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Ph.D Program

► Ph.D. Examination Guidelines

►Ph.D. Qualifying Examination TOPICS SELECTIONS - Spring 2009

► Ph.D. Course Requirements

“Earning a Ph.D. in engineering in the Mechanical Engineering Department's doctoral program will normally require several academic semesters of study beyond the student's BS degree in engineering. The diverse and multidisciplinary nature of most engineering doctoral topics requires that considerable flexibility be allowed in tailoring the doctoral program course of study, consistent with the goals of the topic under study and the unique interests and capabilities of each student.

There is no required number of course work hours for the Ph.D. degree. As a guide, the doctoral program suggests each candidate should plan to complete at least 74 credit-hours beyond the BS degree requirements. If an MS degree is completed before the Ph.D., then at least 44 credit hours beyond the MS level is appropriate. These additional 44 credit-hours should be balanced between Graduate Courses (24 hours) and Thesis/Research credits (20 hours), as summarized below
Graduate Course
Credit
Hours
Thesis/Research
Credit Hours
TOTAL
M.S. Degree
24
6
30
Ph.D. Degree
(Beyond M.S.)
24
20
44
Ph.D. Totals
48
26
74


► Major Steps in Ph.D. Program

- When you first arrive:
  1. Read the Graduate Bulletin.
  2. Visit with the Graduate Coordinator.
  3. Meet with your Major Professor.
  4. Obtain a copy of the Guidelines for Preparing Dissertations and Theses from the Graduate School.
  5. Read the ASME Practical Guide for Authors and Presenters. 
- During your 1st semester:
  1. Work with your Major Professor to plan your program of study.
  2. Take the Qualifying Exam. All Ph.D. students must take the qualifying exam. The Fall semester examination will take place during the first week of November. The Spring semester examination will take place during the first week of April. The exact days within the week will be adjusted according to faculty and student schedules. Two exams will be administered per day. The oral examination will be scheduled to take place on Friday in the second week of November or April, respectively.
  3. Establish a Graduate Committee with the advice of your Major Professor.
  4. Work with the Chairman of the ME Department Graduate Committee to arrange for your qualifying examination.
- During your 2nd semester:
  1. Register your program of study with the ME office.
  2. Register your Graduate Committee with the ME office.
  3. Plan how you will meet your residency requirements.
- During your last semester of course work:
  1. Work with your Major Professor to verify that your program of study and Graduate Committee are current and complete. Give any changes to the ME office.
  2. Be sure that the residency requirement has been met.
- After your last semester of course work:
  1. Schedule your Preliminary Examination.
  2. After completing your Preliminary Examination, see the ME office to submit admission to candidacy form for the Ph.D. Degree to the Graduate School.
- During your last semester:
  1. Apply for your degree and register for graduation.
  2. Schedule your final oral examination before the Graduate School deadline.
  3. Submit a reader's copy of your dissertation to your Graduate Committee at least two weeks prior to the date for the final examination.
  4. Upon completion of the final exam, submit your dissertation to the Graduate School for final approval.
 
 
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