Ph.D. Exam Requirements

The format of the Ph.D. qualifying examination is as follows:

• Students are limited in the number of times they may repeat a class and the number of classes that can be repeated.
  
• All students entering the Materials Science and Engineering Ph.D. program must take the Qualifying Examination the second time it is offered after having joined the MSE Department, i.e. students entering in the Fall semester are expected to take the QE the following June, whereas students entering in the Spring semester will take the QE the following January. Students have the option of taking the exam early if they wish.
  
• The Ph.D. qualifying examination consists of an oral exam only. The student is to be assigned a mini-research project outside the student's main research area. The student is then examined through an oral presentation to a three member examining committee. The students will be graded on their ability to identify and organize research issues, their ability to develop a research strategy, critical thinking and proposed solutions for the assignment problem. In addition, the student's team work capabilities and presentation capabilities will also be measured.
  
• The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination will be offered at the start of the fall and spring semesters each year.
  
• Students will have two opportunities to take the oral examination, unless the examination committee advises otherwise.
  
• Upon passing the QE, it is expected that students will choose a Ph.D. thesis advisor, if they have not already done so, and begin their Ph.D. thesis research. Within 12 to 18 months of passing the QE, the student needs to select a Ph.D. Thesis Examination Committee and schedule his or her Ph.D. Proposal Defense. 
  
• Overview of the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam »