University Policies | Geology Dept. Policies and Degree Requirements

Faculty | Courses | Dept. Home

Ph.D. Requirements | Preliminary Exam | Final Exam

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Exam is the first exam leading to completion of Stage II requirements of the Graduate College. It is a departmental requirement which determines if the student is capable of graduate study and research at the Ph.D. Level. The results of this exam are not reported to the Graduate College, although the Graduate College recommends that departments have some formal evaluation of student progress like the Qualifying Exam.

Scheduling. This exam should be scheduled according to the following:

 
Preparation. This exam is very significant, and students should prepare intensively for it. It is intended to evaluate:
1. The students's integrated knowledge of the geosciences
2. The student's ability to select, frame, and defend a research problem
3. The student's ability to solve problems in a creative manner

Preparation for this exam is a critical step in the education of a Ph.D. student. It provides an opportunity for the student to synthesize information and concepts from coursework, research and independent reading (in both geoscience and other disciplines) into a coherent picture of geoscience. The exam can be roughly broken down into two parts, and the total length is usually 2 to 3 hours.

The Committee. The committee must be composed according to the following guidelines:
1. The committee consists of four or five faculty members, including the advisor or tentative advisor.
2.. Two members are chosen by the Graduate Study Committee; one of these acts as exam chair
4. At least three members of the graduate faculty in the department must be included.
5. One or two faculty members are chosen by the student.

Advance Meetings. Exams will normally occur during the spring term. The identity of the examining committee and the anticipated week of the exam will be provided to the student by the GSC about one semester before the exam. As soon as possible thereafter, the student should meet with individual members of the committee to clarify :

Any conflicting advice should be sorted out by the advisor.

 

Exam Format

Part One: Presentation of a prospective research question.

The first part of the exam tests the student's ability to define and develop a research problem. In advance of the exam, a student selects a research topic and prepares a proposal on the topic. During the exam, the student makes a 15-20 minute presentation of the topic. This is followed by about 30-45 minutes of questioning about the topic.

Nature of the Proposal: The student prepares a 5-8 page (double spaced) written presentation of the problem, describes a research program which could be undertaken to address the problem, and outlines possible results of the research. The report must be submitted to members of the committee at least one week before the exam. The student should discuss the report with her/his advisor while preparing it.

Choosing a topic: Any one of a variety of topics of interest to the student can be used as the subject for the research question. The research problem is not necessarily a potential dissertation topic, but it often is. The topic cannot be identical to previous research work for M.S. or B.A. theses. The student defines and develops the problem, but is encouraged to discuss potential topics with the research advisor or other members of the committee.

Scope of topic: The student should select the problem carefully to provide an adequate opportunity to demonstrate ability to define and organize a scientific investigation and to use the primary research literature. However, the scope must be restricted enough to allow presentation and questioning in one hour. A problem that is too restricted may not provide enough material for questioning, while a problem that is too broad gives a student too much material to defend.

Part Two: General Questions

Format: The committee chair mediates as faculty ask questions in turn. Faculty may provide guidance during the exam to guide a student into a productive line of reasoning. It is not expected that a student will be able to answer all questions.

 

Outcome of the exam

The committee decides between the following options, and the decision must be unanimous. If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, the matter is referred to the GSC. The results are submitted to the graduate secretary in the Department of Geology.

Pass.

Decision Deferred. If the student shows potential for Ph.D. candidacy but has too many deficiencies in his or her background to pass the exam, this option is used. The examining committee must recommend remedial reading or course work, and the student must retake the exam within six months.

Fail. The committee decides that the student is clearly not qualified for further work in the Ph.D. program. Students who fail qualifying exams leave the department at the end of the academic year.

 

Ph.D. Requirements | Preliminary Exam | Final Exam

University Policies | Geology Dept. Policies and Degree Requirements

Faculty | Courses | Dept. Home