Home :: Current Students :: Current Graduate Students :: Graduate Handbook :: Written Qualifying Examination for Ph.D. Candidates

A written qualifying examination is required for all Ph.D. candidates. The exam consists of two parts, the general and the specialty parts. The written exam is held at the beginning of the Fall and the Spring terms.

The examination determines whether the potential Ph.D. candidate is considered capable of learning creatively, applying the concepts and detailed knowledge of materials science, and whether he/she has dedicated him/herself to the mental preparation necessary to complete and defend a Ph.D. dissertation successfully.

To assist students in preparing for the exam, a detailed reading list is available; this general guide should cover most of the material to be tested. Qualifying examinations from previous years are on reserve in the Student Academic Service Office.

The Qualifying Examination requires the potential Ph.D. Candidate to thoroughly review the body of knowledge pertinent to materials science and engineering in such detail that he/she is able to succinctly answer written questions within a limited time covering specific topics in the field. The General Examination will test for a broad knowledge of all types of materials (metals, ceramics, electronic materials, and polymers), their properties and behavior. The Specialty exam tests detailed knowledge in one area, which the student can specify.

The general and specialty exams are usually taken during the same week. However, if a student wishes to split the general and specialty exams, they must petition the faculty for permission a minimum of 30 days prior to the first exam.

The petition should include:

1. proper justification for their request (e.g., the student is working 40+ hours per week in addition to preparing for the exam) and
2. a written statement from their PhD advisor supporting the petition. The faculty, represented by the committee of eight for the qualifying exam, will consider the petition and vote on whether or not to accept it. The student shall be notified within 24 hours of the decision.

If approved, the student must inform the academic services office which exam they will take first. Furthermore, the student is required to take an oral exam after each written exam. The student must schedule this oral examination as soon as possible after the written exam. If feasible, this should occur before or on the Monday following the written exam and prior to the special faculty meeting in which the exam results are reviewed. The examination committee for the "General Oral" will include two or more committee of eight members; that for the "Specialty Oral" will include two or more faculty members who wrote questions for that particular specialty. Upon satisfactory completion of both exams, the student may proceed to the proposal defense exam as discussed in section 13.

The written part of the qualifying examination may be repeated only once.

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