For the Ph.D.
Doctoral students must satisfactorily complete a qualifying examination administered within the first 18 credits of admission into the Ph.D. program. The purpose of the qualifying examination is to assess the student’s ability to succeed at the Ph.D. level and also to identify strengths and weaknesses in order to plan an appropriate sequence of courses. The exam is administered by a four member committee consisting of the major advisor and three other members selected by the major advisor.
In addition to the university requirements for the Ph.D. degree, the CEE department requires students to establish a minor and to pass a comprehensive examination. Students must establish a minor outside their major area. This may be accomplished with three courses in the approved minor area. One member of the student’s dissertation committee should represent the minor area. The student’s dissertation committee has the authority to make decisions on academic matters associated with the Ph.D. program. To become a candidate for the doctorate, the student must pass a comprehensive examination administered by the student’s dissertation committee. The candidate, on completion and submission of the dissertation, must defend it to the satisfaction of the dissertation committee.
All full-time Ph.D. students will be required to complete the CE 596 Graduate Seminar, or equivalent, three times with a passing grade. Ph.D. students will be required to present in the Graduate Seminar at least once during their program of study.