.

Masters Degree from Other Universities

Students who, as part of a previous Masters degree, have taken graduate-level courses that are equivalent to some of our department’s systems or theory core courses, may have the corresponding PhD course requirements waived.

For each individual course you wish waived, send an email to the CSC DGP with a text, PDF or Word attachment containing the following:

1. The equivalent CSC course number and title for which you want credit.
2. As much information as possible about the course you took, including syllabus, textbook title, exams, projects, and assignments.

The DGP waives the requirement only if the grade earned is B or better and the department’s instructors for the CSC course above confirm it is substantially equivalent to the one previously taken.