As part of the degree requirements for a Ph.D. in computer science or computer engineering, students must pass the preliminary examination given by the advisory committee as described in the graduate catalog. The preliminary exam consists of written and oral portions. Each committee member is scheduled to administer a written exam during the approximately three weeks prior to the common oral examination. The format of the oral exam is flexible and is determined by the student's advisory committee. Students should discuss the format of their oral exam with their advisor well before scheduling the prelim.
Listed below are the procedures to be followed for preliminary exams in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Much of this information is taken from the Steps to Fulfill Preliminary Exam and the Graduate and Professional School website.
Deadline
The preliminary exam is typically held at about the time that the degree plan coursework requirements are completed. University rules state that a student must have no more than 6 hours of coursework (this does not include research hours) remaining to be completed in order to take the preliminary exam. Furthermore, the university states that students should complete the preliminary exam no later than the end of the semester following the completion of the formal coursework on the degree plan.
Eligibility
To be eligible to schedule the preliminary examination, the student must meet the following requirements:
- By university regulations, at the end of the semester in which the exam is given, there can be at most six hours of course work (excluding 691 hours) remaining on the degree plan.
- The cumulative and degree plan grade point ratios must both be at least 3.00 (excluding transfer courses).
- All English proficiency requirements must be satisfied prior to scheduling the preliminary examination.
- Students must be registered in the university in the semester or summer term in which the preliminary examination is taken.
Procedures
Listed below are the steps that should be followed in scheduling and administering preliminary examinations for Ph.D. degrees in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.
- The student should confirm they are meeting the requirements in the above eligibility list before they schedule the exam (otherwise the exam may need to be repeated). If different courses were taken than are listed on the degree plan, then the appropriate Graduate and Professional School petitions can be filed to make the necessary changes.
Deadline: For a course change petition, several weeks before the exam. - The student should consult with their advisory committee and select a mutually agreeable date and time for the oral portion of the preliminary exam, and all committee members should schedule or waive the written portion. The time span from the first written to the oral exam should be no more than three weeks. All advisory committee members should attend the oral exam. If one of the members cannot attend the oral examination, he or she must find an appropriate substitute. Only one substitute is allowed and there can be no substitute for the chair. Normally, two hours should be reserved for the oral preliminary exam. The student is responsible for ensuring that a room is reserved for the oral prelim; the advising office can help with this if needed.
Deadline: Several weeks before the exam. - After the student's eligibility to take the preliminary exam has been verified and all members of the advisory committee have agreed to the exam schedule (typically several weeks before the exam), the student should submit a request to schedule the Prelim Exam in ARCS. For more information on how to submit the request in ARCS consult the student guide.
Deadline: Three weeks before the exam. - The student's advisor will receive an email from ARCS to submit the pass/fail grade for the exam. If a grade is not submitted in ARCS within 10 working days of the scheduled oral examination, then a failing grade may be recorded.
Deadline: Immediately after the exam (at the latest, within 10 working days of the exam).