Coursework Options
Coursework Options
Selecting coursework for your graduate degree should take into account your research goals and future career plans. Beyond the required core coursework, significant flexibility is available for students to create a degree plan that meets their needs. All coursework decisions should be made in collaboration with the Major Advisor and supervisory committee.
Transfer Courses
Graduate coursework can be transferred to Boise State University and applied for credit to a Ph.D. in Computing program requirement in accordance with Graduate College policy. The transfer credit policy can be found in the Graduate College Policy and Procedure, outlined here: https://www.boisestate.edu/graduatecollege/request-for-transfer-credit-instructions/
Students with a Master of Science degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or other closely related field may transfer up to 21 credits toward the Ph.D. program degree requirements. For a student entering with a Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field, a maximum of nine (9) credits of graduate coursework may be applied toward the Ph.D. program degree requirements. In all cases, the transfer credit must meet Graduate College requirements and be approved by the supervisory committee. Transfer credit accepted into the program will be applied on a course-by-course basis toward the degree requirements.
Regardless of the number of credits being transferred all PhD students must take a minimum of four three-credit courses at Boise State.
Transfer Credit Procedures
Students with a Masters or Bachelors degree from a school other than Boise State:
Students must submit a Request for Approval of Transfer Credits, available on the Graduate College Forms page.
Students with an MS from Boise State:
Students should meet with their advisor or a program co-director to determine what degree requirements have been met as part of their MS degree.
MS courses from Boise State being used to meet Ph.D. degree requirements do not need to be submitted for approval through the Graduate College and are instead included on the Application for Admission to Candidacy.
Students with a BS from Boise State:
The procedure is the same for students with an MS from Boise State, however, students may only apply a maximum of 9 credits of graduate coursework taken as an undergraduate.
VIP, Independent Study, Directed Study Credits
Upon approval by the supervisory committee and the program directors students may apply up to three credits of the following to the total degree requirements as elective coursework:
500 or 600 level VIP (Vertically Integrated Project)
Independent Study (COMPUT 596) Application for Graduate Independent Study form
Directed Research (COMPUT 696) Application for Directed Research form
These classes will officially be reviewed and applied as electives upon submitting the Application for Admission to Candidacy. Students should talk with their advisor before registering for any of these courses.
Practicum/Internship
In exceptional cases, and upon approval by the supervisory committee and the program co-directors, a student may enroll in Practicum/Internship (COMPUT 590). Practicum/Internship credit cannot be applied toward meeting degree requirements. The practicum/internship credit, however, will be on your transcript, which provides a record of the practicum/internship experience.
Electives
A wide variety of elective courses are available to students in the Computing PhD Program.
As noted in the Graduate Catalog elective courses must be approved by the student's supervisory committee and the program co-directors. This approval will take place automatically when the student submits their Application for Admission to Candidacy.
Selecting Electives
When selecting elective courses students should start by checking the Pre-Approved Elective list for their Emphasis Area
If you would like to take a course for elective credit that is not on the pre-approved list:
Send an e-mail to your advisor and the program co-directors requesting approval.
If approved, record of the approval will be saved in your student file so program staff can reference it when reviewing your application for admission to candidacy.
Colloquium
Students may apply a maximum of one credit of COMPUT 598 Seminar to their degree requirements.
College Teaching Certificate
The Graduate Certificate in College Teaching is designed to enhance teaching effectiveness of graduate teaching assistants and provide marketable skills for graduate students wishing to seek employment in higher education as instructors. The Graduate Certificate in College Teaching is open to current Boise State graduate students or others who have previously earned a graduate degree and who are considering employment in higher education. Through the required coursework, students will demonstrate skill in course design, demonstrate the ability to effectively teach a course including planning lessons/lectures and assessing student learning, and engage in ongoing faculty development through teaching workshops. Visit the Center for Teaching and Learning website for program information.