georgetown university phd in computer science

Georgetown University

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Georgetown University 's Graduate School Rankings

• in Executive MBA
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• # 6 in Health Care Law
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• # 11 in Legal Writing  (tie)
• # 2 in Tax Law
• # 23 in Trial Advocacy  (tie)
• # 75 in Most Diverse Medical Schools  (tie)
• # 111 in Most Graduates Practicing in Medically Underserved Areas
• # 137 in Most Graduates Practicing in Primary Care Fields
• # 74 in Most Graduates Practicing in Rural Areas
• # 105 in Best Medical Schools: Primary Care
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• # 58 in Biological Sciences  (tie)
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• # 4 in International Global Policy and Administration
• # 19 in Public Management and Leadership  (tie)
• # 10 in Public Policy Analysis
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Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Computer Science

Doctor of philosophy (PhD) students in the computer science program choose from among numerous focus areas, including: algorithms and theory; computer architecture, networks, parallel and distributed computing; computer security and information assurance; database and information retrieval systems; machine intelligence and cognition; multimedia, animation, graphics and user interface; and software engineering and systems.

Students in the doctoral program conduct cutting-edge research with world-class faculty, have access to collaborative opportunities unique to the Washington, DC, area, and benefit from the superb cultural and intellectual experiences the campus and program provide.

Visit the department website for more information.

* A limited number of doctoral applicants are accepted for the summer. Please contact the admissions office for details.  International applicants who require a visa from GW are eligible to apply for admission in fall and spring only (not summer).

For additional information about the admissions process visit the SEAS Admissions Frequently Asked Questions  page.

Contact for questions:

[email protected]

202-994-1802 (phone) 202-994-1651 (fax)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under School of Engineering, Doctoral Program Regulations .

Students with a master of science degree—A minimum of 30 credits, at least 18 of which must be in courses taken for graduate credit and at least 12 credits in dissertation research. Courses must be approved by the student’s advisor.

Students with a bachelor of science degree—A minimum of 54 credits, at least 18 of which must be in courses taken for graduate credit, and at least 12 credits in be dissertation research. No specific courses are required; the student and their advisor design the curriculum to meet the student's needs and goals. In some cases, particularly when the student undertakes a doctoral program in a field other than that in which the earlier degree was earned, the student’s program of study will exceed the minimum number of required credits.

Preliminary Examination

Failure of full-time students to pass the preliminary examination by the end of the fourth semester will lead to dismissal from the program.

Students who register for 6 credits or fewer in three consecutive semesters are part-time. Part-time students are required to pass the preliminary examination within their first three years, or 30 credits, of enrollment in the PhD program. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from the program.

To demonstrate competency, students take one course in each of the following areas:

• Algorithms and theory: CSCI 6212 Design and Analysis of Algorithms or CSCI 6311 Theory of Computation
• Software and systems: CSCI 6221 Advanced Software Paradigms , or CSCI 6431 Computer Networks , or CSCI 6461 Computer System Architecture

Competency is demonstrated in one of two ways:

• By completing the course with a minimum grade of A- ; or,
• By taking only the written, in-class examinations in the course. With this option, students must pass all exams given during a semester, earning a minimum grade of A - in each. 

Students who prove, via their official transcript, that they earned the requisite grades as part of their master’s degree may apply that result to the preliminary exam requirement. 

Students must submit a  Preliminary Examination Form to the Department of Computer Science after completing the requirements for the preliminary exam. 

Publication Requirements

Students must have at least one peer-reviewed conference or journal paper accepted for publication at the time of the dissertation defense.

As a guideline, students are expected to have at least two or three conference or journal papers accepted for publication by the time of their dissertation defense, and the material from those papers should be the core of the dissertation.

Dissertation

Forming a dissertation committee

• The dissertation committee must consist of at least three members, including the major advisor. Additional advisor(s) and co-advisors are optional and additional to the three members.
• The committee must have a presiding chair who is a regular full-time faculty member whose primary appointment is in the Department of Computer Science. The committee chair may not be the student's research advisor or co-advisor.
• Faculty with secondary appointments in the Department of Computer Science are not considered regular full-time faculty members in the Department.
• At least one member of the committee must be an external reviewer. The external reviewer must hold a doctoral degree. They may not be a research advisor or co-advisor of the student. They should have a primary appointment in another GW department or outside the University.
• The dissertation committee must be approved by the Chair of the Department of Computer Science.
• The committee membership is normally the same for the dissertation proposal examination and the dissertation defense. However, the membership may change with the approval of the advisor and department chair.

Dissertation proposal defense

• The defense may not take place before the student has passed the preliminary examination.
• The student’s advisor must approve the scheduling of the dissertation proposal defense.
• The student submits a written proposal, in the style of a dissertation, to the members of the dissertation committee. The proposal should contain preliminary results.
• The dissertation committee evaluates the proposal and conduct an oral examination of the student. The committee conveys its recommendation of pass/fail to the Department of Computer Science.  

Dissertation defense

• The dissertation defense may not be scheduled before the student has passed the dissertation proposal defense.
• The student’s advisor must approve the scheduling of the dissertation defense.
• The student submits a written dissertation to the members of the dissertation committee, normally two or more weeks in advance of the defense. The writing should follow the  dissertation writing guidelines .
• The committee evaluates the dissertation and conducts an oral examination of the student. The committee conveys its recommendation to pass or fail to the Department of Computer Science.

Colloquium Expectation

All full-time PhD students are expected to regularly attend department colloquiums.

Graduation and Scholarship Requirements

Students are responsible for knowing the University’s graduation and scholarships requirements. Consult the University Regulations section of this Bulletin. Students should consult the department for additional information and requirements.

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All Graduate Programs

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Addiction Policy & Practice

The Master’s of Science in Addiction Policy and Practice (ADPP) prepares students to work at the forefront of developing policy responses to the issue of addiction in the United States and abroad. Students follow an integrated, multidisciplinary curriculum that combines neuroscience, psychiatry, policy, and observational experiences in various policy and clinical settings. Students study the drivers of addiction, societal and environmental factors that lead to substance use disorders and other types of addiction, the science of prevention, treatment, and recovery from addiction, as well as the legal and policy aspects that form the nation’s addiction policies. Courses include domestic drug policy, health care financing, epidemiology, comparative approaches to drug and addiction policy, and data analysis.

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner

• Certificate

Through a hybrid blend of asynchronous didactic content, synchronous class sessions, and In-person on-campus intensives (OCIs), the Online Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AG-ACNP) program from the School of Nursing & Health Studies prepares registered nurses (RNs) to manage the care of patients with acute and chronic conditions. Certificate option available for qualified students.

Advanced Biomedical Sciences (with George Mason University Joint Certificate)

• Graduate Certificate

The Advanced Biomedical Sciences (ABS) certificate program, in partnership with George Mason University, is offered through our GeorgeSquared Program. The program offers an outstanding biomedical sciences curriculum to enhance a student’s background for application to professional schools in the biomedical field.

Aging & Health

Our interdisciplinary program looks comprehensively at aging — a demographically inevitable process — and prepares students for emerging careers by shifting the conversation surrounding aging populations. Georgetown University’s Master’s in Aging & Health (AGHL) goes beyond geriatrics to encompass the study of aging well in today’s society.

Applied Economics

The M.A. in Applied Economics program has a key objective to provide students with a solid foundation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, as well as coursework that provides students with the ability to comprehend empirical analyses pertinent to the discussion of economic issues and equip them with the skills to undertake original research projects and data analysis. After completion of core courses, students study the application of these tools of economic study to a range of contemporary economic problems. This material is covered in a range of elective courses focusing on more specialized areas of economics.

Applied Mathematics

The Ph.D. program in Applied Mathematics prepares students for research and teaching careers in academia, industry, or government. The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has strong links to area employers and is already oriented toward providing graduate students with the skills most in demand in applied work.

Arab Studies

• Accelerated

The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS) is the only academic center in the United States focusing exclusively on the Arab world. Through a master’s program or an undergraduate or graduate certificate, students will be trained in the language, history, culture, society, politics, and economics of the contemporary Arab world.

Arabic and Islamic Studies

The graduate program in Arabic and Islamic Studies aim to combine a thorough understanding of the Arabic language with scholarly research in the literary, linguistic and intellectual traditions of the Arab and Islamic world. The Arabic and Islamic Studies Department offers graduate level courses in Arabic linguistics, Islamic studies, and literature of the classical and modern eras. M.A. students will complete one Major concentration and one Minor concentration towards the degree. Similarly, Ph.D. students who are admitted with advanced standing will complete one Major concentration and one Minor concentration towards the degree. Those who are admitted to the Ph.D. program without an earned master’s degree in a related field will complete one Major concentration and two Minor concentrations.

Art & Museum Studies

Georgetown’s M.A. in Art & Museum Studies program is a selective program that combines the academic study of art history and museum practice and emphasizes the international contexts of museums in the modern world. Students work closely with Georgetown art history faculty, curators, and other museum professionals in Washington, D.C., and faculty specialists at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, England and New York City.

Asian Studies

The M.A. in Asian Studies Program gives students a unique combination of functional training and regional expertise, and provides students with the skills necessary to meet the demands of global private and public sector interests in Asia. Students have the opportunity to study core disciplines in the humanities and the social sciences as they relate to Asia, and are given the opportunity to specialize in at least one and potentially two areas of concentration.

Copyright © 2019 Mark Maloof. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Computer Science

The Computer Science Department offers five academic programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (B.S.)
• Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science (A.B.)
• Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science, Ethics, and Society (CSES)

Concentration in Technology, Ethics, and Society

Minor in computer science.

The B.S. degree is the most technical undergraduate degree in computer science. The A.B. degree has fewer requirements than the B.S. degree, and so it can be ideal for combining computer science with another rigorous course of study. The CSES major integrates technical training in computer science with study in digital ethics, law, and policy. The Concentration in Technology, Ethics, and Society provides a pathway for B.S. and A.B. students to obtain exposure to and literacy in the ethical, legal, and social implications of their field. Finally, the Minor lets students studying fields other than CS develop technical expertise in computer science. Like most universities, Georgetown designs its undergraduate programs in computer science to conform with the ACM-IEEE guidelines on undergraduate computer science education.

Majors in Computer Science

The B.S. program has nineteen required courses, and the A.B., thirteen. The difference in requirements between the B.S. and A.B. comes from reducing the number of required mathematics courses from five to three and reducing the number of required computer science courses from fourteen to ten.

Both the B.S. and A.B. programs share the core sequence of Computer Science I and II, Mathematical Methods for Computer Science, Data Structures, Advanced Programming, and Introduction to Algorithms, which prepares students to take any upper-level computer science elective.  At this point the two programs diverge. B.S. students must take Computational Structures, Programming Languages, and Operating Systems, which provides these students with the required breadth of understanding of the field. Students intending to pursue postgraduate studies or seeking employment in most traditional areas of computer science are encouraged to pursue the B.S. option. B.S. and A.B. students are encouraged to complete a senior thesis. Finally, B.S. and A.B. students have the option of adding to their majors the Concentration in Technology, Ethics, and Society.

The A.B. in Computer Science, Ethics, & Society (CSES) combines strong, A.B.-level technical training in CS with deep study of the ethical and policy challenges relevant to CS, as well as tools and frameworks to build responsible practices and governance. Students interested in this major might include, for example, those who want to go on to Law School to specialize in Technology Law; master’s programs in Public Policy to specialize in Tech Policy; or simply have a deep interest in understanding the technical, social, and ethical issues at the heart of computer science developments that are reshaping society. A key commitment of this major is attention to integration and application of ethical considerations within CS work. The CSES major is a modified version of the A.B. that: reduces the number of CS electives, adds electives specifically related to digital ethics, changes the required math course from Calculus to Probability and Statistics (MATH-1040), and adds a required Introduction to Tech, Ethics, and Society course, Digital Law & Policy course, and a project-based Senior Capstone course.

All of the major programs require elective courses in computer science. B.S. students must take five, A.B. students must take four, and CSES students must take two, although CSES students also take elective courses in TES. The CS elective courses for these programs are the same, although A.B. and CSES students can take the additional required courses for the B.S. program as electives. Students in these programs can take graduate-level courses as electives with the permission of the instructor. Students in these programs can also, with the approval of the department’s undergraduate curriculum committee, satisfy one elective requirement by taking one course with significant computational content from another department or program. There is also the option of pursuing independent study through research or reading tutorials under the direction of a member of the faculty as elective courses.

Requirements for the B.S. in Computer Science

• Computer Science I and II (COSC-1020, 1030)
• Students pursuing a major or minor in mathematics who take Introduction to Proofs and Problem Solving (MATH-2800) may elect to substitute one COSC elective for COSC-1110.
• Calculus I and II (MATH-1350, 1360)

Second Year

• Data Structures (COSC-2010)
• Advanced Programming (COSC-2020)
• Three additional math electives from: Graph Theory (MATH-2010), Combinatorics (MATH-2020), Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (MATH-2140), Linear Algebra (MATH-2250), Multivariable Calculus (MATH-2370), Regression Analysis (MATH-2540), Advanced Regression Methods (MATH-2640), Abstract Algebra (MATH-3210), and Symbolic Logic (PHIL-4000). Alternatives to MATH-2140 are allowable; these include Economic Statistics (ECON-2110), Analysis of Political Data I (GOVT-2201), Business Statistics (OPAN-2101), or Quantitative Methods for International Politics (IPOL-3270).

Third and Fourth Years

• Computational Structures (COSC-2310)
• Introduction to Algorithms (COSC-3200)
• Programming Languages (COSC-3010)
• Operating Systems (COSC-3020)
• Five electives, which must be COSC courses numbered 2000 or higher, or an approved external elective (described below)
• Optional: Senior Thesis (described below)

Requirements for the A.B. in Computer Science

• Calculus I (MATH-1350)
• Two additional math electives from: Calculus II (MATH-1360), Graph Theory (MATH-2010), Combinatorics (MATH-2020), Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (MATH-2140), Linear Algebra (MATH-2250), Multivariable Calculus (MATH-2370), Regression Analysis (MATH-2540), Advanced Regression Methods (MATH-2640), Abstract Algebra (MATH-3210), and Symbolic Logic (PHIL-4000). Alternatives to MATH-2140 are allowable; these include Economic Statistics (ECON-2110), Analysis of Political Data I (GOVT-2201), Business Statistics (OPAN-2101), or Quantitative Methods for International Politics (IPOL-3270).
• Four electives, which must be COSC courses numbered 2000 or higher, or an approved external elective (described below)

Requirements for the A.B. in Computer Science, Ethics, and Society

• Introduction to Technology, Ethics, and Society (PHIL-2100)
• Probability and Statistics (MATH-1040)
• One course in Technology Law or Policy
• One Philosophy (or Ethics) course in Digital Ethics
• One COSC elective, which must be COSC courses numbered 2000 or higher, or an approved external elective (described below)

Fourth Year

• One COSC elective
• Two TES electives (totaling at least 6 credit hours), one of which may be substituted with a COSC elective
• Senior Capstone in Tech, Ethics, and Society

A list of the approved ethics-related electives and philosophy courses that satisfy the above requirements is maintained on the program website.

The Tech, Ethics, & Society Concentration for CS majors provides a pathway for even highly technically-minded CS students to gain exposure and literacy in the ethical, legal, and social implications of their field. This concentration is open to both A.B. and B.S. CS majors. It requires the completion of the following three courses taken in addition to the courses already required by the respective major:

• Introduction to Tech, Ethics, and Society (PHIL-2100) 
• Either: a philosophy course related to Digital Ethics or Digital Law & Policy 
• An additional Tech, Ethics, and Society elective

A list of approved ethics-related elective and philosophy courses is maintained on the program website.

External Electives

Students can elect to substitute one course from another department or program for one computer science elective. The external elective must contain significant computational content and can not count toward any other degree requirements. Students who want such a course to count as an elective must obtain approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). Students are strongly advised to obtain approval before taking the course to be certain it will count as an elective. The department maintains a list of approved external electives on its website. There is an exception for students who have been accepted to the Accelerated Master’s Program in Data Science and Analytics (DSAN); they may double count one of their DSAN courses as their one external elective.

Senior Thesis

The senior thesis is an opportunity for students to conduct research in computer science. Students complete a senior thesis by pursuing a research project, writing a substantial senior thesis, and presenting the thesis publicly. Students interested in this option must apply to individual faculty members. If accepted, the faculty member serves as the thesis advisor and oversees the project. The advisor and the student pick a thesis committee consisting of two additional faculty members. Once completed, the committee determines if the thesis is acceptable. The student must present their approved thesis publicly. If the committee approves the presentation and final version of the thesis, then it is published as a technical report, and the student’s transcript is annotated to indicate that they completed a senior thesis in computer science. Students have the option of obtaining credit for their thesis work by registering for a three-credit Research Tutorial with their faculty advisor. The tutorial can have the title “Senior Thesis Research”. It counts as one computer science elective.

Graduating with Honors in Computer Science

Students who meet the following criteria may graduate with honors in computer science:

• Complete the B.S. in computer science
• Graduate with a 3.67 overall grade-point average and a 3.67 grade-point average in computer science classes
• Complete a senior thesis approved by the thesis committee

A student who does not meet the above criteria may petition the faculty for consideration to graduate with honors. Petitions must be submitted to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) by April 1st for spring graduates and November 1st for fall graduates.

Accelerated B.S./M.S. in Computer Science

The Department offers an accelerated master’s degree that lets qualified B.S. students complete a Master of Science (M.S.) degree by extending their studies to a fifth year. Students should apply in the spring semester of their junior year. If accepted, students designate two courses that apply to both the B.S. and M.S. degrees.

Students complete the degree requirements by taking two required core and six elective graduate courses. Students can take two of these courses during their senior year as an undergraduate. For more information about the program, see the Department’s web site, or contact the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies.

Requirements for the Minor

To complete the minor, students must complete six courses: Computer Science I and II (COSC-1020, 1030), Mathematical Methods for Computer Science (COSC-1110), Data Structures (COSC-2010), and any two computer science electives from the undergraduate courses numbered between 2000 and 4999. Students pursuing a major or minor in mathematics who take Introduction to Proofs and Problem Solving (MATH-2800) may elect to substitute one COSC elective for COSC-1110. Students pursuing the minor can not take graduate-level courses numbered 5000 and above.

Procedure for Undergraduate Curriculum-Related Requests

Students who have requests relating to curricular matters should first consult with their departmental advisor before forwarding the request to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). Students without a departmental advisor submit their requests directly to the DUS.  Such requests include course approvals, course substitutions, tutorial requests, proposals for study abroad, external electives, Consortium courses, and the like. Requests will be forwarded to the department’s Undergraduate Committee.

Contacts and Additional Information

For contacts and additional information, please see the Department Web site ( https://cs.georgetown.edu/ (new window) ). This information includes the honor policy for CS courses, undergraduate learning goals, integrated writing in computer science, the prerequisite structure for undergraduate courses, and answers to frequently-asked questions.

For course listings for Computer Science, see the Schedule of Classes .

College of Arts & Sciences

Ph.D in Government

Please explore further each of our fields of expertise:

• American Government
• Comparative Government
• International Relations
• Political Theory

Course scheduling and course information is available on the Schedule of Classes . Graduate Students should select a Term. Then “Government” as the Subject and choose “Advanced Search” and select “MN or MC Graduate” for Level.

The mission of the Government Department Ph.D. program is to provide students with the analytical skills and substantive knowledge needed to both generate and evaluate research in political science, preparing them for careers at the highest levels of scholarship and teaching. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government signifies theoretical, methodological, and substantive expertise in various topics of political significance, as well as the research and communication skills necessary for productive scholarship.

The degree indicates that the recipient has acquired extensive knowledge in at least two fields, both typically drawn from the four major subfields of political science, but which may also include related fields such as history, security studies, or public policy. A Georgetown Ph.D. in Government is granted only to students who have demonstrated the ability to synthesize large quantities of information and rigorously evaluate the merits of competing theoretical and empirical arguments. The degree indicates that its holder has obtained the analytical and methodological skills to design and conduct original research of the highest quality. It further certifies that its holder has the written and oral communication skills necessary to engage with debates at the leading edge of the field. Individuals holding a Georgetown Ph.D. in Government are also equipped with the knowledge and skills to teach political science at the university level in both survey courses and specialized seminars.

Doctoral-level seminars taken during coursework are designed to familiarize students with the scholarly literature in at least two fields of study. Students gain a broad understanding of the development and major topics of research within these fields, as well as expertise in several more specialized areas. Students learn to evaluate and engage with the major scholarly debates in their fields of study, both in classroom discussion and in written work. All students learn the methodological skills needed to carry out original research in their respective fields.

Ph.D. students are required to take comprehensive examinations in one major. The purpose of comprehensive examinations is to demonstrate a student’s broad familiarity with the literature in his or her fields of study. This prepares students both as professional members of a scholarly community and as future teachers at the university level. Our doctoral students write dissertations that consist of rigorous original research that contribute to our understanding of a topic of empirical importance and theoretical significance to the field of political science. Once a dissertation of high quality is complete, there is a dissertation defense at which the student presents the results of his or her research and is questioned about the implications of the work for the field of political science by the dissertation committee.

In addition to the formal requirements of the doctoral program, students are encouraged and expected to participate in opportunities for professional socialization and development. All four subfields of the department organize speaker series to host scholars from other universities and promote intellectual exchange. Doctoral students are also encouraged to attend our seminars on various aspects of the academic profession, including teaching, publishing, and the job market.

Students acquire teaching skills in a number of settings. Many serve as teaching assistants for the larger undergraduate courses offered by the department, while others may have the opportunity to teach their own undergraduate-level seminars. Students may also take advantage of training seminars offered by the department, as well as the certification offered through the  Apprenticeship in Teaching Program  run by the  Center for New Designs in Teaching and Learning .

Doctoral students engage with the political science community outside of Georgetown by attending specialized seminars and presenting their research at academic conferences.

For students admitted with a Fellowship, we provide tuition and a stipend of $38,000. Typically students in their first year are assigned a service-free fellowship and will work on coursework and related research. In their second year, students normally are assigned service assistantships and and will typically serve as TA’s in GOVT courses or on other assignments. Students in their fourth year are assigned service assistantships and typically serve as an RA for a professor or some other assignment. In the fifth year, students usually also are service-free conditional on having successfully defended their dissertation prospectus and advanced to ABD status.

Our Ph.D. graduates have tenure-track jobs at many excellent institutions, including:

• American University
• Cornell University
• University of Wisconsin at Madison
• LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin
• George Washington University
• George Mason University
• University of California at Riverside
• University of Michigan
• Villanova University
• Carleton University

In addition, our Ph.D.s have been winning prestigious fellowships, including ones from Harvard, Princeton and Brookings.

Part of our placement success is due to our strong record of working closely with students, including producing jointly authored articles.

All inquiries should be sent to [email protected] .

College of Arts & Sciences

PhD Program in Applied Mathematics

Phd program.

Applying to PhD Program

PhD Degree Requirements

PhD Coursework

PhD Institutional Funding

Applied Mathematics Graduate Seminar

Program Contact

The PhD program in Applied Mathematics prepares students for careers in academia, industry, or government. Students will receive expert guidance in research and a foundation in teaching pedagogy.

Biomedical Graduate Education

Master's in Health Informatics & Data Science

Health Informatics & Data Science

The Georgetown Difference

Why choose Georgetown University?

Learn about the application process and requirements.

Find the degree requirements and course schedules here.

What is Health Informatics?

Health Informatics is the field concerned with the optimal use of information, often aided by technology, to improve individual health, healthcare, public health and biomedical research. It helps in the collection of health data in a manner that is readily usable for analysis to improve current care processes. Health informatics assists in identifying trends that could give insights on the health condition of patients and care processes. It also helps in improving the quality of care by generating better information and knowledge from the patients’ data to reduce medical errors and care costs .

Who is this for : This program is aimed at health professionals, engineers, and math/science/computer science majors seeking to become practicing clinical informaticians.

Example courses include: Utilizing data in electronic medical records (HIDS 6002), AI for health applications (HIDS 7006) and Digital Health applications (HIDS 7007).

Graduates from the program will be ready to take on roles such as health data scientist, health business analyst, EHR data manager, health technology consultant, nurse informatician, and related positions.

Virtual Information Sessions

Learn about our program and application process.

Request Information

Get more information about Health Informatics & Data Science at Georgetown.

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Program News

Georgetown and the Maryland Tech Council (MTC) announced a collaboration offering reduced tuition to MTC members.

A special way to celebrate our alumni, current students and mentors ! Check out our spotlights .

The Georgetown-HIDS Program made it to the Best Value Schools for Health Informatics for the second year in a row!

Upcoming Events

Health Informatics & Data Science Information Session May. 10

Health Informatics & Data Science Information Session May. 24

Jack N. Averitt College of Graduate Studies

Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Computing

About the program.

Format : Statesboro Credit Hours : 42-63 Entry Terms : Fall

Graduates of the Ph.D. program in Applied Computing will demonstrate an ability to conduct independent and creative research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge; demonstrate a sufficient breadth of understanding in applied computing, and an appropriate depth of understanding in a chosen area of research specialization; apply knowledge and creativity to solve complex problems and challenges facing society; provide ethical, responsible, and sustainable technical leadership; and communicate effectively

Ready to Apply?

Request information, visit campus, or, you can :, admission requirements, regular admission.

• Completed requirements for a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Information Technology, or closely related field (as approved by the graduate program coordinator) at an accredited college or university.
• Completed requirements for master’s degree in Computer Science or Information Technology, or closely related field (as approved by the graduate program coordinator), with a 3.00 (4.0 scale) or equivalent cumulative grade point average or higher on courses in the master’s graduate degree program.
• International students must meet the College of Graduate Studies English Proficiency requirements.

*International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES accredited evaluation service  and must be a course by course evaluation and include a GPA. ( naces.org )

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*The application and all ​​required documents listed on the “admissions requirements” tab​ for the program must be received by the deadline.  If all required documents are not received by the deadline your application will not be considered for admission.

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Recruiting Coordinator [email protected]

Last updated: 2/29/2024

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Office of Graduate Admissions Physical Address: 261 Forest Drive PO Box 8113 Statesboro, GA 30460 Georgia Southern University Phone: 912-478-5384 Fax: 912-478-0740 gradadmissions @georgiasouthern.edu

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Georgia Southern University College of Graduate Studies

Office of Graduate Admissions • P.O. Box 8113 Statesboro, GA 30460 • 912-478-5384 • [email protected]

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Title: How I’m Jumpstarting My Career in Clean Energy After Graduating From Georgetown

This story is a part of the Student Life Blog, a blog written by Georgetown students about their experiences and life at Georgetown.

I started at Georgetown as a nervous eighteen-year-old, unsure how I fit in, let alone what I wanted to pursue as a career. I started studying computer science and quickly realized I had no interest in the subject. I explored different subjects at Georgetown, struggling to find a discipline I could be passionate about. By my sophomore year, I started studying economics and minoring in environmental studies, and I finally felt like I found my niche. I’ve always been passionate about environmental sustainability, and combined with economic factors, I thought I could find a career in this field and make a real change. 

I felt like my future career was coming together while I was studying abroad in Copenhagen. It was in Denmark I discovered my interest in the energy transition and began applying for positions in energy. Living and studying in a city that has made such significant strides in its clean energy transition was fascinating, and I thought the Danish perspective I had learned would be of use in an internship in the states. While abroad, I applied to renewable energy internships for my summer before senior year.

I got an internship at NRG Energy in their Renewable Advisory Group in New York City. NRG Energy is a Houston-based energy company providing both residential and commercial energy services. The Renewable Advisory Group is a particularly interesting group at NRG because they connect corporate clients with community solar, which are solar projects often incentivized by state governments that provide solar energy to multiple customers within a particular geographic region. This group is responsible for procuring over one gigawatt of sustainable energy solutions for their various Fortune 100 clients. To conceptualize that, one gigawatt is the amount of energy that can power about 750,000 homes!

Although energy is not of interest to everyone, I found the work fascinating. I developed quarterly reports for the clients, created expenditure reports outlining savings and kilowatt consumptions, and I left with so much knowledge about energy and the renewable market. It was my most challenging professional environment, but it was so rewarding. I left NRG with invaluable experience, extensive energy knowledge and a better understanding of what I wanted to do after graduation. 

When I started my senior year, I started applying to clean energy-related analyst positions. Clean energy is a quickly growing field that most have recognized the vital need for, but it can be a difficult sector to break into as a recent graduate, which is why internships can be so important. However, after a lot of searching, I landed a great opportunity at National Grid. After numerous interviews where I spoke extensively about my experience working at NRG and my interest in the energy transition and clean energy, I was offered a position in December and very excitedly accepted. I applied to dozens of positions and after many interviews I was thrilled to be offered a full-time opportunity, particularly in an industry I find so exciting. Although the job hunt was at times stressful, my experience interning at NRG gave me insight into industries and personal areas of interest which allowed me to be confident in my interviews with ample energy knowledge.

As an associate analyst for National Grid, my job will be to support the team’s commercial priorities and assist with deliverables around the future of LI Generation (batteries), competitive transmission and other emerging clean energy technologies. I am so grateful and excited to be working on a team that has already made significant impacts and is leading the clean energy transition. 

Although it took me time to find my way, Georgetown helped pave the way for my interests and passions which led to my internships and my first job I have after I graduate. While I’m still at times uncertain about my future, I know that taking the time to think about what I’m passionate about and trying out different subjects and industries helped me fall into a line of work I’m very excited to pursue. I am looking forward to the bright future of the clean energy sector and being a part of the crucial changes and unprecedented growth being made in energy.

Ava Culoso (C’24) is a Georgetown Storyteller and a senior from New York City in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in economics and minoring in environmental studies and English.

Student Life Blog

Why i chose georgetown as an aspiring foreign service officer, i interned in nancy pelosi’s office. this is how you can land a hillternship., i knew georgetown was right for me when i changed my perspective.