Doctor of Philosophy Degree Requirements

 

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program has two components: (1) the course work component, and (2) the research component. The course work component requires a qualifying examination early in the Ph.D. program and not less than 60 semester credits of course work (beyond the bachelor's degree) approved by the student's committee. After successfully completing the qualifying exam, the student may concentrate on the remaining course work and the research planning leading to the preliminary examination, the doctoral research, dissertation preparation, and the final defense. Specific requirements are as follows:

• A minimum of 72 semester credits of approved course work and research beyond the B.S. degree is required, at least 24 of which must be in regular graduate-level civil engineering courses. (Regular graduate-level civil engineering courses are those with a CE prefix which are numbered 500 and above with the last two digits from 00 through 82). A master's degree from an approved university may he accepted for 30 credits.

• A minimum of 32 credits must be earned at Colorado State University after admission to the doctoral program.

• A minimum of 21 semester credits beyond the M.S. degree or 37 semester credits beyond the B.S. degree must be earned in graduate level courses (500 and above).

• A qualifying examination (oral and/or written at the discretion of the student's committee) must be passed (department requirement).

• A preliminary examination must be passed.

• A dissertation must be written. Up to 12 credits may be applied to a combination of dissertation research (CE799), supervised college teaching (CE584 or 684), and seminar (CE592).

• A final defense must be successfully conducted.

• Refer to the Research Publication Policy below.

 

Examinations for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree

 

Qualifying Examination

Purpose

The purpose of the department-required qualifying examination is to determine the student's overall background and qualifications to continue in the graduate program towards the doctor of philosophy degree in the Department of Civil Engineering. At the time of the examination, the committee may review the student's study program and any changes deemed advisable are entered on the GS Form 6.  

Scheduling

The qualifying examination is to be taken early in the Ph.D. program so that academic committee or graduate program input regarding needed background and basic courses judged necessary can be included on the GS Form 6. An early scheduling also allows a timely determination to be made of the adequacy of the student's understanding of basic principles, synthesis of knowledge, and general academic preparation to successfully pursue the Ph.D. program.

New students enrolled in the Ph.D. program, with or without an M.S. degree, must take the qualifying examination no later than the end of their third semester at Colorado State University. Students who completed their M.S. at Colorado State University may be required by their division or committee to take the exam no later than the end of the first semester of the Ph.D.-level study. The qualifying exam must always be scheduled no later than one term prior to the expected date of the preliminary examination.

If the required date of the qualifying examination passes without the examination being attempted, the student must obtain written permission from the department head to continue attending civil engineering courses. Depending upon the graduate program, the student shall either have an adviser and a graduate committee at the time of the qualifying examination, or have a proposed adviser and committee identified.

In this and other scheduling information, the word term designates any of the fall semester, spring semester, or summer session academic periods. The summer session is not considered to be a semester.

Procedure

At the time of this Bulletin's preparation, some details of the qualifying examination procedures vary among the graduate divisions and may differ from those described herein. Entering Ph.D.-level students should obtain current information on qualifying examination procedures from their division coordinator.

The examination may be written and/or oral. The student will be told which format will be used and the general topics to be covered well before the exam date. In an oral exam, the division coordinator or adviser moderates, with the committee or division faculty, as well as other faculty who desire, in attendance. Written examinations may be given to a group of several students with the same division by the faculty in that division.

The examination covers prior course work related to each student's major. In many programs, written and primary oral questions will concern material from texts and/or notes which the students have had available for study. Primary questions for an oral exam will be written and given to the student's adviser or division coordinator prior to the examination. Secondary (follow-up) questions are permissible in an oral examination.

Results

The committee shall (1) pass the student and recommend a program of study for completing the course work and for beginning preparations for the preliminary examination; (2) recommend a strengthening of the fundamentals in the student's chosen field and outline a course of study for this purpose in which case the examination must be retaken at a later date as determined by the committee: or (3) terminate the student from the Ph.D. program.

The results of the examination will be recorded in memo format from the adviser, reported to the department head, and placed in the student's departmental file. Students who hold a research or teaching assistantship remain at the Ph.D. I salary level upon successful completion of the qualifying examination. A student is considered to be a Ph.D. candidate upon passing the qualifying examination.

 

Preliminary Examination

Purpose

The purpose of the preliminary examination is to determine the student's ability to conduct original and independent research. The student presents a proposal for doctoral research to his or her graduate committee for their consideration and approval. If this examination is passed, the student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree and may continue the research component of the doctorate program. Scheduling The preliminary examination can be taken only by students who have successfully completed their qualifying exam. The student must schedule the exam no earlier than one term after the qualifying examination date and no later than two terms prior to the expected final examination date. The intent to take the preliminary examination must be filed with the Graduate School using a GS Form 15. This form must be at the Graduate School at least one week prior to the target date of the examination, and the examination must be held within six days prior to or six days after the target date.

Procedure

The student shall present a written research proposal to each committee member at least two weeks prior to the exam. This document shall be written in a scholarly manner and include a history of the problem, the proposed scope of the investigation, and a statement as to the original contributions to be made.

The exam consists of a formal presentation by the student followed by questions from the committee. The committee determines if the candidate (1) has sufficient ability and comprehensive knowledge to conduct the research, (2) has sufficiently reviewed the literature, (3) has proposed research which has a reasonable scope and which should produce an original and acceptable research contribution.

All members of the student's graduate committee, or in the case of necessary absences, substitutes pre-approved by the Graduate School, shall participate in the preliminary examination.

Results

The committee shall (1) unconditionally approve the proposed research, (2) approve the proposed research with revisions, (3) reject the proposed research with specific reasons given and recommendations made, or (4) terminate the student from the Ph.D. program. Results 1 and 2 constitute passage; results 3 and 4 constitute failure. The student shall obtain the Report of Preliminary Examination (GS Form 16) from the Student Information Office, the Graduate School Office, or from the Graduate School's web page. Bring this form to the examination, and return the signed form, including departmental signatures, to Graduate School within two working days after the examination. Following outcome 3, a reexamination may be held in accordance with Graduate School provisions. Students holding a research or teaching assistantship advance to the Ph.D. II salary level upon result 1 or 2.  

Final Defense of Dissertation

Purpose

At the final dissertation defense, the candidate formally presents the research in a form open to all members of the University community and the public at large and defends the research and conclusions against any challenge.  

Scheduling

After completing the research, the candidate must furnish each committee member with a copy of the complete dissertation draft at least four weeks prior to the date desired for the final defense. The committee will then meet formally with the candidate. Upon majority committee approval, the candidate, through the adviser, may schedule the dissertation defense. If the committee does not approve scheduling a defense, it must direct its desires to the candidate at this committee meeting. In any case, the members of the graduate committee may submit suggested or required editorial and technical changes to the dissertation draft for consideration of the candidate and adviser. Any committee member not commenting upon a Ph.D. dissertation within two weeks after receiving it will be assumed to have approved the scheduling of the final defense. The adviser must notify the Graduate School about the date, time, and location of the defense using the GS Form 23. This form is to be forwarded to the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the date of the dissertation defense.

Some programs and graduate committees choose to modify the schedule presented here for the committee's detailed critique of the research project results and dissertation draft, usually with some or all of this moved to the time of the final defense. The graduate committee adviser will inform the candidate on the specific procedures for the final defense and committee input well before the final defense date.

Procedure

The final defense shall be open to the public through formal announcements. The defense will be conducted in a formal and professional manner. The chair of the student's graduate committee shall introduce the candidate and outline the defense procedure. The candidate shall then present the doctoral research findings to the committee and public. After the presentation, questions will be invited from all present.

As with the preliminary examination, all graduate committee members, or in cases of necessary absences, pre-approved substitute members, shall participate in the final examination.

Results

After the open question-and-answer period, unless a committee member has requested that the committee reconvene in a closed session, the chair declares that the candidate has successfully defended the doctoral research and declares the defense complete.

If any committee member requests a closed session prior to the end of the question and answer period, the chairman shall dismiss the public audience and immediately convene the committee to decide the next course of action. The committee may recommend further examination, acceptance of the research, rejection of the research, or any other course of action. In the event of failure, a second examination may be permitted. A second failure results in dismissal. The student is to bring GS Form 24 to the final defense for completion and signing by the committee.

Completion of the edited dissertation and its approval by the student's graduate committee in accordance with Graduate School requirements and its submission to the department and to the Graduate School are the final major steps before graduation.

Research Publication Policy

 

• Candidates for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Civil Engineering, before final submission of their dissertation, must have had the results of their research submitted for publication to refereed journal of international prominence. The paper(s) may be co-authored, but the candidate must be first (principal or senior) author of at least one paper.