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This document includes information on additional requirements for completing the Ph.D. This includes information regarding the qualifying and preliminary exams, the research proposal, language requirements, and the doctoral dissertation. Qualifying Examination for the Ph.D. ProgramPurposeThe first major examination in the doctoral program is the Qualifying Examination. Admission to the doctoral program is conditional until the student has passed the Qualifying Examination. The purpose of this examination is to test the student on basic chemical or chemical biological principles at an advanced undergraduate level. Results of a similar examination taken at another institution are not transferable to Stevens. Although the Qualifying Examination consists of four parts, all parts must be taken at the same sitting and single Pass or Fail grade is issued for the entire examination. ScheduleThe Qualifying Examination is a six-hour written examination. It is offered three times a year, on the fourth Monday of September, the fourth Monday of February, and the second Monday of June. The examination is usually held in Room 414, McLean Building, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM with a break for lunch. Time LimitationThe student must pass the Qualifying Examination
within 10 months after acquiring 30 graduate credits and matriculating
in the doctoral program. A student in the doctoral program may take
the Qualifying Examination before acquiring 30 graduate credits, but
then must pass the exam within 10 months from the first exam. The
matriculation date is the date that the graduate program advisor signs
the doctoral study plan. For example, a student who receives the
master's degree in May or June and matriculates as a doctoral student
in September must pass the examination by the following June. Since
the examination will be given only three times during the 10-month
period, the student is strongly advised to take the examination at the
first opportunity. Absence from any examination for any cause will not
extend the 10-month period. Failure to pass the Qualifying Examination
within this period will be cause for dismissal from the doctoral
program.
CoverageThe Qualifying Examination covers undergraduate material at the honors level. The student may elect to take the Qualifying Examination in either Chemistry or Chemical Biology. The Q.E. in Chemistry is comprised of four sections: Organic, Physical, Inorganic, and Analytical. The Q.E. in Chemical Biology also includes four sections: Molecular and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Physiology, Organic Chemistry, and one other area of Chemistry chosen by the student. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the Department Director in writing of his/her intention to take the Examination, and his/her selection of the Chemistry or Chemical Biology (and, if Chemical Biology, the second area of chemistry in addition to Organic Chemistry) at least three weeks before the scheduled examination date. The Examination must be taken in its entirety and cannot be taken in parts. However, the Faculty may permit a student who has taken the examination and done well in three parts to retake only the fourth part, but this election is entirely at the discretion of the Faculty. The choice of Chemistry or Chemical Biology does not affect the time limitation described above. The suggested textbooks for preparing for the Qualifying Examination are listed below:
Copies of previous Qualifying Examinations are on file in the departmental office, and students are encouraged to refer to these exams in preparing for the Qualifying Examination.
Preliminary Examination for the Ph.D. ProgramPurposeThe Preliminary Examinations test the student's in-depth knowledge of an area of his/her own choosing, preferably an area related to the pending dissertation area. The examinations are based on a Critique, which is submitted in written form and defended orally. The format of the Critique may be copies of Power Point frames intended for use in the oral presentation provided they are legible, sufficiently detailed, and possess the continuity of a textual document. The area chosen, in addition to being of current or potential scientific interest, should be amenable to discussion of the basic principles on which it is based and which are pertinent to the subject. The student will be examined on these principles as well as on the subject matter of the Critique. Time LimitationA student who has accumulated 30 graduate credits must present himself/herself for the Preliminary Examinations within 9 months after being notified of passing the Qualifying Examination. The 9-month time limit starts immediately upon completing 30 credits for those students who passed the Qualifying Examination prior to achieving 30 credits. The student must successfully complete and pass all Preliminary requirements within 12 month after passing the Qualifying Examination. It is to the student's advantage to take the Preliminary Examination as early as possible within the 12-month period in case he/she is required to repeat any part of the examination. The responsibility of meeting time limits rests with the student. ApprovalThe student is responsible for selecting the topic, obtaining approval from the faculty, and meeting the time requirements. As early as possible and before the detailed study is begun, the topic must be discussed with and written approval obtained from each faculty member on the Preliminary Examination Committee. Course credit will be allowed for the preparation of the critique by registering for Ch 720 and/or Ch 721, or Ch 780 and/or Ch 781 (Selected Topic Courses), but not more than two such courses, not taken simultaneously, is permitted. Progress ReportIf the student has enrolled in one of the courses described above, a brief progress report not exceeding four double-spaced typewritten pages is required at the end of the semester, and must be distributed to the faculty who approved the topic. At this time, it will be beneficial to solicit the comments from the faculty on the direction that the study has taken. If the final Critique is ready at this time, the progress report is not required. CritiqueThe written critique should be a critical review of the background and current status of the subject under study. The Critique must be based on the information derived from research published during the past five years. Information derived from books, references and literature beyond five years should serve as background information, e.g., historical status, and should consist of not more than five pages of the Critique. The Critique should consist of not more than 50 double-spaced typewritten pages, including graphs, diagrams, bibliography, etc. and must be in the same format as articles published in "Chemical Reviews". Wherever possible, experimental observation should be correlated with theoretical models. The mere presentation of experimental results, or conversely, of unsupported theories, is deprecated. The approximations and assumptions commonly made should be examined, gaps in knowledge pointed out and, if possible, an approach suggested to remedy these deficiencies. The Critique should follow the format of the short review article, usually being divided into several sections, with a table of contents and bibliography. Verbatim copying of published literature is forbidden, except on rare occasions where quoted and exact references are given; these must be appropriately acknowledged. A copy of the Critique, grammatically correct and in the proper format, must be submitted to each faculty member on the Preliminary Examination Committee for approval at least two weeks prior to oral presentation. Oral ExaminationThe oral examination tests the student's grasp of the basic underlying principles, especially as they apply to the subject of the Critique, as well as the contents of the Critique. The degree of comprehension in these areas is expected to be on a high level.
Research ProposalsAll doctoral students in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology must present two written research proposals and defend them in an oral examination. The proposals must be original and amenable of execution. Each proposal should suggest a method or technique for solving a specific problem of importance, preferably in the same broad area as the Critique or Dissertation. Each proposal should be experimentally feasible, at least in principle, and should take into account the limitations of sensitivity, etc. of the methods involved. Copies of the two proposals, each consisting of not more than six double-spaced typewritten pages, are to be submitted for approval to each member of the Preliminary Examination Committee at least two weeks before the oral presentation. The Committee will select one proposal for oral presentation and defense. The proposals are to be prepared near the completion of the dissertation, but may not be defended at the dissertation defense. Language ProficiencyThe Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology no longer requires a foreign language examination for the Ph.D. degree. However, every student is required to possess a high level of proficiency in written and spoken English. International students are required to take an English proficiency examination before beginning graduate course work, and one or more remedial English courses (without credit) if necessary. The Department will not waive this requirement for any student. Doctoral DissertationAs soon as possible after matriculating in the doctoral program the student must obtain a research advisor, a dissertation topic, and a research committee, and must begin to register for Ch 960 - Research. At least one member of the research committee must be from another department at Stevens. It is incumbent on the student to meet with the research committee at least once each year. The student is not permitted to register for more than 10 credits of Ch 960 before taking the Qualifying Examination. The Policies and regulations governing the doctoral dissertation are described in detail in the Stevens Catalog and the Manual for Graduate Students.
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