Nanoengineering, PhD

Degree Requirements

Total Credit Hours: 60 (Post Baccalaureate)

Qualifying Examination:

The Qualifying Examination is given to assess student competence in a broad range of relevant subject areas. The Qualifying Examination is given once each semester (Fall and Spring) and it is held on two consecutive days. Only students with unconditional status and in good academic standing may take the Qualifying Examination. Students must take the Qualifying Examination by the end of the second semester of enrollment. In case of failure to pass in this first attempt, students will have the opportunity to take the exam in the following semester. Failure to pass the Qualifying Examination by the end of the third enrolled semester or the second attempt will result in the termination from the program.

Preliminary Oral Examination:

The Preliminary Oral Examination is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee and is a defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. Students must have successfully completed the qualifying examination to be eligible for the Preliminary Oral Examination .Passing this exam satisfies requirements for Ph.D. Candidacy. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student’s Advisory Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Admission to Ph.D. Candidacy

A student will be admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of the Qualifying Examination and Preliminary Oral Examination.

Dissertation Research:

A student may not register for dissertation credits before passing Qualifying Examination. No more than 18 dissertation credits are counted toward the total credit hours requirement for the degree.

Final Oral Dissertation Defense:

The Final Oral Dissertation Defense is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. This examination is the final dissertation defense presentation that is scheduled after a dissertation is completed. The examination may be held no earlier than six months after admission to candidacy. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student’s Advisory Committee may permit one re-examination. At least one full semester must elapse before the re-examination. Failure on the second attempt will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.

Submission of Dissertation:

Upon passing the Ph.D. Final Oral Dissertation Defense, the Ph.D. student must have the dissertation approved by each member of the student’s dissertation committee. The approved dissertation must be submitted to The Graduate College by the deadline given in the academic calendar, and must conform to the Graduate College’s guidelines for theses and dissertations.

Program Specific Academic Policies:

• The qualifying exam must be attempted for the 1^st time by the end of the 2^nd semester and must be passed by the end of the 3^rd semester.
• Assist the instructor in teaching a course or laboratory for at least 1 semester.