<p>I'm currently in a masters in CS program. I'm beginning to think about getting a PhD. Will having a masters in CS mean a shorter PhD program or will I have to get a second masters anyway as part of the PhD?</p>
<p>Would it be possible to get a PhD in 3-4 years after finishing my masters? (At a different school.)</p>
<p>It will vary from program to program. </p>
<p>The credit/hour requirements for a PhD vary from school to school and are not necessarily set in stone. One school I saw had it completely up to you and your advisor - you may not need to take classes at all - while another school had not only a rigid minimum but also a required set of courses.</p>
<p>To the extent that they require courses, most programs will allow you to use some to all of your masters against the PhD. One program I saw required 32 hours to get the masters and another 32 to get the PhD, but if you came in with a masters you skipped the first 32. Another program allowed you to claim up to X credits from your masters towards your PhD, on a course by course basis.</p>
<p>Most universities will not award a duplicate degree - if you come in with a masters in CS, they will not give you another even if they make you do an additional masters-worth of work!</p>
<p>If you do have a masters going in, to the extent that it counts against your required coursework you CAN reduce your time. It is possible in this circumstance to do a 3-4 year doctorate, depending on the school. One of my schools quoted 3-4 years (with previous students who had done it), while the other expected 5-6 years even with crediting most of my masters - they just felt the research was the overwhelming limiting factor.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply!</p>
<p>I’m looking at schools in CA so if anyone has knowledge on any CA schools with regards to this issue it would be appreciated.</p>