in person

Computational Science

PhD in Computational Science

A Transformative Approach to Interdisciplinary Problem Solving.

Created to meet the high demand for expertise in computational science, the PhD in Computational Science program equips students with advanced computational methods to enable scientific discovery across disciplinary boundaries. Students will undertake collaborative research with renowned faculty and regional partners such as Western University of Health Science and California State University Fullerton to address significant scientific and technological challenges across industry, government, and academia.

Program Benefits

Offered by the Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMS) and Center for Information Systems & Technology (CISAT), the PhD in Computational Science program transforms students from ambitious learners to innovative problem solvers. With rigorous coursework, applied research opportunities, and access to mentorship from leading experts and partner institutions across Southern California, graduates will gain the skills and connections needed to excel in their careers and beyond.

Program Highlights

  • Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities: Access to cutting-edge projects that integrate computational science with fields such as biology, physics, economics, engineering, and environmental science.
  • Distinguished Faculty and Mentorship: Personalized guidance from leading researchers in computational science, providing opportunities for high-impact research and professional growth.
  • Strong Industry and Academic Network: Robust connections with industry partners and research institutions offer networking, internship, and career opportunities.
  • Customized Research Projects: Tailored research opportunities that align with students’ specific interests and career goals, fostering innovation and expertise.

Career Paths

Graduates of this program will be ready to develop computational methodologies and AI algorithms to solve interdisciplinary challenges in academia, industry, government, and research institutions. Common job titles may include Research Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, Quantitative Analyst, Software Engineer, Professor, Bioinformatics Scientist, Data Scientist, AI Research Scientist, Environment Modeler, Scientific Advisor, Technical Lead, Computational Scientist, and Consultant.

Ideal Candidates

The PhD in Computational Science program is designed for:

  • Aspiring leaders seeking to advance their skills and apply computational tools and frameworks to solve complex real-world problems.
  • Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in computational science, computer science, applied mathematics, physics, engineering, economics, or a related field.
  • Motivated learners who possess a blend of academic excellence, technical proficiency, and research experience.

The program is STEM designated, allowing international students who hold F-1 visas to apply for OPT work authorizations for a total of 36 months (an initial 1-year period and a 24-month OPT STEM extension) of paid work experience in the U.S. after graduation.

Program At-a-glance

  • 72 units

    required units

  • PhD in Computational Science

    degree awarded

  • In Person

    modality

  • Spring, Summer, Fall

    program start

  • 3-5 years | full time*

    estimated completion time

Faculty

  • Portrait of John Angus

    John Angus

    Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Probability, Statistics, Computing, Algorithms, Navigation, Systems Engineering, Mathematical Finance

  • Portrait of Shamir Chatterjee

    Samir Chatterjee

    Fletcher Jones Chair of Technology Design & Management

    Research Interests

    Design science research, Health informatics, Electronics and telecommunication engineering

  • Wallace Chipidza

    Wallace Chipidza

    Assistant Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Dynamics of social networks, Quantum Computing and Applications, Internet Privacy, ICT4D

  • Portrait of Marina Chugunova

    Marina Chugunova

    Ellis Cumberbatch Professor of Mathematics
    Program Director, PhD in Engineering & Computational Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Surfactant-driven thin film flows in biomedical applications; Nonlinear parabolic equations; Stability problems in fluid dynamics; Scientific computations; Applied operator theory; Sturm-Liouville problems

  • Portrait of Yan Li

    Yan Li

    Associate Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Data science, Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Health Informatics, Mobile Health, Data Management, Data warehousing, Business intelligence, ICT4D

  • Portrait of Hrushikesh Mhsakar

    Hrushikesh Mhaskar

    Distinguished Research Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Approximation theory, Computational harmonic analysis, Machine learning, Signal processing

  • Portrait of Ali Nadim

    Ali Nadim

    Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Fluid Dynamics, Mathematical Modeling, Scientific Computing

  • Portrait of Andrew Nguyen

    Andrew Nguyen

    Adjunct Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Stochastic processes, Statistics, Risk management, Financial derivatives, Actuarial sciences, Statistical software

  • Portrait of Qidi Peng

    Qidi Peng

    Research Associate Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Statistical inferences, Stochastic differential equations, Stochastic modeling, Simulation, Machine learning, Approximation theory, Graph theory

  • Portrait of Allon Percus

    Allon Percus

    Joseph H. Pengilly Professor of Mathematics
    Director, Institute of Mathematical Sciences

    Research Interests

    Discrete optimization; Network models; Statistical physics; Random combinatorial structures

  • Portrait of Claudia Rangel

    Claudia Rangel-Escareño

    Adjunct Professor of Mathematics

    Research Interests

    Probabilistic methods in computational biology, Statistical inference of genetic networks, Bioinformatics

  • Portrait of Henry Schellhorn

    Henry Schellhorn

    Professor of Mathematics
    Academic Director, Financial Engineering Program

    Research Interests

    Financial engineering, Credit risk, Stochastic analysis, Traffic models

  • Chinazunwa Uwaoma

    Chinazunwa Uwaoma

    Research Assistant Professor of Information Systems & Technology

    Research Interests

    Internet of Things, Mobile Computing, Computer Communications & Networks, Healthcare Systems, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security

Extended Faculty

  • Bahar Acu

    Pitzer College

    Research Interests

    Geometric topology, differential geometry

  • Konrad Aguilar

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Noncommutative/quantum metric geometry, functional analysis, operator algebras

  • Asuman G. Aksoy

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Analysis

  • David Bachman

    Pitzer College

    Research Interests

    Low-dimensional topology

  • Arthur Benjamin

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Combinatorics, game theory, operations research

  • Andrew Bernoff

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Applied dynamical systems, fluid mechanics, self-similarity and scaling

  • Sarah Cannon

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Randomized algorithms, Markov chains, stochastic processes, discrete geometry, statistical physics

  • Alfonso Castro

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Partial differential equations, variational methods, inverse-function theorems, water waves (solitons)

  • Anie Chaderjian

    Scripps College

    Research Interests

    Combinatorics

  • Gabriel Chandler

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Statistics

  • Lisette G. de Pillis

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Computational fluid dynamics, numerical linear algebra, mathematical biology

  • Vin de Silva

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Computational topology, manifold learning

  • Christina Edholm

    Scripps College

    Research Interests

    Mathematical biology, epidemiological modeling

  • Lenny Fukshansky

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Number theory, discrete geometry

  • Stephan Garcia

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Complex symmetric operators, operator theory, complex function theory

  • Edray Goins

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Algebraic geometry, number theory, representation theory

  • Weiqing Gu

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Differential geometry, Grassman manifolds

  • Jamie Haddock

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Mathematical data science, optimization, applied convex geometry

  • Johanna Hardin

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Model-based clustering, outlier detection, robust clustering, analysis of microarray data

  • Mark Huber

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Computational probability

  • Mike Izbicki

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Machine learning, high-dimensional probability, computational geometry

  • Jon Jacobsen

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Nonlinear elliptic partial differential equations, fluid dynamics

  • Chiu-Yen Kao

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Numerical analysis and scientific computing

  • Gizem Karaali

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Lie & Hopf algebras, quantum groups, Poisson-Lie structures, combinatorial representation theory

  • Dagan Karp

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Algebraic geometry

  • Adam Landsberg

    Joint Science

    Research Interests

    Scientific modeling of complex systems

  • Ran Libeskind-Hadas

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Computational biology, cophylogenetics, design and analysis of algorithms

  • Haydee Lindo

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Commutative algebra, homological algebra, representation theory

  • Jemma Lorenat

    Pitzer College

    Research Interests

    History of mathematics, geometry

  • Susan Martonosi

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Operations research, applied probability, aviation security

  • John Milton

    Joint Science

    Research Interests

    Computational neuroscience

  • Sam Nelson

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Algebraic topology, knot theory

  • Mohamed Omar

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Combinatorial optimization, graph theory, algebraic geometry

  • Mike O’Neill

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Complex analysis and harmonic analysis

  • Michael Orrison

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Harmonic analysis on finite groups, algebraic voting theory

  • Winston Ou

    Scripps College

    Research Interests

    Harmonic analysis

  • Jeho Park

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    High-performance computing, data science

  • Ami Radunskaya

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Dynamical Systems, stochastic processes, applications of dynamical systems to instrument modeling, sound generation, and interactive composition

  • Animesh Ray

    Keck Graduate Institute

    Research Interests

    Genomics, computational and systems biology

  • Adolfo Rumbos

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Nonlinear analysis, differential equations

  • Ghassan Sarkis

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Number theory and commutative algebra, p-adic formal group

  • Shahriar Shahriari

    Pomona College

    Research Interests

    Combinatorics, representation theory of finite groups

  • James Sterling

    Keck Graduate Institute

    Research Interests

    Bioengineering, microfluidics

  • Francis Su

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Geometric and topological combinatorics, game theory, mathematical economics

  • Chris Towse

    Scripps College

    Research Interests

    Arithmetic geometry, algebraic number theory, combinatorics

  • Talithia Williams

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Spatial-temporal modeling of rainfall data

  • Helen Wong

    Claremont McKenna College

    Research Interests

    Low-dimensional topology, applications to molecular biology, data analysis, and quantum computation

  • Darryl Yong

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Mathematics education, applied mathematics, perturbation theory, partial differential equations

  • Heather Zinn Brooks

    Harvey Mudd College

    Research Interests

    Applied mathematics, mathematical modeling, complex systems, nonlinear dynamics, network theory, social systems, mathematical biology

Curriculum

General doctoral degree requirements at CGU may be found in the Doctoral Degree Regulations section of the CGU Bulletin.

Course requirements. 72 units of coursework are required to complete the doctoral degree. These units must include 4 units of transdisciplinary course(s), per university policy.

  • 24 units of Mathematics coursework taken at IMS. These include one course each, from at least three of the following four categories.
    • Mathematical Modeling
      Math 387 Discrete Mathematical Modeling
      Math 388 Continuous Mathematical Modeling
    • Advanced Statistics with Computation
      Math 351 Time Series Data Analysis
      Math 352 Nonparametric Statistics
      Math 353 Asymptotic Methods in Statistics
      Math 355 Linear Statistical Models
    • Advanced Numerical Analysis
      Math 362 Numerical Methods for Differential Equations
      Math 368 Advanced Matrix Analysis and Computations
    • Exotic Algorithms
      Math 293/393 Clinic
      Math 306 Optimization
      Math 364 Machine Learning for Asset Pricing
      Math 375 Quantum Computing and Applications
      Math 454 Statistical Learning
      Math 462 Mathematics of Machine Learning

All other courses needed to satisfy the 24-unit mathematics requirement are electives, chosen in consultation with the student’s PhD advisor.

  • 24 units of coursework in computational science applications. These may be chosen from the following options.
    • IST 302 Databases
    • IST 332 Natural Language Processing
    • IST 340 Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
    • IST 341 CS Insights via Python
    • IST 342 Managing Data at Scale
    • IST 343 Data Science Practicum
    • IST 344 Data Analytics and Visualization
    • IST 345 Generative Deep Learning
    • IST 346 Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
    • Math 259 Methods of Applied Probability and Statistics
    • Math 264 Scientific Computing
    • Math 265 Numerical Analysis
    • Math 294 Methods of Applied Mathematics
    • Math 359 Computational Statistics
    • Math 386 Image Processing
    • Up to 2 elective courses offered by a different department at CGU or at the Claremont Colleges, approved by the student’s PhD advisor and in an area related to the student’s dissertation research.
  • 24 units of research or approved transfer coursework from a previous master’s degree. In the case of a master’s degree at CGU (particularly the MS in Computational and Applied Mathematics), up to 32 units of approved coursework may be applied to the PhD in Computational Science.
  • The 4-unit transdisciplinary requirement may be taken in place of any of the requirements above, provided that three of the four core Mathematics categories are still covered.

Residency.  Students must fulfill the CGU residency requirement: at least two semesters of full-time study within a two-year period or 48 units within a three-year period. It is recommended that coursework be completed on a full-time basis; while part-time attendance is an option, degree requirements should be fulfilled within a seven-year time frame.

Satisfactory Academic Progress. The University’s policy on satisfactory academic progress applies. Students who do not maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 are placed on academic probation. Students who remain on academic probation after taking an additional 8 units of coursework may be dismissed from the program.

Advising. Upon admission to the program, students are normally assigned a PhD research advisor, who may be from a collaborating institution. While PhD advisors do not need to have an academic appointment, they must themselves have a PhD.

Qualifying Examination. Students are normally required to pass an oral qualifying examination by the time of completing 48 units of coursework.  The qualifying examination consists of a term research project supervised by the student’s PhD advisor. The student selects a PhD committee consisting of at least three faculty members, normally chaired by the advisor, with at least one member being from IMS and at least one member being from CISAT. The student prepares a written account of research work performed and its results, and then presents the work orally to the members of the PhD committee. Should a student fail the qualifying exam, one retake will be allowed.

Research Tools. The following two research tools, intended to help prepare students for independent research, are required:

  • Publication requirement. The student must demonstrate research competency by being the principal author of at least one scientific paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal or peer-reviewed conference.
  • Professional experience requirement. The student must demonstrate professional aptitude in one of the following ways.
    • Internship: work experience for a period of no less than 8 weeks and no more than 4 years.
    • Presentation: poster or talk at a conference.
    • Equivalent experience at the advisor’s discretion.

Dissertation Proposal. This takes the form of a scientific grant proposal to a major funding agency, describing the research project on which the dissertation is based. The student prepares a public oral presentation of the proposal, followed by a private examination by the PhD committee. Upon successful completion of this presentation, the student will be recommended for advancement to candidacy for the PhD degree.

Dissertation Completion and Final Oral Examination. On completion of the research, the student prepares the dissertation in accordance with CGU regulations.  The student presents the work in public and defends it at a final oral examination by the PhD committee.

Application Guidelines

University Requirements
Application Fee

$80 (fee is non-refundable)

Official Transcripts

Undergraduate/graduate

Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Electronic transcripts sent to admissions@cgu.edu are also accepted. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for review purposes, but official copies will be required upon admission.

Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU.

International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts.

English Proficiency Exam

Required (international applicants only)

A valid score on one of the following examinations TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson PTE, Duolingo English Test is required of all non-native English-speaking applicants. The examination is not required for the following applicants:

  • Citizens or permanent residents of countries where English is the sole official language of instruction, e.g., Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, and Wales (see the CGU Bulletin for a complete list of accepted countries).
  • Applicants who hold an undergraduate or advanced degree, or will have earned such a degree prior to enrolling at CGU, from an institution in the US or in countries where English is the sole official language of instruction (see above).
  • Applicants who have successfully completed an academic English pre-master’s or intensive graduate bridge program from a nationally recognized, regionally accredited four-year college or university in the United States in the last two years, with submitted evidence of successful completion, and subject to curriculum approval.
  • CGU allows for an English proficiency waiver if the applicant has received, or will receive prior to enrollment at CGU, an undergraduate or advanced degree from an institution where English is one of the primary languages of instruction for the majority of courses in the student’s program. To receive the waiver, documentation must be provided by the applicant to show that English is the language of instruction at their university/college.

CGU’s school code for the TOEFL exam is 4053.

International applicants are encouraged to visit our International Applicants page for more information, including score requirements.

Resume

Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume.

Program Requirements
Statement of Purpose

Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of research interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals.

Letter of Recommendation

2 letters required

When filling out the online application, please enter references acquainted with your potential for success who will submit a written recommendation on your behalf. In most academic departments, references from faculty members who can speak to your academic ability are preferred; applicants with substantial work experience may request professional references. Please do not enter family members as references.

You will be required to input information for your recommenders (whether they are submitting online or not) in the “Recommendations” section of the online application. Please follow the directions in this section carefully before clicking on “Recommendation Provider List” to input the names and contact information for each recommender. You will have an opportunity to indicate if the reference writer will be submitting online. These reference writers will receive an email from CGU with instructions on submitting an online recommendation.

Recommenders who are indicated as offline will not receive an email from CGU with instructions to submit. These reference writers can submit via traditional mail and should use the supplemental New Student Recommendation Form. Recommenders can also email their letter of recommendation to the Office of Admissions at admissions@cgu.edu.

Download the Recommendation Form

Key Dates & Deadlines

CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.

Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.

Spring 2025
Priority Deadline – November 1, 2024
Final Deadline (International) – November 15, 2024
Final Deadline (Domestic) – December 1, 2024
Classes begin – January 21, 2025

Fall 2025
Priority Deadline – February 1, 2025
Final Deadline (International) – July 5, 2025
Final Deadline (Domestic) – August 1, 2025
Classes begin – August 25, 2025

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Cost & Aid

ESTIMATED TUITION (CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS, NON-RESIDENTS, INTERNATIONAL)
Program 72 units
Tuition per unit* $2,020

*Based on 2024-2025 tuition rates.

 

STUDENT FEES (PER SEMESTER)
$245 Student Fee
$150 Technology Fee
International Student Services Fee*: $661 fall semester, $776 spring semester
**Applies to all international students (F-1 visa only) who are registered in coursework, doctoral study, or continuous registration. The fee is assessed each fall and spring semester for annual ISO accident and sickness plans and administrative fees. Subject to change.

For estimates of room & board, books, etc., please download CGU’s Cost of Attendance 2024-2025.

review financial aid

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*Program completion times may vary depending on course registration, units transferred, and time to complete other degree requirements.

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