A minimum of 72 total credits is required for the PhD degree. This includes a minimum of 32 credits of formal coursework and a minimum of 24 credits of advanced research. Six credits of laboratory rotations are required and may be counted toward the formal coursework credit requirement. Most students make up the difference between the minimum total required credits (72) and the minimum requirements of the program (credits for formal course work, advanced research, and lab rotations) with additional advanced research credits.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION: All courses taken by each student in the CMP Graduate Program must satisfy the requirements of the program and/or complement the student’s program of independent research. Therefore, course selections should be made in consultation with a student’s research advisor.
Transfer of Credits
Up to 24 of course credits may be transferred from a prior institution, according to the following guidelines.
- Credits must not have been used to meet the requirements of an undergraduate degree.
- Official transcripts must be provided.
- The courses must be relevant to the student’s CMP program of study.
- Transfers may be disallowed if: (a) courses were taken six or more years earlier; (b) courses do not meet standards of Rutgers graduate courses; (c) grades were less than B.
Requests for approval of transfer of credits should be made using the SGS Transfer of Credit form only after the student has earned at least 9 credits at Rutgers and is in good standing in a graduate program.