Ph.D. qualifying exam in MSE

The qualifying exam (QE) ensures that all Ph.D. students have a general understanding of structure-properties-processing relationships and specific knowledge in their area of interest/expertise within MSE.

MSE qualifying exam policy & rubrics

As a Ph.D. student, you must take the QE by the end of your second year.

The Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) Qualifying Examination (QE) evaluates a student’s foundational knowledge, research readiness, and ability to effectively communicate and defend their scientific work. The written document will present the research direction the student has chosen to pursue.

QE preparation

• Complete the MSE Core Course requirement (MSE 510, MSE 541, and MSE 525)
• Earn a minimum grade of 3.0 for each core course or a minimum score of 75% on the final written exam in each core course.
• Earn a minimum 3.2 GPA in these core courses.

Oral QE policy & rubrics

The Oral Exam is conducted by a panel of three faculty members. One of these faculty members may belong to a department other than MSE. The student’s adviser is excluded from participating in the Oral Examination. The student, in consultation with their adviser, will select two of the faculty members. Typically, one of these will also serve on the Doctoral Supervisory Committee. The third member is assigned in alphabetical order by the Graduate Program Adviser (GPA) and acts as an independent observer. Contact the GPA for the name of the third member.

The Oral Exam consists of three parts:

• Written Document

• Oral Presentation
• Question & Answer session

Each part is graded as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. To pass, a student must achieve a satisfactory grade in all three components. A conditional pass is given if a student receives a score of unsatisfactory in one or two parts and in consultation with the adviser. Failing the exam means receiving unsatisfactory grades in all three parts.

The Graduate Committee will announce the results soon after discussing with the student’s adviser. In the case of a conditional pass (granted in consultation with the adviser), the student’s adviser must provide written confirmation of advising that applies until the student has achieved a pass without conditions. The Committee will then guide the student on remedial steps, which may include re-presenting parts of the exam, submitting revised documents, attending one-on-one faculty meetings, or enrolling in additional or core classes, with a passing grade as per the MSE Department guidelines.

If a student fails the entire exam, at the discretion of the Committee they are allowed one more attempt, conditional upon written confirmation of advising support from their adviser. This retake must be completed in the next academic year.

A student who fails the entire exam will be placed on probation per Graduate School Policy 3.7: Academic Performance and Progress (see section 3.7.3 Unsatisfactory Performance and Progress). If the student passes the exam when they retake it, probation will be removed. If the student does not pass the exam, they may be placed on final probation and dropped from the program.

The following is a description of the Rubric for the three parts of the Oral Exam. The criteria are evenly weighted.

Part 1: Document Assessment Rubric (No more than 25 pages, double-spaced and font size 11)

Content Quality, Structure

• Review and provide the status of the field. What is the limitation, what is the primary obstacle, what it needs to be done to advanced the field
• Depth and accuracy of scientific content
• Clarity and significance of research question or hypothesis

Structure and Organization

• Effective introduction and conclusion
• Clear, well-organized sections and subsections

Writing Style and Clarity

• Use of appropriate scientific language and terminology
• Clarity of expression, readability
• Grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Research Methodology

• Appropriateness and rigor of methods
• Clear presentation of results and findings

References and Citations

• Adequacy and relevance of references
• Correct formatting of citations and bibliography

Part 2: Presentation Assessment Rubric (25-minute Presentation)

Content and Structure

• Alignment with the written document
• Clear introduction of the problem and background
• Presentation of current results and hypothesis testing
• Description of future experiments, including contingencies

Delivery and Communication with Scientific Rigor

• Clarity and effectiveness of verbal communication
• Engagement with the audience, maintaining interest
• Effective use of visual aids
• Logical reasoning and argumentation
• Accuracy of scientific content

Conclusion and Future Work

• Clear summary of findings and results
• Insightful discussion of future research directions and experiments

Part 3: Question and Answer Assessment Rubric (15-minute Q&A)

Knowledge in Basic Materials Science & Engineering

• Accuracy and depth of responses in core areas of Materials Science & Engineering
• Ability to relate basic concepts to their research

Overall Understanding of the Field

• Breadth of knowledge in Materials Science & Engineering
• Ability to discuss broader implications and trends in the field

Expertise in Specialization

• Depth of knowledge in their specific area of research
• Ability to answer complex questions and defend their research approach