graduate thesis uiuc

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Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois

This community contains the collection for dissertations and theses produced by students in masters and doctoral programs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. If you are a graduate student depositing your thesis or dissertation, please do this through the Graduate College at http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/submit-etd . If you deposit electronically, once your degree is conferred, your dissertation or thesis will appear in this collection. If you have authored a dissertation or thesis in the past at the University of Illinois and would like to see it appear here, please contact [email protected] for more information.

Thesis Reference Guide: The Thesis

Suggestions for organizing the thesis, preparation of the thesis for submission.

• Title Page Information Check

Faculty Signatures

Format check, final registration.

• Writing ECE Theses and Dissertations

Preparation of a thesis plays an important role in the development of a student into a scholar who can conduct independent research. Students gain the necessary basic knowledge by taking courses, and they demonstrate their capability for original thought and competence in research by conducting a research program on a topic selected in consultation with their thesis advisers. The thesis records the results of such a successful research program.

While conducting research on the chosen topic and also while writing their theses, students should consult frequently with their thesis advisers. Learning how to write technical papers (including theses) is an important part of the research training of the student. Thus, during the course of the research, the thesis adviser may require the student to write one or more papers to report the research work. In fact, since one measure of success in a research program is the publication of the results in a reputable technical journal with rigorous review procedures, the Department expects that the results in a Ph.D. thesis will be published in one or more journal articles. The Department hopes that most M.S. theses also describe research that can be published in a journal article, but recognizes that M.S. theses are less extensive in scope than Ph.D. theses. In any case, M.S. theses are expected to be of sufficient quality to be published as conference papers.

Note that the copyright for thesis material that has been published in a journal or conference proceedings likely no longer belongs to the author. While publishing agreements may vary, typically they transfer the copyright from the author to the publisher. Therefore, permission should be secured from the publisher in order to include previously published material in the thesis. (IEEE does not require authors working on a thesis to request formal permission, but other publishers may have less generous policies.) The same applies to previously published material by other authors: figures, tables, and excerpts incorporated into the thesis from other works require permission from the copyright holder. The Graduate College Thesis Office (http://www.grad.illinois.edu/thesis-dissertation) provides links to further resources.

The text of the thesis should be organized into chapters. The first chapter should introduce the problem studied and describe the main results obtained in the thesis. In order to provide guidance to the reader, the first chapter should briefly describe the organization of the rest of the thesis. The first chapter can also give the background of previous work on the subject and the method used in attacking the problem. Succeeding chapters provide details of the new results obtained by the candidate including, where appropriate, proofs, numerical data, simulation results, and experimental data. In order to properly state the results and to place them in perspective, it may be necessary to include one or more chapters that give further details on the problem being studied, introduce notation and terminology to be used, survey the relevant literature in detail, etc.

The conclusions drawn from the study are given in the last chapter. The last chapter also can include discussions of the advantages and limitations of the results obtained, comparisons with previous work, possible applications for the results, and suggestions for future work. Matters that are of little conceptual interest but that need to be included for the sake of completeness should be relegated to appendices. Examples of such matters are listings of computer programs used to generate numerical data or simulation results. Also, long and complicated proofs or derivations that unduly disrupt the flow of ideas should be placed in appendices unless the proofs are of independent interest because of the novelty of the techniques used. Most important, all of the above are merely suggestions for the proper organization of the thesis, and the student should consult with the thesis adviser to decide what to include in the thesis, and how to divide the thesis into chapters and appendices.

The Graduate College (http://www.grad.illinois.edu/thesis-dissertation) gives format specifications and details on all the materials to be submitted. Before preparing the thesis, the student should read this material carefully. All the requirements stated on the website must be met in full. Furthermore, the Department has its own guidelines and support available from ECE Editorial Services (https://wiki.illinois.edu/wiki/display/ECEThesisReview) .

All graduate students must apply for graduation (http://www.grad.illinois.edu/step-2-departmental-approval) by the deadline for their intended graduation period (May, August, or December).

Administrative Requirements

The Graduate College publishes thesis deposit deadlines for students who wish to graduate each semester. Deadlines are published in the Graduate College Academic Calendar .

Note that the ECE thesis check must take place well ahead of deposit with the Graduate College (see Format Check, below).

File Title Page with the Thesis Office

Early in the term in which the thesis is to be submitted, the student should file the title page (http://www.grad.illinois.edu/step-2-departmental-approval) with the Graduate College via email.

The signatures of the thesis adviser and the Department Head are required on M.S. theses. If the M.S. thesis adviser is not a member of the ECE Graduate Faculty, an ECE Graduate Faculty member must co-sign the Thesis/Dissertation Approval form prior to submission to Editorial Services . The signatures of the director of research (adviser), all voting committee members who voted to pass the student at the final exam, and the department head  are required for PhD dissertations.

Both the ECE Department and the Graduate College check the thesis to verify that the format requirements are satisfied. The Departmental format checking is performed by ECE Editorial Services (https://wiki.illinois.edu/wiki/display/ECEThesisReview) , Room 2064-66 ECE Building. A minimum of three weeks should typically be allowed for format checking and the corrections and changes usually required to make the thesis conform to Departmental and Graduate College format requirements (find departmental deadlines on the Editorial Services site). When the thesis is in acceptable format, Editorial Services issues the Departmental format approval. After this, the thesis is submitted to the Department Head for approval and signature. Allow up to 48 hours for obtaining Department Head approval.

Each Ph.D. degree candidate must be registered in ECE 599 (even if only for zero hours) at the time of the Final Examination. Registration is not required when the thesis is submitted for approval to the Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering or when the thesis is deposited in the Graduate College, unless the student has an assistantship or fellowship. The Ph.D. thesis must be deposited with the Graduate College no later than one year after passing the Final Examination.

Students who will hold an assistantship or fellowship during their last semester should plan carefully. Students must work at least 91 days in a semester, or 41 days in a summer session, to receive a tuition waiver under an assistantship or fellowship unless they either withdraw from the University at (or before) the time that their appointment becomes void, or file a clearance form for graduation within one week following the resignation date. Employees on a student visa may not hold an appointment beyond the visa expiration date. Hence, if the employee holds an assistantship or fellowship carrying a tuition waiver and the visa will expire before the 91 days have been completed, the student may be required to pay tuition and fees.

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Graduate Dissertations and Theses at Illinois

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Graduate College

Graduate college thesis deadlines.

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• All Current Events

Monday, August 5, 2024

August degree conferral date, sunday, november 3, 2024, last day for grad to add themselves to december degree list via student self-service, friday, november 15, 2024.

• 5:00   deadline

Last Day to take final exam for December Degree

Friday, december 6, 2024, last day to complete deposit of december doctoral dissertations, friday, december 13, 2024, last day to complete deposit of december master's theses, monday, december 23, 2024, december degree conferral date.

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Students are expected to register via Self-service by the deadline each semester.  For courses requiring advisor approval, such as thesis credit and independent study, please see below for guidelines.  

Registration in Independent Study Courses

Students who are qualified to do independent study are eligible to enroll in Independent Study (595) courses. Registration in an Independent Study course provides the opportunity for the student to carry out a planned learning activity under the direction of a faculty member. A description of the activity must be developed by the student and approved by the supervising faculty member and the appropriate academic department authorized signatory. The student must complete an  Independent Study Learning Contract  and have approval prior to registration.

Repeated enrollment for credit in an Independent Study course is permissible. However, no more than 8 hours of Independent Study can be applied towards a Master’s or Certificate of Advanced Study degree, and no more than 12 hours toward a doctoral degree.

Registration in Thesis/Dissertation Hours

Registration in thesis/dissertation research hours is required for all students completing a thesis or dissertation, after completion of the required coursework. The student must obtain approval from the advisor/director of research and submit it to the  Graduate Student Services Office  prior to registration. This registration typically occurs after the course work is completed and before the time limits are reached.

Late Registration or Course Changes

Once the deadline for online registration has passed, a student must complete a  Late Registration/Late Course Change form .  The completed form can be turned in to the  Graduate Student Services Office  for department approval and processing. 

Withdrawal and Cancellation

To withdraw after a semester starts or cancel registration prior to the beginning of a semester, a student must file the  Withdrawal/Cancellation form .  The complete form can be returned to the  Graduate Student Services Office  for approval and processing. 

Auditing Courses

A student wanting to audit a course must first complete an  Auditor's Permit .  More information on  auditing a course  can be found in the Graduate College Handbook.  

In Absentia Registration

In absentia registration is designed for students who wish or need to remain registered but will be studying or doing research at least 50 miles away from campus for the semester. In absentia registration is not permitted for students enrolled in courses meeting on campus. Students registered in absentia are only assessed tuition and the general fee . If students registered in absentia wish to have health insurance they must make other arrangements since they will not be assessed that fee. The In Absentia Request form  must be submitted to the Graduate Student Services Office ahead of the 10th day deadline each semester .   

Credit/No Credit Registration

Credit/No credit is a permanent notation on the academic record that may be requested by a student with the advisor's approval.  Students on limited status admission or probation are not allowed to register for credit/no credit coursework until the limited status or probation has been removed.  Students interested in credit/no credit must file the  Credit/No Credit Form  with the Graduate Student Services Office before the deadline each semester.  

Course Load

The College of Education follows the Graduate College's rules on  course loads  and concerning full-time enrollment.  Fellows, trainees, and students with waiver-generating appointments are expected to enroll full-time.  International students are always expected to enroll full-time unless a request for a reduced course load is approved.  

Grading System

Graduate students and advisors should be guided by the Graduate College policy on the  grading system .

Thesis Templates

We have had many requests for thesis formats already set up in TeX. None of the files are guaranteed, but they have worked successfully for previous graduates. The Graduate College changes thesis formatting requirements from time to time ; as far as we know, these files conform to Fall 2009 requirements. However, be sure to consult the current version of the Graduate College Handbook .

The 2009 version of the template was prepared by a student who is himself in the process of writing his phd thesis and graduating. This template has thus not been validated in any way by the graduate college. There is still no indication that a thesis prepared with this template has been received and accepted by the graduate college. The student who wrote this package can make no guarantee that this template will comply to the current rules of the graduate college. This student is also busy, so support may be hit or miss until he graduates.

The 2007 version of the template was prepared by Tim Head, based on prior templates by Peter Czoschke and David Hull.

uiucthesis is a LaTeX package for formatting theses in the format required by the University of Illinois, effective Fall 2007.

A class file and a style file are provided. Both provide identical functionality, except that the class file loads the "book" class with the [oneside] option.

While we are happy to answer questions about this (or any Physics) page and to assist our visitors, we cannot provide any kind of meaningful help with specific TeX questions. An excellent resource for LaTeX users may be found at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/LaTeX .

Installation

latex uiucthesis.ins <== Produces uiucthesis.cls, uiucthesis.sty and thesis-ex.tex latex uiucthesis.dtx <== Produces uiucthesis.dvi (documentation) latex uiucthesis.dtx <== One more time, to fix cross-references

You can do the last two steps on thesis-ex.tex as well to generate the example file (DVI).

Dependencies

This package requires the setspace package.

Graduate Admissions Contact

Lance Cooper Associate Head for Graduate Programs 227 Loomis Laboratory (217) 333-3645 [email protected]

Have questions about the admission process? Read through the Admissions pages or contact us.

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The Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) offers an online non-thesis Master of Science degree. Many of the students in this program are working professionals. The online delivery option makes the program accessible to students in various locations, who may also be balancing important personal and professional commitments. 

About Mary Pat McGuire, PLA

About prof. mary pat mcguire.

Mary Pat McGuire is an Associate Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and serves as Dean’s Fellow for Research in the College of Fine & Applied Arts, stewarding the implementation of the Publicly Engaged Research Option (PERO). McGuire has additional faculty appointments in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, the Institute of Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), and the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory. From 2021-2024, she was Chair of the Master of Landscape Architecture program for which she led a curriculum review process and organized recruiting, admissions, and thesis. McGuire is a licensed landscape architect in Illinois and Virginia, with previous licensure in California (2006 – 2012). Prior to her academic career, McGuire practiced landscape architecture for a decade including for Peter Walker and Partners in the San Francisco Bay area and Conservation Design Forum in Chicago.

Research and Teaching

McGuire’s research and teaching in landscape architecture is broadly focused on interdisciplinary design of the material, topographic, infrastructural, and social ground of cities and regions. Specifically, her work explores urbanized land as a primary site and medium for adaptation and transformation in the context of shifting ecological, infrastructural, urban systems and climate change. Much of this focus has been on the urban surface of pavement and determining where and how to depave and retrofit communities. Research, including original mapping and community-scale design projects to address urban flooding, is published on the Water Lab website. In 2022, McGuire founded Depave Chicago to create processes and tools for communities to collectively and directly remove pavement and to renature and transform land into healing, adaptive, and life-supportive landscapes. McGuire examines the role of interstitial sites—the liminal spaces and surfaces of urban land—as opportunities for spatial and performative “editing” through subtraction, hybridization, densification, cross-sectional thickening, temporality, and combinations thereof. These topics and methods form the basis of her design studios and seminars so that students may also learn to see new unexpected opportunities for design in their educational work and later in practice. With an interest in design as research, she also serves on the editorial board of GroundWorks , the publication of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (A2RU).

Public Engagement, Collaboration, and Support

McGuire’s work is collaborative and interdisciplinary. She works in partnership with geologists, engineers, social scientists, NGOs, CBOs, federal agencies, municipalities, schools, communities, and artists. Together, they’ve created strategic design interventions to address rainwater, heat, air pollution, and equity and to facilitate community agency, supporting implementation investments totalling $15M in the Calumet region. She and her collaborators created a seminal compendium website of design and planning guidance for green stormwater infrastructure— Illinois Groundwork — to disseminate research-based design guidance to support professionals, public agencies, and communities. She is currently contributing to a multi-partner, vegetation buffer, air-quality improvement project for Chicago Public Schools located next to highways in Chicago. McGuire’s research collaborations and academic practice have been supported by the National Sea Grant program (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NOAA), US-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wright-Ingraham Institute, Walder Foundation, Landscape Architecture Foundation, Morton Arboretum, University of Illinois Campus Research Board, Illinois Extension, and the Brenton and Jean Wadsworth Endowment Grant, among others. 

In public and professional realms, McGuire serves on the committees and/or is a member of the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance, the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative, the Trust for Public Land’s Technical Advisory Team, the National ASLA Climate Action Network, co-chair of the ASLA Great Lakes Regional Climate Action Seminar series, and she serves the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA) in various capacities. McGuire received the CELA President’s Award in 2022. 

• MLA, Master of Landscape Architecture, University of Virginia, 2003
• BA, International Relations/Political Theory, William & Mary, 1994
• Certificate, Leadership in Sustainability Management, University of Chicago, 2015
• Certificate, Woody Plants, George Washington University, 2000

Landscape Architecture Licenses: Virginia #0406001207 (Since 2006), Illinois #157001458 (Since 2010), California #5239 (2006-2012)

Research and publications

Ongoing and upcoming research, current research in progress.

Depave Chicago pilot project, with The Montessori School of Englewood, Chicago and Depave (Portland)

Chicago Public Schools vegetation buffer project, with US-EPA, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Morton Arboretum, CPS, Chicago Department of Public Health

Surface Design in Landscape Architecture – book of 20 case studies in landscape architecture surface design

Special issue “Creating Knowledge in Common” for Groundworks , on university-community partnered research

Climate change and landscape architecture – adaptations in pedagogy and practice

Selected publications

McGuire, Mary Pat and Jessica M. Henson, Eds. Fresh Water: Design Research for Inland Water Territories . Novato, CA: Applied Research & Design, 2019. LINK

McGuire, Mary Pat. “Grounding the Site: Uncovering Concepts in the Landscape Architecture Design Process” in Conceptual Landscapes: new perspectives in the earliest stages of design , Bussiere, Simon, Ed. Abingdon: Routledge, 2023. LINK

McGuire, Mary Pat, Andrew Phillips, David Grimley, Ashlynn Stillwell, Reshmina William, Jinyu Shen, Margaret Schneemann. “Retrofitting urban land through integrative, subsoils-based planning of green stormwater infrastructure: A research framework.” Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability , 1 (2021) LINK

McGuire, Mary Pat. “Is Landscape Surface?,” Journal of Landscape Architecture . Issue 1-2020. pp.32-45. LINK

McGuire, Mary Pat. “Surface Design Operations in Landscape Architecture,” Landscape Journal . Issue 38:1-2, 2020. pp. 43-60. LINK

McGuire, Mary Pat. 2018. “Cities as Hydro-Geologic Terrain: Design Research to Transform Urban Surfaces,” The Plan Journal , Issue 1, Volume 3 (2018), pp. 165-190. LINK

McGuire, Mary Pat. “While We’re Considering Tearing Down Highways, Let’s Not Overlook Pavement,” in Next City, July 7, 2021. LINK

Sherriff, Lucy. “A cooler future means a world with less pavement,” in The Nation , August 31, 2023. LINK  

Talking Headways podcast with Jeff Wood, Streetsblog USA. “What We Can Do To Depave Cities,” aired September 30, 2021. LINK

Miles, Irene. “Digging into soil data helps inform green infrastructure design,” lllinois-Indiana Sea Grant, March 10, 2022. LINK

Teaching and advising

Classes taught.

• LA433 Foundation Studio I - Defining & Designing Sites (graduate)
• LA434 Foundation Studio II - Landscape Change & Process (graduate)
• LA587/387 Designing with Climate: Adapting Our Selves and Our Practices for a Changing Planet (open seminar)
• LA336/438 Design Workshop I and II - topics in surface design, water urbanism, and green infrastructure (undergraduate and graduate)
• LA599 - Thesis Research (MLA graduate)
• LA590 - Directed Research
• LA437 - Regional Design Studio (undergraduate level)
• LA346 - Professional Practice (undergraduate and graduate)
• LA250 - Site Analysis (undergraduate)

Through McGuire’s studios, students have directly participated in and contributed to community projects in the Chicago-Calumet Region through urban and community forestry design and green stormwater infrastructure design, including winning an American Society of Landscape Architects Student Collaboration Award in 2019. In these studios, students have collaborated with the U.S. Forest Service, Student Conservation Association, Chicago Regional Trees Initiative, The Nature Conservancy, IL-Extension, researchers from Prairie Research Institute and civil & environmental engineering, industry representatives, municipal leaders and staff members, and community members.

Students advised

•  Vidhan Goel, 2024 “Climate Adaptation of Majuli Island: Learning from Indigenous Practices,” MLA Thesis
• Jarin Subah Tumpa, 2023-2024 “Third Landscapes for Flood-Resilience: Rethinking Scales of Green Infrastructure in Neighborhoods in Khulna, Bangladesh,” MLA Thesis
• Daniel Kletzing, 2020-2022 “Soil Conservation as Desertification Mitigation in the Navajo Nation,” MLA/MUPP dual-degree thesis
• Myers, Kayla, 2019-2020 “Wild Farm: Regenerative Agriculture,” MLA Thesis
• Gross, Jane C. 2022-2023 “Limits of Justice in Environmental Governance: Coal Ash and Ethylene Oxide in Waukegan, IL,” Master Thesis in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• Dinh, Huong, 2020 “Toward Animal Solidarity in Landscapes,” Directed Research **Honorable Mention in LA+Creature competition
• Dinh, Huong, 2020 “Landscape Ecology: Frameworks, Excursions, & Design Models,” Directed Research (graduate)
• Zhang, Qiran, 2016 “Parametric Modeling : Chicago Test-plots,” Directed Research (graduate)
• Cong, Zheng, 2016 “Hydrogeologic Design: Chicago,” Directed Research (undergraduate)
• Douglas, Scott, 2016 “UIUC Campus Stormwater: An Assessment and Evaluation of Strategies for High-Performance Landscape Design and Management,” Directed Research (graduate)
• Gajjar, Heena, 2016 “Material Design Research: Transform Asphalt,” Directed Research (graduate) Published in Ground Up, Issue 06
• Sui, Xinyue, 2014-2015 “Urban Archipelago for Climate Change Adaptation: The Next Phase of Landmaking in Boston” MLA Thesis

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Graduate College

Electronic thesis and dissertation format, etd intro text heading link copy link.

The format (physical layout of the pages of the document) of an electronic thesis or dissertation (ETD) should follow the format options specified in the Graduate College Thesis Manual .

• Since the Certificate of Approval will not be included within the ETD document, the title page should instead be page “i” (however, the page number does not appear on the title page).
• Thesis Manual

ETD Format Heading link Copy link

The format of the title page for an ETD should include the names and roles of the defense committee. The chair and advisor should be specified as well as department (if from UIC) or institution (if from outside UIC) of the outside member. Sample ETD title pages (Word)

[committee names and other information in samples are fictional]:

• Master’s (3 member committee) Sample A, chair & advisor same person, outside member from UIC Master’s (3 member committee) Sample B, chair & advisor different people, no outside member Doctoral (5 member committee) Sample C, chair & advisor same person, one outside member from UIC and one outside member from another institution Doctoral (5 member committee) Sample D, chair and advisor different people, one outside member from UIC and one outside member from another institution
• Master's (3 member committee) Sample A
• Master's (3 member committee) Sample B
• Doctoral (5 member committee) Sample C
• Doctoral (5 member committee) Sample D

Other Preliminary Pages

All other preliminary pages (following the title page, technically page “i”) should be numbered accordingly, using lower case Roman numerals. The order should follow the Thesis Manual.

Abstract and Key Words

• All ETD submissions require a separate abstract. This applies to master’s theses and doctoral dissertations. The abstract is not included within the thesis/dissertation.
• With ETD submissions, a separate paper copy of the abstract is not required. Students, however, must paste an abstract (recommended 350 word maximum, but may be longer) in the text box provided as part of the online submission process.
• Another text box during the submission process requires that keywords related to your document for search purposes be included.

Uploaded Files

• The document must be converted and submitted as a single Portable Document File (PDF).
• The PDF file must be named Lastname_Firstname.pdf (no spaces), where “Last(family)name and “First(given)name are that of the student.
• Security settings should not be applied to the PDF file.
• The PDF file should not contain embedded multimedia.
• In addition to the PDF you may submit the original format file of the document (Word, LaTex, etc.). This is recommended for the UIC Library to use as source material in the event the PDF is corrupted or not readable in the future.
• Finally, you may upload supplementary appendix files such as audio, video or data sets. If the supplementary material is text and can be converted to PDF as part of your main document, it is recommended that they be included as an appendix within the ETD rather than as supplementary files.
• Information and Link to Submit ETD

Additional Requirements Heading link Copy link

Library fee and payment.

• Master’s and doctoral students who submit a thesis have to pay a library publishing fee of $12.50.
• Use the University of Illinois Quickpay, which is a University-sanctioned secure link, to pay the library fee online. American Express, Discover, Mastercard and Visa (issued from United States banks only) are accepted. There is no additional charge to pay by credit card.
• Thesis Fee Payment Form

Additional Forms/Payments

The following should be uploaded into the UIC Box folder the student creates for their committee and the Graduate College to view. The Graduate College will access via box, so the student should make sure proper access has been provided The form must be completed, and shared on box before your defense.

• iThenticate Report Form

The following must be sent to the Graduate College by your program within 48 hours of the defense.

• Examination Report Form (Graduate College copy only – the program will keep their copy and provide the student with the student’s copy)

The following must be completed online as part of an ETD submission.

• Payment of the library fee.
• Survey of Earned Doctorates (doctoral students only). The Graduate College will receive confirmation of completion.
• iThenticate Review Procedures
• Survey of Earned Doctorates

Policy on Non-English Theses and Dissertations Heading link Copy link

Policy on non-english theses and dissertations.

Theses and dissertations should be submitted in English (excluding quotes in another language). On occasion, other languages may be used when there are sound academic reasons. Read the Gradaute College Policy on non-English Theses and Dissertations on the main thesis page. The title page and abstract must always be in English.

• Main Thesis Page

Applications Process & Requirements

Current Illinois Computer Science  graduate students must follow the same application process as all other applicants. Current Illinois Computer Science  undergraduate students applying to the Fifth Year Masters Programs, please review each program's application process .

1. Review these general University and Department requirements:

• Applicants must have been awarded (or are about to be awarded) a 4-year bachelor’s degree equivalent to that granted by the University of Illinois to be eligible for the graduate programs at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Applicants whose undergraduate degree is a three-year program may not be eligible for graduate-level admissions consideration at the University of Illinois. Eligibility depends on the country where the applicant received their degree -- please see the Graduate College's list of eligible degrees .
• The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign policy requires applicants to hold at least a 3.0/4.0 or higher GPA in the last two years of their undergraduate study to be eligible for graduate studies on this campus.
• Applicants who already hold a master’s degree in computer science or computer engineering whose degree requirements are equivalent to a Illinois Computer Science master’s degree are not eligible to apply for our MS or Professional Master of Computer Science (MCS) degree.
• Applicants who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science must have sufficient background in computer programming, data structures and algorithms, computer architecture, and theory of computation. We highly recommend applicants complete courses in these areas at a local university near them prior to submitting their application.

2. Plan to meet the application deadline

Visit our Application Deadlines page to review the deadlines for all of our Graduate Programs. All application materials, including the application fee, must be received by the posted deadline. (Posted deadlines are for U.S. Central Time Zone). Late applications will not be accepted. In addition, incomplete applications will be subject to denial.

It is highly recommended to have all application materials submitted one month prior to the deadline to expedite admission decisions.

3. Complete the university's Online Application

• If you are applying to the MCS in Chicago Program, please note that the program name in the application drop-down menu is: “ Computer Science (Site-Based Off Campus)-MCS ”. Note: Please do not send additional materials (e.g. publications, photographs, videos, CDs, or portfolios). These items are not reviewed during the admissions process.

4. Pay the application fee

The university's application fee is $70 for US citizens and permanent residents and $90 for all other applicants. The fee must accompany the application by credit card payment with the web application. Application fees are non-refundable .

Application Fee Waivers: Applicants may qualify for an application fee waiver.  For details, see Application Fee Waivers .  Applicants with questions about an application fee waiver may contact the Department of Computer Science at [email protected] .

5. Submit Unofficial Transcripts

Illinois Computer Science does not require submission of official transcripts during the initial application review process . Applicants must submit official credentials (transcripts, academic records, diplomas, certificates of degrees, etc.) only if they are recommended for admission to the Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Applicants recommended for admission will be required to submit their official transcripts directly to the Graduate College.

To complete your application , please follow the instructions provided by the Graduate College:

“Applicants must list in the online application each institution of post-secondary education from which they have earned credit. Applicants must also upload scanned copies of their transcript / academic record (and diplomas or certificates of degrees if the degree is awarded and not listed on the transcript) for each of these institutions to their online application.”

• Scanned transcripts must include all grade records and the grading scale used by the institution. (If the grading scale is on the back of the transcript, a separate scanned page should be included.) If the original transcripts are not in English, native-language transcripts and an English translation must be uploaded. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that uploaded copies are legible and high-resolution.
• Do not upload password-protected transcripts. If you receive password-protected transcripts from your educational institutions, please print them and scan them to a PDF file before uploading.  Our Admissions Committee cannot view password-protected transcripts.

“ All credentials uploaded to the online application are considered unofficial. You will only be asked to submit official credentials (transcripts, academic records, diplomas, certificates of degrees, etc.) if you are admitted. These must be submitted during your first term of enrollment at the University of Illinois. The University of Illinois reserves the right to require official academic credentials at any time during the admissions process, and to rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between unofficial and official transcript(s) are found. ”

6. Request Letters of Recommendation

Applicants to the PhD and MS with thesis programs are required to have three letters of recommendation submitted. Applicants to the MCS program are not required to have letters of recommendation, but letters will be considered if included, especially if used to justify experience in lieu of required coursework, or other irregularities.

It is recommended that professional letters of recommendation be from academics. They can either be your faculty, advisors, or supervisors. If you have been away from academics for a significant amount of time, you may substitute non-academic references of your choice (e.g. immediate supervisors, etc.). Personal letters of references (e.g. from family members) are not recommended.

The letters should address your academic abilities and potential to succeed at graduate-level academic performance.  If you apply to our M.S. or Ph.D. program, your letters should also address your research abilities and potential.

Individuals writing letters of recommendation on your behalf should submit their letters through the online application system . Any recommendations that do not follow this process may impact timely application processing.

Please make sure recommenders complete the section on the “Recommender’s Form” that states “To what extent do you recommend this applicant for admissions as a graduate student in their proposed field of study”.

7. Write an Academic Statement of Purpose (required)

• The Academic Statement of Purpose is a required part of the online application form.
• This statement should include your goals and background as it relates to the field of computer science. It is good to include any past work history, your interests, and reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in computer science.
• Your statement will be evaluated for your conciseness, reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, leadership skills, and eloquence.  Applicants to our M.S. or Ph.D. program will also be evaluated according to their scientific research interests.
• Generally, the Academic Statement of Purpose is between one to two pages.

8. Write Personal Statements (required)

• The Personal Statement is required for Computer Science admissions purposes.
• The Personal Statements must be within 250 words.

9. Create a CV/Resume

• Your CV/resume is a part of the online application form.
• Your CV/resume should address your education, job experience, research experience (M.S. or Ph.D. applicants), remarkable achievements, publications, organizations, awards, and leadership experiences.
• This information helps the admissions committee understand your background. In addition, it helps when identifying M.S. or Ph.D. applicants for RA and TA assistantships.

10. General Record Examination (GRE) – Not Required

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general aptitude tests (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) and subject test scores are recommended but not required. In some cases, the scores may provide helpful supporting information. If you would like to submit scores, we recommend that you scan your official score report as a PDF file and attach it to your application. You do NOT need to submit official scores through ETS.

11. English Proficiency and International Requirements

English proficiency requirements.  This applies to all applicants whose native language is not English, including permanent residents of the US.

• The minimum requirements for admission are as follows: Proficiency Requirements for Admission .
• To be eligible for department financial aid, such as a teaching assistantship, you must submit recent TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores and/or meet the requirements detailed here: Proficiency Requirements for Funding ( summary ).
• All international applicants should make every effort to meet English proficiency requirements for funding.  Applicants who meet the proficiency requirements are given preference for admission. Applicants with TOEFL iBT speak scores below 22 have a low chance of admission.

If admission is offered , international applicants to the on-campus programs must submit the Declaration & Certification of Finances Form . This form does not need to be submitted with the application materials.

12. Check the status of your application materials to ensure all materials have been submitted.

Please check your application in the Graduate College application portal to ensure all required materials have been submitted.

If your email address changes between the time you submit your application and the decision deadline, email your updated email address to [email protected] . Include your old email address, new email address, first and last name, and application reference number in the email message.

13. Wait for admissions results

Admissions results will be sent to your email address by the posted decision deadline .

Applicants can appeal the admission decision by uploading the CS Appeal Form to their Graduate College application. Immediately after the appeal form is uploaded, please notify the department by following the instructions provided on the form. (Please do not send the appeal form or any supporting material directly to the department.) Fall term admission appeals for the PhD, CS MS, and on-campus MCS programs must be submitted by April 15th and will be reviewed no later than May 15 by the CS Admissions Committee. Admissions appeals for the online MCS, Chicago MCS, MS Bioinformatics, BS-MS, and BS-MCS programs must be submitted within 14 days of the date when admissions decisions were released. Appeals and emails notifying of submission received after the posted deadlines will not be considered.  

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Notes from the Field: Graduate student Cade Meinel excavates a Roman basilica in Menorca

In the summer of 2024, graduate student Cade Meinel traveled to the Sanisera Archaeological Institute on the island of Menorca. He was the recipient of the 2024 J. David Hoeveler Summer Research Scholarship. Read about his journey below.

I completed my pre-dissertation research trip this June to the Sanisera Archaeological Institute on the island of Menorca within the Balearic Islands off the Mediterranean coast of Spain and successfully learned about Roman and late-antique material culture and general archaeological methods in ways that will aid my research into piracy and naval conflicts in relation to late-antique Mediterranean maritime communities during late antiquity.

While there, I aided in excavations of a Roman basilica from the fifth or sixth centuries AD. The basilica was located in the ancient Roman port city on the northern coast of the island called Sanisera. Most of the city remains unexcavated. While digging there, my group was initially assigned to an area believed to be outside the south wall of the basilica in order to discover what was adjacent to the basilica, but it turned out, based on the artifacts found in this area, that it was actually another room still inside of the basilica. The main finds that indicated this conclusion were a portion of wall structure and some marble, which would have been used inside the basilica. Other artifacts that I found included pieces of lead, Roman glass, bone, bronze nails, and various types of pottery. The coolest one that I personally found was a piece of Roman glass that had been at the base of a wide cup.

Also, I learned the techniques for recording evidence and progress during the excavation involving including the proper photographing techniques and the use of geo-positioning specific finds of significance. The hands-on experience will help me both to understand scholarship on archaeological sites and to know the amount of work and size of projects required to gain different types of information and details about late-antique history, and this understanding will be useful for my dissertation research. I also learned how to clean, classify, recognize, and label many forms of pottery and other small finds from throughout the Roman period for use in museum collections.

The benefits of traveling to Menorca included visiting a number of museums on the island that already had other artifacts and information about its ancient and late-antique history, which helped me to contextualize the work that I was doing. Lastly, making connections and having discussions with the director of the program also gave me insights into the historiography and particular aspects of the state of research in my field. Thus, my experience has set me up well to narrow and focus my research within my dissertation topic.

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Graduate Admissions

Accelerate your career with a proven education from uic business liautaud graduate school. heading link copy link.

Our graduate business programs provide you with relevant real-world instruction and outstanding professional development. You will acquire knowledge and skills that will help you stand out and enable you to take the next step in your career.

We encourage you to explore our website to learn about our programs. If you would like more information, we invite you to attend an upcoming admissions event, or reach out to us so that we can assist to you one to one.

You can connect with us via email at [email protected] or through Live Chat by clicking the red chat icon below. Live Chat is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Central Time. We are happy to schedule an appointment with you. Please contact us via email or at (312)996-4573 / (877)622-8421 (toll-free)

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Please refer to your program of interest for GMAT/GRE test requirements. The GMAT and GRE are available at testing centers and have at-home versions. UIC Business does not have a preference of one exam over the other. Competitive GMAT/GRE scores may help your chances of admission and being awarded merit aid.

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Minimum admissions requirements.

The application and all required materials must be submitted electronically through the UIC Apply system . Only complete files are reviewed for admission consideration. Admission requirements vary by program but the minimum criteria below apply to all. See Graduate Degree pages for additional admissions information.

• Academic Record: Undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0 or better (or equivalent).  A business-related undergraduate degree is not required to be admitted to our master’s programs.
• Test Scores: GMAT or GRE scores are valid for up to five years. Applicants may qualify for a GMAT/GRE waiver. See your specific program page for more information on the waiver requirements.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation (LOR) are required from professional references who can speak to your abilities and readiness for a graduate degree program (e.g., a current or former supervisor). Personal references are not acceptable. Specialized master’s degree programs also accept letters from previous professors who can speak to your academic abilities. Once you start an application, you will submit the recommenders’ names and contact information, and they will be notified via email to complete an electronic recommendation form.
• Personal Statement: The personal statement provides you with the opportunity to discuss your career goals and why you think the UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School program is a good fit. Questions and guidelines are provided in the online application.
• Work Experience: All applicants must upload a CV/resume when applying. MBA applicants are required to have at least two years of professional work experience after the completion of a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Military experience completed before or during a bachelor’s degree may be considered toward professional experience and may warrant a waiver. Work experience is not required for the specialized master’s programs.
• $70 application fee: Fee waiver available for full or expected UIC alumni. This includes (1) Those students who have fully earned, or will earn, a UIC Bachelor’s degree by the proposed term of enrollment in a UIC graduate program and (2) UIC seniors who are seeking concurrent graduate enrollment for the final year of their undergraduate study. The waiver does not apply to those who have attended UIC, but not earned a degree; applicants to UIC professional programs; alumni of UIUC or UIS.
• $100 International Credential Evaluation fee for the evaluation of international coursework (if applicable).
• Interview: MBA applicants only. All completed applications are reviewed by the Admissions Committee and qualified candidates will be invited for an interview.
• English Proficiency : Valid English proficiency test scores must be submitted if required, based on the country or territory in which you previously studied. TOEFL, IELTS, and their at-home solutions are acceptable. See campus English Proficiency requirements for more information.

International Applicants

Please visit the central UIC admissions website for more information on the application process and additional requirements.

The MS in Business Analytics, MS in Finance, MS in Management Information Systems and MS in Supply Chain and Operations Management are STEM designated.

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On-Campus Positions

Students who enroll for eight or more credit hours during the fall and spring semesters are eligible to apply for hourly positions within the college, as well as positions across campus. Some positions are posted to jobs.uic.edu .

Scholarships and Tuition Waivers

Applicants are considered for merit aid opportunities after they have been admitted. Funding is limited and awards are based on the overall strength of the application. A separate application is not required. Award amounts vary and are applied directly to the student account. A limited number of UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School Scholar full tuition waivers are available, which also include partial fee waivers.

Federal Funding

You may be eligible for up to $20,500 per year of federal loan funding whether you plan to study on a part-time or full-time basis and regardless of your economic status. Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid helps students begin the process of determining how to pay for their program. The funds are government loans and are made available to domestic students who are interested in pursuing a degree from an accredited institution who are not in default of past student loans and have correctly submitted the FAFSA form. UIC Federal School Code: 001776

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The UIC Business Liautaud Graduate School participates in a number of programs designed specifically for U.S. Military Veterans.

Illinois Veteran Grant

The Illinois Veteran Grant pays tuition and fees for either undergraduate or graduate study at all Illinois public colleges and universities. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units. The IVG covers resident tuition and mandatory fees (this excludes refundable fees). The IVG does not cover university housing costs. Important: Students must submit a copy of their eligibility letter to the Office of Student Financial Aid prior to the term deadline established by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission in order for the funds to be applied to their student account.

Illinois National Guard Grant

Illinois National Guard Grant supports enlisted officers or company grade officers of Illinois National Guard Units, with one or more years of service, may be eligible for payment of tuition at state universities and colleges in Illinois through the Illinois National Guard Grant. Other grants administered by Illinois Student Assistance Commission may be used in conjunction with the INGG, but may not replace the INGG. Recipients may use their grant assistance up to a maximum of 120 eligibility units. Applications must be submitted annually and are available from ISAC.

Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act

The Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 was signed into law in early January 2011. Depending on a veteran’s eligibility level, benefits include:

• Payment up to 100% public in-state tuition & fees
• A monthly basic allowance for housing at the E-5 with dependents level
• And an annual books and supplies stipend of up to $1,000 per year

Veterans can estimate the benefits they may be entitled to using the New GI Bill website’s Benefits Calculator. The UIC Liautaud Graduate School of Business encourages veterans to contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for an official determination of their eligibility. For full details, visit the Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill website .

MIA/POW Scholarship

The MIA/POW Scholarship is available to dependents of Illinois veterans who are/were prisoners of war, declared missing in action, deceased, or have 100% service connected disability. You may request more eligibility information or an application from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs.

Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver

The Children of Veterans Tuition Waiver is a four-year consecutive in state waiver at the University of Illinois to natural or legally adopted children of service members who are veterans of World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam Conflict, the Southwest Asia Conflict, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The following are limitations to the Child of Veterans Waiver:

• One tuition wavier will be given per county, per war
• A candidate must be a permanent resident of the Illinois county from which he/she applies
• The tuition waiver covers in-state tuition for undergraduate, graduate and professional students at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Students must complete the application by March 1 proceeding the academic year for which they are applying.

Applications will become available each December 1. Applicants will be notified by April 1. Please be aware all application materials for UIC are all reviewed by the Office of Student Financial Aid in Urbana-Champaign and materials must be submitted accordingly.

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The Online MBA is a Full Cost Recovery program that is not eligible for tuition waivers by University of Illinois employees.