Qualifying Exam

The Qualifying (preliminary) Exam usually consists of a written and/or oral exam in a given area of Civil Engineering and related field, administered by a committee consisting of at least three members , with at least two members from the Civil Engineering Graduate Studies Committee. This exam will typically be taken by the end of the first year of entering the PhD program.

Arrange through your major area of study to take the of the qualifying examination.

This exam has any of four possible outcomes:

• Pass
• Pass with recommendations regarding the student's program of work.
• No Pass but re-examination permitted
• No Pass - No re-examination

The qualifying exam should be completed as soon as possible in the student's doctoral program. The qualifying examination must be taken and passed during the first year in residence or continued registration will not be permitted. Exceptions will be handled on an individual basis by petition.

English Proficiency

The objective of the English proficiency requirement is to ensure that all PhD candidates possess the writing skills necessary for effective technical communication before embarking on the dissertation writing process. English proficiency should be demonstrated in one of three ways:

• By submitting a TOEFL writing score of 22 or greater at the time of application;
• By submitting an IELTS writing score of 6.5 or greater at the time of application;
• By retaking the TOEFL or IELTS and achieving a writing score target; or
• By passing an approved technical writing course.

Students who cannot demonstrate proficiency on the basis of their TOEFL or IELTS writing score must either retake the test, or enroll in an approved technical writing course as soon as possible as a Ph.D. student.

CE 397 Advanced Written Communication for International Engineering Students or an ESL (ESL 388W or 389W) course are the only technical writing courses approved at this time.

The next step is Advancing to Candidacy.