Applied Science and Technology, PhD

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Graduate Coordinator: Jenora Waterman Email: jdwaterm@ncat.edu Phone: 336-285-2329
Department Chair: Jenora Waterman Email: jdwaterm@ncat.edu Phone: 336-285-2329

The mission of the Applied Science & Technology PhD program is to prepare students for high-level science and technology careers in industry, research, and government. Graduates will be able to conceive, develop, and conduct original research that applies physical, mathematical, and technological methods to provide solutions to a broad range of emerging local, national, and global problems related to Atmospheric, Environmental and Energy Science; Applied Physics; Bioscience; Applied Chemistry; Data Science and Analytics; Applied Engineering Technology; Information Technology; Technology Management; Geomatics; and STEM Education.

Additional Admission Requirements

B.S. degree in a science, math, technology, engineering or related discipline with a GPA≥3.25/4.0 or a master’s degree in a science, math, technology, engineering or related discipline with a GPA≥3.0/4.0 from a college or university recognized by a regional or general accrediting agency
GRE verbal and quantitative scores, no minimum score requirement

Program Outcomes:

Communication Skills - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology PhD program will exhibit effective oral communication skills in terms of customizing presentations to the audience, displaying information, and delivering the presentations.
Critical Thinking Skills - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology PhD program will effectively use quantitative and qualitative analytical problem-solving skills in terms of defining hypotheses/research questions, reviewing research literature, developing a research plan, identifying the broader impacts of research, and developing a research timetable.
Disciplinary Expertise - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology PhD program will demonstrate discipline specific expertise in terms of the scientific method, applying technical knowledge to answer research questions, experimental plans and data analysis, analytical methods, and research ethics.
Research/Creative Engagement - Students completing the Applied Science & Technology PhD program will demonstrate ability to engage productively in the review and conduct of disciplinary research in terms of making conference presentations and publishing refereed journal publications.

Degree Requirements

Core Courses:

AST 830 - Foundations of Scientific Rese 3 Credit(s)
AST 831 - Math and Computational Model 3 Credit(s)
or other graduate analytical modeling course that builds upon a student’s previous background
MATH 721 - Multivariate Statistical Analy 3 Credit(s)
or other graduate statistics course that builds upon a student’s previous background

Credit Hours: 9

Seminar

AST 992 - Doctoral Seminar 1 to 6 Credit(s)

Credit Hours: 6 Post B.S., 3 Credits Post M.S.

Dissertation

AST 997 - Doctoral Dissertation 1 to 15 Credit(s)

Credit Hours: 21 Post B.S., 15 Credits Post M.S.

Pass

qualifying exam, preliminary exam, and dissertation defense

In Consultation With Advisor, Take 18 Credit Hours (15 Post M.S.)

within one of the following concentrations

Atmospheric, Environmental and Energy Science
Applied Physics
Bioscience
Applied Chemistry
Data Science and Analytics
Information Technology
Technology Management
STEM Education
General - no specified concentration

In Consultation With Advisor, Take 12 Credit Hours (Post B.S.)

of additional courses relevant to research area

Total Credit Hours: 66 (Post B.S.), 42 (Post M.S.)

Dissertation Research:

A student may not register for dissertation credits before passing Qualifying Examination.

Qualifying Examination:

The Qualifying Examination with both written and oral components is given to assess the student’s competence in a broad range of relevant subject areas. Only students with unconditional status and in good academic standing may take the Qualifying Examination. No student is permitted to take the Qualifying Examination more than twice. A student not recommended for re-examination or who fails the exam on a second attempt may be dismissed from the doctoral program.

Preliminary Oral Examination:

The Preliminary Oral Examination is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee and is a written and oral defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. Failure on the examination may result in dismissal from the doctoral program. The student’s Dissertation 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 Candidacy

Student will be admitted to candidacy upon successful completion of the Qualifying Exam and the Preliminary oral Exam. After admission to candidacy and before Final Oral Examination, a student may be dismissed from the doctoral program if the student’s dissertation committee determines that the student is not making satisfactory progress.

Final Oral Examination:

The Final Oral Examination 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 one semester (or four 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 Examination, 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.