Culminating
Events:
Culminating event for the degree program
Dissertation
Dissertation Advising Committee Information
The Dissertation Advisory Committee is formed to oversee the student's doctoral research and is comprised of at least three Graduate Faculty members. Two members, including the Chair, must be from the Physics Department. Committee compositions must be approved by the department's Graduate Program Committee. The Chair is responsible for overseeing and guiding the student's progress, coordinating the responses of the Committee members, and informing the student of his or her academic progress.
Dissertation Examining Committee Information
The Dissertation Examining Committee evaluates the student's dissertation and oral defense. This committee is comprised of the Dissertation Advisory Committee and at least one additional Graduate Faculty member from outside the Physics Department. The Outside Examiner should be identified no later than the beginning of the semester in which the student will defend the dissertation.
Advisor/Committee Information
If a student needs to change a member of a Committee, the new member must be approved by the department's Graduate Program Committee and registered with the Graduate Secretary and the Graduate School.
Preliminary Exam Description
The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination tests the student's mastery of undergraduate physics and the subject matter corresponding to three semesters of full-time Graduate Study. The examination provides an assessment of the student's ability to apply physical principles to the analysis of concrete problems. It consists of a three-part written examination and a one-hour oral examination.
Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination
General subject areas covered by the examination include classical mechanics, classical electromagnetic theory, quantum mechanics, optics, thermodynamics and statistical physics, and mathematical physics.
At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination
Students are required to take the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination no later than after completion of two years of full-time graduate study. In the event of failure, the exam (which is given in January and August) may be retaken once or twice but must be passed by the end of the student's thrid year of graduate study. Otherwise, the student will be dropped from the graduate program.
Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination
An Examination Committee, appointed by the Department Chair and made up of about 8 members of the Graduate Faculty, writes the examination.
Evaluating the Preliminary Examination
The committee members who write the questions also evaluate the answers, scoring each answer on the basis of 10 points and awarding partial credit where appropriate.
Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination.
After the student takes the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination, the department makes a decision based on the student's performance on the examination as well as the student's overall graduate record as to whether the student will be permitted to proceed to the research aspect of graduate training.
Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination
The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination is given twice a year, in January and August. Students must register with the Graduate Secretary who will notify them of the registration deadline. The examination has three written parts, given on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of the specified week. Each part runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is proctored by a faculty member. After the results of the written examination have been evaluated, each student is given a one-hour oral examination by a committee made up of several members of the Graduate Faculty.
Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy
The Doctoral Dissertation is an original piece of research that makes a significant contribution to a specific branch of physics. The problem must be fundamental in nature, and may not be developmental, classified, or strictly applied. It should expand the existing knowledge base and demonstrate the student's knowledge of both research methods and a mastery of his or her primary area of interest. The results of the research should be of such nature as to be publishable in a standard physics journal.
Philosophy of the Proposal
The dissertation proposal demonstrates the student's knowledge of and ability to conduct the proposed research. The proposal should consist of the following: (a) the context and background surrounding a particular research problem; (b) an exhaustive survey and review of literature related to the problem; and (c) a detailed methodological plan for investigating the problem.
The proposal must be completed and approved by the end of the student's third year of Graduate Study or one year after passing the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam, whichever date is later.
Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense.
The Committee will evaluate the student's ability to verbally express his or her research problem, methodological approach, primary findings, and implications. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the defense of dissertation at the conclusion of the public presentation.
Dissertation Defense Scheduling
After receiving the approval of their Dissertation Advisory Committee, students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a date with the Graduate Chair and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense. The Graduate Secretary will arrange the time, date and room within two working days and forward the appropriate forms to the student.
Announcing the Dissertation Defense
After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send a complete "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form to the Graduate School (501 Carnell Hall) at least 10 days before the defense. The Department will post flyers announcing the defense.
