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Ph.D. Candidacy Examination
The Candidacy Examination is not only a test of the student's comprehension of the field, but also of allied areas of study, of the capacity to undertake independent research, and of the ability to think and express ideas clearly. Successful completion of this exam is required before the student may progress to the submission and defense of a doctoral dissertation.
Go to detailed procedures regarding the Candidacy Examination.
Requirements
Timing
The Candidacy Examination is to be taken within seven academic quarters of the student's joining the MSE department (an "academic quarter" is Autumn, Winter, or Spring).
Minimum prerequisite course work
The PhD Core is divided into two portions, the Primary--P1, P2, P3--and Secondary Core--S1, S2, and one of two S3. For the "S3" course, students may choose between 715 or 756 to satisfy the S3 requirement.
To take the Candidacy Exam, students must take all three Primary and at least one of the Secondary Core, selecting from the S1, S2, or one of the S3 courses. Thus the pre-Candidacy portion consists of at least P1 + P2 + P3 + SX.
Primary Core (all required prior to Candidacy)
P1: 747 Structure and Defects in Materials (AU, 4 cr)
P2: 730 Thermodynamics of Materials (WI, 4 cr)
P3: 737 Diffusion and Interface Kinetics (SP, 4 cr)
Secondary Core (minimum of one required prior to Candidacy; three total prior to graduation)
S1: 765 Mechanical Behavior of Materials (SP, 3 cr)
S2: 777 Electronic Properties of Materials (WI, 3 cr)
S3: (one of two in this category required)
715 Principles of the Characterization of Materials (AU, 3 cr) OR
756 Materials Modeling and Simulation (AU, 3 cr)
Following the Candidacy Exam, the student must take any remaining Secondary courses needed to total at least three Secondary Core Courses before doctoral graduation. Thus the Core consists of P1, P2, P3, S1, S2, and one of two S3.
Minimum cumulative GPA in the six MSE Ph.D. Core Courses
Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the Primary and Secondary Core Courses taken in advance of the exam.
Submission of supporting material
A student seeking to take the Candidacy Exam will be asked to provide the following items to his/her Candidacy Exam Committee:
- Research project abstract. A brief description of the research project that is the basis of the student's doctoral research.
- Research Summary. This document reports on the student's research progress to date.
- Critical Literature Review. A comprehensive and critical review of the literature in the student's area of research.
These items constitute the written portion of the student's Candidacy Exam.
Candidacy Examination
The examination is composed of two parts, a written and an oral portion:
Written portion:
The written portion of the Candidacy Exam consists of the Critical Literature Review and the Research Summary. These documents should demonstrate to the Examining Committee a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the field.
Oral portion:
The oral portion shall be based on a series of questions intended to examine the student's understanding of the scientific and engineering principles related to the field and one's capacity for clear thinking. The oral portion of the exam consists of questions asked by the Candidacy Exam Committee and the student's responses.
Questions & Petitions
Please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator, Mark Cooper, with any questions at 614-292-7280, e-mail, or in 477 Watts Hall. Students may also wish to contact the Graduation Services dept. of the Graduate School at 614-292-6031 and/or view Section II.6.4-II.6.8 (page 31+) of the Graduate School Handbook (PDF, 1.7 MB, new window) for general information concerning the Candidacy Exam.
