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Qualifying Exams
The MatSE Ph.D. qualifying examinations is an oral exam consisting of a scientific discussion between the student and two examiners. For a detailed description of rules and procedures, especially, the additional requirements concerning thermodynamics, please review the MatSE graduate student handbook.
Philosophy
The MatSE department has adopted the system of oral qualifying examinations because this form of communication occurs every day in the career of a Ph.D. scientist or engineer. The underlying purpose of the qualifying examinations is to inspire the student in two ways: (i) to master the core knowledge in his/her chosen areas of specialization within MatSE; and (ii) to develop the essential professional skill of having a clear, concise and informative scientific dialogue with colleagues. Specifically, the student must have the ability to understand spoken questions from the examiners and to give responses, both in words and by writing equations and figures on the blackboard.
A useful analogy is fluency in a foreign language. A student can extensively study a foreign language in class and perform well in tests. But is the student fluent when he/she steps off the airplane in a country where that is the native language? The usual response to this question is "not really"—the background provided by classwork needs to be combined with active experience in the language. This is equally true for the MatSE qualifying examinations: the student needs to be "fluent" in the subject matter involved in the exam.
Format
The oral Ph.D. qualifying examination consists of two examinations based on two topics that are selected by the student in consultation with his/her advisor from the list shown on this site. Each exam is usually 1 - 1.5 hours in length and is conducted by two examiners who are professors of MatSE or, occasionally, professors of related disciplines.
Timetable
The qualifying examinations will be held approximately the first week of classes at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, and approximately one week after the final exam period at the end of the spring semester. Students are required to submit their topics for examination—i.e., sign up—with the MatSE Departmental Secretary one month prior to these times. Once a student has signed up, he/she may not cancel or postpone taking the exam unless dire circumstances occur; these circumstances should be discussed with the Director of Graduate Studies.
Students are required to take the qualifying examination for the first time no later than the beginning of their fourth semester (counting fall and spring terms) after entering the program and must complete the qualifying examination, including any retakes, by the end of their fourth semester. If the student does not pass an examination, he/she must retake it on the next occasion it is offered. Only one retake is allowed, for a total of two opportunities to pass each exam.
Study suggestions
The list of qualifying examination topics on this site has links to detailed study suggestions for each topic, including reading lists. The student is strongly advised to form a study group, consisting of classmates in MatSE, and to hold practice oral examinations in which one student stands at the blackboard and his/her study partners pose questions chosen from the subject area. This form of practice should be done throughout the period of preparation before taking the qualifying examinations, not left to the end. Such practice is especially important for non-native English speakers and for all students who are unaccustomed to speaking in front of a group. To learn who is taking the qualifying exam, speak with Kathy Dysart in 203 MSEB.
Special circumstances
You should consult with the Director of Graduate Studies if you anticipate any problem in taking the qualifying examinations as required, e.g., you would like to take a qualifying examination in a topic for which you have not taken suitable coursework or your classwork has been interrupted.
To sign-up
Pick-up a qualifying exam sign-up form in room 203 MSEB or click on the link below and print out the form. The form must be completed and approved with a signature from your advisor and the Director of Graduate Studies (John Abelson) before returning it to the secretary in 203 MSEB. Once you turn in the form, you will be added to the list of students taking the exams. This must be done at least one month prior to the exam dates. After signing up, please contact the lead examiner for the exams you have chosen. The exams are given based on the availability of the examiners. You will be contacted with the time and date of the exam. If examiners have not been assigned, please see John Abelson.