Comprehensive exams procedures
Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination
Faculty Procedures and Guidelines for Potential Candidates
(Updated October 24, 2011 – L. Lye)
Objective and Scope
Graduate students in Ph.D. programmes must pass a comprehensive examination as outlined in the general regulations of the School of Graduate Studies and the specific regulations of the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science. The intent of the comprehensive examination is to ensure that a suitable research topic has been identified and clearly defined by the candidate, that the topic is significant, that facilities are available at Memorial University to carry out the research, that the candidate has been exposed to and acquired sufficient breadth and depth of knowledge in the research area to carry out the project, and that the candidate has developed a mastery of the subdisciplines appropriate to the candidate's research area. The comprehensive examination will be held in two parts.
Timing of the Examination
Part I of the Ph.D. comprehensive examination should normally be taken no later than the 4th semester after the student registers in the graduate programme. If a student is required to complete mandatory regulation courses which are deemed to be in essential background areas, it is recommended that these courses be completed prior to the comprehensive examination. Part II of the comprehensive exam should be taken no later than the 7th semester after initial registration in the PhD programme. At least three months prior to the examination students will be notified (by the Associate Dean on recommendation of the supervisor) on the timing of their exam.
Components of the Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination is normally an oral examination conducted by the examination committee as constituted under the specific regulations in the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science. In some circumstances, the examinations may be partly oral and partly written, as determined by the examination committee. The examination consists of two parts:
Part I: To test the candidate's mastery of the subdisciplines appropriate of the candidate's research area.
Part II: Proposal of research topic - to test the knowledge and preparedness of the candidate in the research topic, and in the fundamentals of the related areas.
Scope of Part I
During the first part of the examination, the candidate will be expected to demonstrate "mastery of the subdisciplines appropriate to his/her research area". These subdisciplines will be selected with the advice of the supervisor and supervisory committee and will be made known to the candidate at least three months prior to the date of the examination. Students are, however, encouraged to discuss the particular areas in which questions might be asked with members of the examination committee prior to the first examination.
Procedure for Part I of the Examination
The first part of the comprehensive has no presentation by the candidate. The candidate will be asked questions on each subdiscipline. There are normally two rounds of questioning. At the end of the second round of the comprehensive examination, the committee will discuss the performance of the candidate and will communicate the result formally to the Dean of Graduate Studies and informally to the candidate. The result may be a clear pass, pass with some conditions, fail and retake at a later date, or can even be an outright fail. If the candidate passes, he or she then proceeds to Part II.
Scope of Part II
The second part of the comprehensive examination is normally very specific to the research topic identified by the candidate. A research proposal (details are given separately) is to be prepared by the candidate in consultation with the supervisory committee. Students should, in the first instance, submit a short (5-6 pages) outline to the supervisory committee and gradually develop the research proposal for the examination in close consultation with all members of the supervisory committee. Seven (7) copies of the proposal, as approved by the supervisory committee, should be submitted to the Office of the Associate Dean at least 15 days before the proposed date of the examination.
Note that the examination is a proposal to undertake research in a particular area. It is therefore unnecessary to present a lengthy treatise containing results of work already done. Guidelines given later in this document, not given above, for the number of pages should be followed. Only relevant supplemental documentation should be placed in the appendix.
Procedure for Part II of the Examination
When the research proposal, as outlined earlier, is ready for submission, the Office of the Associate Dean is to be contacted with the appropriate number of copies of the proposal. A suitable date for the second part of the examination will then be scheduled.
At the examination, the candidate shall give an oral presentation lasting approximately 20-30 minutes. Candidates will then be examined orally, in turn, by the members of the comprehensive examination. The committee will normally question the candidate further with a second round or until they are satisfied that the candidate has been suitably examined.
Some General Suggestions
The comprehensive examination is a major phase in the Ph.D. programme of any student. If the appropriate background preparation is done, students should be able to pass the examination without too much difficulty.
In preparing for the second part of the examination students should consult with their supervisors. As soon as the general area for research has been identified, students and supervisors should together investigate areas in which detailed knowledge might be lacking. This process should begin shortly after the student first registers in the programme. Any areas of potential weakness must be addressed prior to the comprehensive examination, preferably by taking courses where these are available. In addition, students should undertake private study under the guidance of their supervisors to ensure that the comprehensive examination does not become a major hurdle.
In writing the research proposal, students should continuously interact not only with the supervisor, but with all the members of the supervisory committee. Students are also encouraged to make preliminary oral presentations to the supervisory committee and other graduate students before they appear for the second part of the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is a stage in the learning process in the Ph.D. programme and as such graduate students should utilize every opportunity to contact members of the faculty in their area of research within and outside the supervisory committee and make the best use of the expertise available in the University.
THE RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The research proposal should be bound appropriately. It should contain the following elements:
A title page; identifying the research topic, authorship and the composition of the supervisor committee, etc.A letter of transmittal from the supervisory committee.An abstract of the proposed research of not more than a page (typed single space).A table of contents.An introductory chapter, outlining the aims and objectives of the research, and clearly identifying the problem for researches (typically 2-4 pages).A literature review relevant to the research. The review should also contain a critique of the reviewed literature (typically 5-20 pages).The proposed general methodology of research (theoretical or experimental or both). If experimental work is involved, the candidate should examine the facilities available (typically 5-10 pages).A time schedule for the completion of the research project (typically 2 pages).A summary and conclusions (typically 2 pages).A list of references. A list of potential contributions to knowledge.Appendices (Only if required, relevant, and necessary to supplement items 1-9).
SAMPLE TITLE PAGE
MECHANICS OF ICE BREAKING
A Proposal for Doctoral Research in the Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
By George Keeler, B.Eng., M.A.Sc.
Supervisory Committee
Dr. C.W.H. Suen (Supervisor)
Dr. A.M. Maral
Dr. E.R. Shingher
Submitted to
The Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination Committee
Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St. John's, NL.
25 November 2011
SAMPLE TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ABSTRACT ii
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL iii
CHAPTER
I THE PROBLEM AND PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION 1
II ICE AND SEA ICE 3
(Literature review and critique)
III ICE BREAKING 15
(Review of specific aspects of research and critique)
IV PROPOSED RESEARCH 20
(Scope, methodology, limitations, facilities required, and facilities available)
V PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION 29
VI SUMMARY 30
REFERENCES 32
APPENDICES
Maximum number of pages =
SAMPLE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Faculty of Engineering & Applied Science
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination Of Mr. George Keeler
Letter of Transmittal
We, the members of the supervisory committee for the Ph.D. research of Mr. George Keeler, have reviewed the research proposal submitted by him and certify that it is prepared in accordance with the Faculty guidelines for the submission. The candidate has expressed his readiness to proceed with the examination.
While every effort has been made to give the appropriate guidance to the candidate in preparing the proposal, the above statement does not necessarily imply an unqualified approval of its contents.
__________________ __________________
C.W.H. Suen A.M. Maral
Supervisor Supervisory Committee
___________________
E.R. Shingher
Supervisory Committee
