University Policies | Geology Dept. Policies and Degree Requirements

Faculty | Courses | Dept. Home

Ph.D. Requirements | Qualifying Exam | Final Exam

---

Ph.D. Preliminary Exam

• Scheduling
• Objectives
• The Committee
• Written Proposal
• Exam Format
• Outcome

The preliminary examination is required by the graduate college and defines the end of Stage II in the pursuit of the Ph.D. degree.

Scheduling. It should be administered as soon as the student is ready to embark on research and has a clear plan for a research program. Preferably, this should be within one year of completing the Qualifying exam, but should be no later than 16 months after it. The Preliminary exam must not be delayed until after the student has completed substantial work on the dissertation.

Objectives. The objectives of the examination are to determine if:

• The student is prepared to carry out original research at the Ph.D. level.
• The topic and scope of the proposed dissertation are appropriate.
• The student can communicate clearly.

The Committee. The committee is proposed by the student and the research advisor, is approved by the GSC, and must be composed according to the following guidelines:

• The committee must include at least four voting members, and can have a maximum of five.
• The Chair of the committee (= advisor) must be a member of the graduate faculty.
• At least three members of the committee must be graduate faculty in the department.
• At least two of the members of the comittee must be tenured.
• Up to two committee members can be from outside the department.

Written Proposal. The student prepares a 7-12 page, double spaced presentation of the proposed dissertation research and gives it to the committee members at least one week prior to the exam. This proposal describes the problem, research objectives, previous work, proposed methodology, and the potential results and implications of the research.

Exam format. The exam consists of questions by the committee concerning the research project and, if appropriate, the student's background in relevant subjects. Because the Qualifying Exam has already been passed, the Preliminary Exam focuses on the proposed research project and the student's competency to undertake that particular project. A formal presentation is not generally part of the exam, as the committee will have studied the written proposal. But the committee can require or allow for a presentation, if they like. The exam should last between one and three hours.

Outcome of the exam. The committee decides among the following options, and the decision must be unanimous. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the matter is referred to the GSC.

Pass. Minor revisions or remediation are often suggested by the committee, and the student may be asked to meet with the committee again to demonstrate completion of these actions.

Fail (with second chance). The student is given one more opportunity, within six months, to take the exam. The Graduate College is informed of the failure and the committee chair will indicate that the student should be given a second examination. If the second exam results in a failure, the student must leave the department without a Ph.D. degree at the end of the academic year.

Fail (final). The department notifies the Graduate College immediately and the student may not continue in the Ph.D. program after the end of the academic year.

Decision Deferred. If substantial changes are required in the research program, this option is used. The examining committee must recommend changes and improvements, and the student must retake the exam within six months.

 

Ph.D. Requirements | Qualifying Exam | Final Exam

---

University Policies | Geology Dept. Policies and Degree Requirements

Faculty | Courses | Dept. Home