Qualifying Examination
The primary purpose of the Qualifying Examination (QE) is to validate that the student is academically qualified to conceptualize a research topic, undertake scholarly research, and successfully produce the dissertation required for a doctoral degree. The QE must evaluate the student’s breadth and depth of knowledge in the field and must not focus exclusively on the proposed dissertation research. Full information about PBGG QE requirements can be found in the 2019 PBGG degree requirements, Graduate Studies website, and Graduate Council QE Policy.
- Exam Structure
The Qualifying Examination for PBGG PhD students is structured into two main parts: 1) the Proposal and 2) the Oral Examination.
Proposal
Students must prepare a dissertation proposal for evaluation by their Qualifying Examination Committee. The proposal must be submitted to the committee chair at least two weeks before the oral exam, and to the full committee at least one week prior (after any revisions suggested by the chair). Be sure that you clarify with your committee how far in advance they would like a copy of the proposal. The proposal’s purpose is to clearly present and justify the planned research, similar in scope and format to a funding application. It should demonstrate strong scientific writing, critical analysis of preliminary data, and integration of relevant literature.
The document (single-spaced, 12-point font, 1-inch margins) is organized into five sections:
Objectives and specific aims – briefly state the overall research goal and specific aims (under half a page).Background and significance – explain context, evaluate existing knowledge, identify the research gap, and justify the study (about one page).
Preliminary data – summarize relevant prior work and your contributions (about one page).
Experimental plan and methods – describe design, methods, data analysis, potential challenges, alternatives, and timeline (2–3 pages).
References – formatted like a major plant biology journal, with full citation details (max 2 pages or 25 references).
Sections 1–4 must not exceed 5 pages total (including figures).
Oral PortionThe oral qualifying exam has three parts:
Presentation and defense of the dissertation proposal, including broader questions from the student’s specialization.
General Plant Biology exam, testing knowledge at the level of undergraduate coursework and core curriculum.
Two additional Plant Biology topics, chosen by the students from different areas outside their specialization and approved by Graduate Advisers.
For the first part, the student gives a presentation (max 20 minutes), mainly using a board, with limited visual aids for complex material. The entire exam lasts up to 3 hours.
- Eligibility
- To meet eligibility requirements to take the Qualifying Examination, students must:
- Have completed all required degree coursework
- Have completed all pre-requisite deficiency coursework (if applicable)
- Must be a full-time student in the quarter in which they take the QE - QE Committee Selection
Students will nominate faculty to serve on their Qualifying Examination Committee during the end of their 3rd quarter of PhD enrollment. Nominations will be reviewed by the PBGG Advising Committee and final committee selections will be sent to students in October of their 4th quarter. Qualifying Examination Committees are comprised of 4 faculty members who serve in various areas of expertise. The breakdown is:
The Chair will serve as your head coordinator, helping keep you and other faculty on track before and during your exam. They are within your specialization.
A faculty specializing in the student’s area of specialization: This member will also be within your specialization and will ask you questions about your specialization.
A faculty specializing in the secondary area of specialization: This member will serve to test you on knowledge from a secondary specialization area that you have chosen based on its relation to your research.
Plant Biology: This member will test you on your general Plant biology knowledge (e.g. core coursework).
Note: Not all faculty can serve for all specializations.
When selecting faculty that you wish to nominate for your committee, keep the following in mind faculty you know personally; particularly those who have lectured in courses you have taken and those you have TAed for. Identify faculty in consultation with your Major Professor whose expertise aligns with your research. Reach out to your peers (especially students who have already passed the QE) about their recommendations.
- QE Scheduling and Application
As soon as the QE committee has been assigned, the student should work with the committee to schedule the exam. The student should also work with the QE chair to determine which, if any, emergency QE plans will be utilized (see Graduate Council QE policy for full information on emergency plans:
Remote exam - exam is held entirely remotely (no hybrid participation)
Backup Date/Time - at the time of scheduling the original exam, a second "backup" exam time is scheduled
Alternate Member - a pre-determined alternate member replaces a member who cannot attend due to an emergency (chair cannot be replaced by alternate member)
Once the exam has been scheduled, the student should complete the QE Application in GradSphere. This application must be submitted at least 30 days before the scheduled exam. If students would like an "MS Along the Way", they should submit that paperwork at the same time as their QE Application.
Students are responsible for scheduling a room for the Qualifying Exam. The major professor and/or QE chair may be able to suggest a room. There are also rooms available in Green Hall, Walker Hall, Tupper Hall, and Genome Center.
- Before the Exam
At least fourteen days prior to your exam, students should contact their committee with the following:
- Reconfirming the date, time, and location of the exam
- A copy of their unofficial transcript (obtained here)
- Their research proposal (maximum of 5 pages) (confirm timeline with committee as they may want a copy of your proposal sooner)
Students should do their best to reduce stress leading up to the exam and preparing for common situations, like responding to questions they do not immediately know the answer to. Graduate Studies has many helpful tips to help students prepare for their exam day.
- During and After the Exam
At the start of the exam, the student will be asked to leave the room while the Chair discusses the exam proceedings with the committee and organizes the order of the exam questions such that each committee member gets approximately 15-20 minutes of individual questions.
At the end of the exam, the student will be asked to leave the room while the committee members deliberate and make a decision. The chair will present the decision to the student and complete necessary paperwork.
There are three possible outcomes to the exam:
Pass - The committee unanimously decides the student passed the exam. The student may submit an Advancement to Candidacy application in GradSphere.
Retake - The committee unanimously decides some or all parts of the exam must be retaken. A memo with specific details of retake requirements and timeline for completion of the retake will be provided to the student.
- Retakes are not uncommon, so students should not fear this outcome! The committee will work closely with the student to help them understand what areas of improvement are needed for the second exam.
Fail - This outcome is incredibly uncommon in MCIP. The committee unanimously determines the student failed the exam due to significant deficiencies, and the student is not currently prepared to continue in the doctoral program. A unanimous fail on either the first or second exam is a recommendation of the student’s disqualification from the degree objective.
- QE Resources for Students
- - Graduate Studies Qualifying Exam website
- Graduate Council Policy - Doctoral Qualifying Examinations GC2005-02 (rev. 13)
- QE Regulations (Graduate Studies document)
- Graduate Studies Remote Participation in Graduate Examinations - QE Resources for Faculty
- Major Professors, QE committee chair and members, please review the above information and the Graduate Council Policy - Doctoral Qualifying Examinations GC2005-02 (rev. 13) to familiarize with the purpose and process of the QE in the GBSE program. Additionally, below are some guidance on evaluation of the student's QE performance.
The primary purpose of the QE is to validate that the student is academically qualified to conceptualize a research topic, undertake scholarly research and successfully produce the dissertation required for a doctoral degree.
The QE must evaluate the student’s breadth and depth of knowledge.
The QE must be interactive
All examiners must be able to ask questions, hear the student's answers, and then follow up with another question or comment in response to the student's initial reply. Committee members, individually and collectively, must be able to engage in a discourse with the student on topics relevant to the student's area of competence.
The QE must be a group activity
The committee must collectively: 1) experience the discourse with a student, 2) evaluate the student's performance, 3) determine the length and content of the examination, and 4) moderate the demeanor of the student and the members of the committee.
The QE must be broadly structured
Based on the student's past academic, research and scholarly record and performance on the examination, the student must broadly demonstrate sufficient competence in the selected disciplinary area, which must go beyond the limited area of scholarship associated with a dissertation topic. Further, the student must demonstrate the capability for integration and utilization of knowledge and skills that are critical for independent and creative research, thereby qualifying them for advancement to the research-intensive phase of doctoral education. - Advancing to Candidacy
This process is completed as a smart-form in GradSphere. If you type in your email address, the rest of your information will auto-complete. If you are enrolled in both the MS and PhD, be sure to select the PhD.
After you initiate the form, it is sent to your academic advisor for approval, followed by the Chair of any Designated Emphases in which you are enrolled, your Graduate Program Coordinator, and finally your Senior Academic Advisor at Graduate Studies. You should receive an automated email from GradSphere when your candidacy application has been processed and approved.
- MS Along the Way
Students may decide to obtain an MS Plan II along the way to their PhD. In this situation, a passed QE is used to satisfy the Plan II Comprehensive Exam requirement. Students must pay the additional $55 MS Candidacy fee in additional to their PhD Candidacy fee if they select this option.
If students would like to pursue this option, they must do the following:
At the time of submitting their QE Application - submit a completed and signed "Multiple Degree Objectives" application to their Graduate Program Coordinator. The Coordinator will submit the application to GradSphere on the students behalf for approval.
Before the QE - submit the MS Plan II Candidacy Application in GradSphere.
After Passing the QE - Ask the QE chair to submit the "Master's II Report" in GradSphere. Once the report is approved, the student will receive a copy. The student can then submit the MS Plan II Filing Process in GradSphere. This will finalize their MS Plan II degree.