PhDexam

EXAMINATIONS FOR PH.D. STUDENTS IN WILDLIFE ECOLOGY Students pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Wildlife Ecology are required to have several formal meetings with their Ph.D. Committee: a Qualifying Examination, a Preliminary Examination, and a Final Oral Examination (commonly called the "thesis defense"). The Ph.D Committee is composed of at least 5 members, 3-4 Graduate Faculty members from the Department of Wildlife Ecology and 1-2 Graduate Faculty members representing a minor (either Option A or B, as described in the Graduate School's Student Handbook). The student and the Major Professor should form the Committee its soon as possible, preferably early in the first semester in residence. Early selection of the Committee is important because the Qualifying Examination must take place as early as possible in the student's program, preferably during the first semester in residence.

The Qualifying Examination is administered by the full Committee and typically requires about 1-2 hours. There are 2 purposes for this meeting: (1): to uncover the rare instances in which a student proves to be completely unqualified to continue in the Ph.D. program and (2) to expose through oral questioning any weaknesses in the student's background that must be remedied with formal coursework, individual instruction or independent reading before the student takes the Preliminary Examination. Students may wish to do some cursory review before this meeting, but it is not intended that a student should undertake intensive preparations. Committee members are to have reviewed the student's file and to be prepared to probe the student's background by asking questions designed specifically to reveal weaknesses. When the questioning is complete, the Committee decides on the student's suitability to continue in the Ph.D. program. The Committee and the student then agree on required coursework or other learning activities that must be completed before the student takes the Preliminary Examination. These requirements will include any deficiencies in the minimum coursework required of all graduate students majoring in Wildlife Ecology, any courses that remedy weaknesses identified during the Qualifying Examination, any courses that may be required to satisfy the Minor, and a course in which the student learns a new technical skill not previously possessed. Once a consensus is reached, the student and the Committee members sign a Ph.D. Certification Form (available from the Departmental Office) that becomes part of the student's official records maintained by the Department.

The student and the Committee may also wish to discuss the student's research proposal at this meeting. If this is the case, the student should circulate the research proposal to the Committee ahead of time, giving adequate time for the Committee members to read it. Also, the student should plan for a longer (2-3 hour) session with the Committee. If the research proposal is not discussed during the Qualifying Examination, another meeting for that specific purpose should be scheduled. Often, the student may wish to give their Entry Seminar to the Department in conjunction with the Committee meeting at which the research proposal is discussed.

After completing all coursework prescribed at the Qualifying Examination and satisfying the minimum graduate-level credit requirements of the Graduate School (32 credits), the student can schedule the Preliminary Examination. The exam can take place during the student's last semester of coursework. This is a 2- to 3-hour oral examination administered by the full Committee in which the student will be questioned extensively about their knowledge in wildlife ecology and related fields. It is expected that the student will have prepared well for this meeting, and it is usually wise to seek council from each Committee member about what to expect from them. At least 3 weeks in advance of the meeting, the student should request a Warrant from the Departmental Secretary. The Warrant is produced by the Graduate School, and upon satisfactory completion of the examination, all Committee Members must sign it and agree to recommend to the Graduate School that the student be admitted to Candidacy. Upon receiving this recommendation, the Graduate School considers the student to be a Dissertator. This status means that the student has 5 years to complete the Ph.D. Dissertation and defend it at a Final Oral Examination.

The Final Oral Examination is a 2- to 3-hour examination administered by the full Graduate Committee after the student has submitted a draft of the Ph.D. Dissertation to each Committee member and the Major Professor has agreed that the student is ready to defend. The purpose of the examination is to question the student intensely about the work presented in their Dissertation and ascertain that it meets all of Committee's expectations. At least 3 weeks in advance before the meeting, the student must fill out the Ph.D Oral Committee Approval Form, available from the Departmental Office. Upon receiving this form, the Graduate School issues a Warrant which the Committee signs after the student has passed the Final Oral Examination and the Ph.D. dissertation is ready to be put in final form. Dissertators should refer to the Graduate School's publications (A Guide to Preparing Your Doctoral Dissertation and The 3-D's: Deadlines, Defending and Depositing). Typically, the student presents an Exit Seminar to the Department on the day of their Final Oral Examination. The signed Warrant must be submitted to the Graduate School,, and final copies of the Dissertation must be deposited in the Memorial Library and filed with the Department before the Ph.D. degree will be granted,

Students are urged to refer to the Graduate School's "Student Handbook". It contains useful information and a glossary of terms that complement the information provided above.

updated on September 2003