Join Our Ph.D. Programs: Invent the Future Through Innovation and Research

Our growing Ph.D. programs in Computer Science and Data Science and Analytics blend research and practice, allowing our graduates to solve real-world problems for academia, business, government and industry. 

Doctoral candidate Nitin Jha presents research at C-Day Spring 2024.

 

The innovative Ph.D. program in Computer Science prepares you for a career as a cutting-edge researcher or an experienced educator who can meet current and projected market demands for technological advancements in computing. Our carefully crafted curriculum is a unique fusion of advanced theoretical foundations in Computer Science and the exploration of practical applications to address real-world challenges. Begin your graduate research in fields such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, cryptography, data mining and more.

Learn More Join An Info Session Program Details Meet the Director

 

InChan Hwang and Linglin Zhang accept their doctoral degrees

 

Our Ph.D. program in Data Science and Analytics, the first doctoral degree of its kind in the nation, lives at the intersection of computer science, statistics, mathematics and business, and it offers a number of concentrations, including the in-demand focus on Mobile Health (mHealth) Technologies. This degree will train you to translate structured and unstructured, complex data into information to improve decision making. The curriculum emphasizes programming, data mining, statistical modeling, and the mathematical foundations to support these concepts. Most important, the program focuses on communication skills – both oral and written – as well as application and tying results to business and research problems.

Learn More Join An Info Session Program Details Meet the Director

With both doctoral programs, we are committed to ethical practices, attention to fairness, diversity within the student body, academic excellence, and research that makes positive contributions to our local, regional, and global community.  

Get to Know Us

Traffic racing through Atlanta at night.

Why Study at KSU?

Busy, Vibrant Location - A bustling hub of culture and industry, metro Atlanta offers a wealth of work and fun. 

Graduate Assistantships (GRA/GTA) - We want to see our Ph.D. candidates succeed, and we fund their studies as fully as we can. Graduate research assistantships and graduate teaching assistantships are the staple of that funding. 

Emerging Research Leader - Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7% of U.S. colleges.

Industry Collaboration Opportunities - We work closely with industry partners to ensure your research gets the attention it deserves.  

Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities - We collaborate with the 11 other colleges at KSU to set up new frameworks for solving complex, real-world problems. 

Faculty Spotlights

Dr. Abhishek Parakh accepts the 2024 KSU Faculty Award from university president Kathy Schweig.

Abhishek Parakh - Computer Science Ph.D. Director

A graduate of Oklahoma State University and a 2024 recipient of a KSU Faculty Awards for Outstanding Scholarship and Creative Activity, Dr. Parakh focuses his research on quantum cryptography and cybersecurity.

Learn more about and connect with Dr. Parakh. 

Dr. Herman "Gene" Ray works at his computer.

Gene Ray - Data Science and Analytics Ph.D. Director

Dr. Herman "Gene" Ray studied Biostatistics and Decision Science at the University of Louisville’s School of Public Health. Making the most of this expertise, Dr. Ray is currently working to improve cancer care.

Read about his work with the National Cancer Institute of Kenya. 

Event Highlights