Culminating
Events:
Culminating event for the degree program
Dissertation
Dissertation Advising Committee Information
The Doctoral Advisory Committee (DAC) 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 Physiology Department. The head of the DAC must have his/her primary academic appointment in the Physiology department.
A member from outside the department is recommended. Committee compositions must be approved by the department's graduate committee. The Chair of the DAC 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 Doctoral Advising Committee and at least one additional Graduate Faculty member from outside the Physiology 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
Appeal in writing to the graduate committee detailing reasons for change and naming an alternate member.
Preliminary Exam Description
The written comprehensive exam tests the retention and integration of Physiological facts and concepts obtained through the didactic course work in the student's career in the program. After the written exam is passed, an oral comprehensive exam is scheduled.
Subject Areas/Major Components of the Preliminary Examination
The written comprehensive examination tests the material covered in Physiology courses. (Material from courses taken outside the department is not tested.)
The exam is divided into four separate components. Four hours are allowed to complete each of the four components. Two of the components consist of multiple choice questions covering the formal course work. The other two components are comprised of essay-type questions including calculations and problem solving wherein the student is expected to explicitly describe the underlying logic of the answer.
At what point in the program is the student expected to take the preliminary examination
The student takes the preliminary (or comprehensive) exam in the Spring semester of the second year, after the required formal course work is completed.
Writing the Questions for the Preliminary Examination
The Graduate Faculty of the Physiology Department write the questions.
Evaluating the Preliminary Examination
In grading the exam, the evaluators look for an understanding of core concepts, adequate knowledge of facts, and the application of physiological principles and problem-solving skills.
Criterion for Passing the Preliminary Examination.
Students must achieve a score of 80% on the written preliminary exam to qualify as satisfactorily completing this requirement.
Administering, Scheduling, and Proctoring the Preliminary Examination
Comprehensive examinations are administered once a year in April. The examination runs two days, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is proctored by a faculty member.
Dissertation/Monograph Philosophy
The dissertation is an original description of the scientific research carried out by the student. The dissertation should demonstrate the student's knowledge of research methods and a mastery of his or her primary area of interest. The dissertation should be a significant piece of research in Physiology that, in the opinion of the student's doctoral advisory committee, is suitable for publication in a referred journal. Submission of some or all of the dissertation research to a referred journal is a requirement for the degree, although the acceptance of the work for publication in the journal is not required. The acceptability of the dissertation is determined by the committee. It is expected that the results of the student's scientific research for the dissertation will have been presented at one or more national or international scientific meetings prior to the defense. Students are required to present their dissertations publicly to the academic community.
Philosophy of the Proposal
The dissertation proposal should be 10 typed pages or less. It should provide sufficient background, specific hypotheses, objectives, an outline of experimental methods, and the anticipated analytical approach, including the anticipated statistical approach. The proposal will serve as a guideline and may be subject to modifications at the consensus of the Dissertation Advising Committee.
Criterion for Passing the Dissertation and the Defense.
It is the responsibility of the Dissertation Advising Committee to decide if the quantity and quality of research, and the significance of the conclusions drawn from it, are adequate for a thesis and defense. The Committee will vote to pass or fail the dissertation and the defense at the conclusion of the public presentation. In evaluating whether the dissertation and its defense is acceptable, the committee will take into account the following factors: the clarity of the student's presentation and speaking skills; the student's professionalism; the student's grasp of the significance of his/her work; the breadth and depth of the student's knowledge of his/her field and the relationship of his/her work to other work in the field; the adequacy of the student's answers to questions; and the student's maintenance of a respectful, professional tone in response to questions while defending the thesis.
Dissertation Defense Scheduling
Students who are preparing to defend their dissertation should confirm a time and date with their Dissertation Advisory Committee and register with the Graduate Secretary at least 15 days before the defense is to be scheduled. The Graduate Secretary will arrange the time, date, and room within two working days, and forward to the student the appropriate forms.
Announcing the Dissertation Defense
After the Graduate Secretary has arranged the time, date, and room for the defense, the student must send a completed "Announcement of Dissertation Defense" form to the Graduate School (501 Carnell Hall) at least 10 days before the defense. The student/Department will post fliers announcing the defense.
