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Form for the Qualifying Exam

Front

Text from the Back of the Form

Rules concerning the Qualifying Exam

The Qualifying Exam consists of an essay (about fifteen pages long), together with an oral, on a topic that the student plans to pursue further in the dissertation. The Exam will test whether the student is ready to write a dissertation on the chosen topic.

The Qualifying Exam is normally taken after the student has completed all the course work for the Ph.D. and has satisfied the language requirement. Once the student has passed the Qualifying Exam and has satisfied the course and language requirements, he or she will be nominated to candidacy. (For information on candidacy, see the section titled, "Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy" in the University Graduate School Bulletin.)

Notes: (a) The Qualifying Exam will be administered by an ad hoc committee, consisting of at least three members, that will later evolve into the student's dissertation committee. A representative of the Minor may be included in the exam, if the Chair of the committee finds it desirable. Note that the University requires that a member representing the student's minor must belong to the dissertation committee. (b) The essay written for the Qualifying Exam will contain indication of the further work that the student wishes to pursue in the dissertation. (c) If the Qualifying Exam committee passes the student, then it may issue questions that the student is to address in the Dissertation Chapter Exam. (d) And it may recommend immediate submission of the Prospectus to the Graduate School. If it does not recommend immediate submission, then the Prospectus will be submitted after the student passes the Dissertation Chapter Exam. (e) The Qualifying Exam should be taken by the end of three and one-half years of graduate study.

Instructions for the Student

Please fill out Part I of this form and give it to the Chair of your committee. It is recommended that at, or before, your Oral Exam, you provide your committee with the following:

• A one- or two- page abstract of your dissertation; you will need to submit this to the Graduate School with your "Nomination of Research Committee" form. The abstract has to be approved by your Dissertation (i.e., Research) Committee.
• A "Nomination to Candidacy" form, if you have completed all your course and language requirements. The Administrative Assistant (Karen Loffland) will prepare this for you. You should let her know of the Qualifying Oral at least one week before it occurs. The "Nomination to Candidacy" form has to be submitted to the Graduate School to gain candidacy.
• A "Nomination of Research Committee" form. Again the Administrative Assistant will prepare this form for you. Please provide her with: (i) the title of your proposed dissertation; (ii) names of the members of your dissertation committee; and (iii) curriculum vitae of those members of your committee who do not belong to the graduate faculty.