News
New York Tech Launches First Ph.D. Degree in Computer Science
December 9, 2019
Starting in the 2020-2021 academic year, NYIT College of Engineering and Computing Sciences will offer its first Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program, the highest academic degree conferred by a university. The new Ph.D. in Computer Science will offer highly talented students an advanced research-oriented education in cybersecurity, data science, cloud computing, and related fields.
“The Ph.D. in Computer Science represents a pivotal moment for the history of our institution as well as the growth of our region,” said New York Institute of Technology President Hank Foley, Ph.D. “Continued innovation and competitive research in computer science and engineering fields will require a highly educated workforce. As the first Ph.D. to be offered by our College of Engineering and Computing Sciences, this degree program will deliver the technical expertise needed to boost and sustain the region’s growing tech hub.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 13 percent nationwide increase in computer and information technology jobs by 2026. With this in mind, the program aims to fill the region’s demand for highly trained scientists, researchers, and computer science professionals. Students will prepare for research careers and allow them to serve as leaders in academia, R&D, industry, and government labs and entities. New York Institute of Technology is the first to offer a Ph.D. in Computer Science in both Nassau and Queens County, which combined have a population of nearly four million.
“This is a transformational moment in the evolution of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at New York Tech. This new degree program marks a milestone for us, as we embark on preparing the next generation of computer scientists, researchers, and innovators for the fast-changing workforce of the 21st century,” said Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences. “Through rigorous training and transformative research, program graduates will be positioned to become not only prominent members of the research community but also the technical leaders of our region, state, and nation.”
Students in the Ph.D. program will complete core fundamental theoretical courses in computer science. They will also complete cutting-edge research alongside expert New York Tech faculty, and explore special topics that lead to the commercialization of research advancements. Research topics include machine learning and privacy, mobile security research, vehicle security research, and artificial intelligence, among others.
The Ph.D. in Computer Science is New York Tech’s second Ph.D. degree program. The university launched its first Ph.D. degree program in 2018 with a combined Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine/Doctorate of Philosophy (D.O./Ph.D.) degree in Medical and Biological Sciences. The first D.O./Ph.D. candidates began their studies in the fall 2019 semester.
The Ph.D. in Computer Science is pending approval from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
