The Doctoral Examination Structure for Students Who First Enrolled in a WSU Mathematics Doctoral Program before Fall 2008

The Doctoral Qualifying Examination (DQE)

To make normal progress toward the PhD degree, all students must pass the Doctoral Qualifying Examination (DQE) subject to the rules specified in this section.

The DQE consists of two parts. Part I, titled Real Analysis, is based predominantly on material in Math 501. Part II, titled Linear Algebra, is based predominantly on material in Math 511. Appendix B contains specific lists of topics covered by and suggested references for these two parts. Each part is a four-hour examination. The two parts are given on two separate days. The two-part DQE is given twice a year. See §2 for specific dates.

The DQE is prepared and graded by a committee of four graduate faculty members chosen by the Chair of the Department.

The rules concerning the DQE are as follows:

(a)

All students opting to attempt the DQE in the semester of their first enrollment as a graduate student in the Department of Mathematics at WSU are allowed up to three attempts at the DQE. All other students are allowed at most two attempts at the DQE.

(b)

A student who has satisfactorily completed all the requirements for a master's degree in mathematics at the time of first enrollment as a graduate student in the Department of Mathematics at WSU must pass the DQE within four semesters (not counting the summer semesters) from this date of first enrollment; all other students must pass the DQE within six semesters (not counting the summer semesters) from this date of first enrollment.

(c)

Students must take both parts of the DQE. The outcome, pass or fail, is based on one combined score for the entire DQE.

Rules (a), (b), and (c) will be strictly enforced except in very extraordinary circumstances, and then with the special approval of the graduate faculty of the Department.

Students who face their last attempt at the DQE under the above rules, and feel that they have extraordinary circumstances that make them unfit to take the examination at that offering, must submit a written request to the Graduate Studies Committee for taking the examination at a later time. Such requests should include written evidence of the relevant extraordinary circumstances. The only requests that will be considered are ones made prior to the scheduled date of the examination, and that allow sufficient time for the Graduate Studies Committee to review the request before the examination date.

Appeals on the results of the DQE or on the enforcement of the above rules should be made in writing to the graduate faculty of the Department within one week after the results have been announced. The Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee will act as the liaison between the student and the graduate faculty in this appeal process. If a student completes the examination and then makes an appeal to retake the examination based on circumstances not reported prior to the examination, such an appeal is unlikely to be approved.

The Program of Study

Soon after completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination, a PhD candidate should choose an area of specialization and make arrangements for an appropriate faculty member to chair his/her Doctoral Committee. The Doctoral Committee, in consultation with the candidate, will decide upon a Program of Study and tentatively set a time for the Preliminary Examination (see §8.4.2.3).

The Preliminary Examination

This examination consists of two parts: a written examination and an oral examination. The written examination is three hours in length and covers the candidate's area of specialization. The student's Doctoral Committee will define the material to be covered on the written examination, compose and grade this examination, and make a recommendation of ``pass'' or ``fail'' to the graduate faculty of the Department. The oral part of the examination will be given according to the rules of the Graduate School for the Preliminary Examination indicated in the Graduate School Policies and Procedures Manual. A graded copy of the written part of the examination (including the recommendation of ``pass'' or ``fail'') shall be available for inspection by the graduate faculty at least a full day before the oral part of the examination takes place. Each member of the graduate faculty can attend, ask questions, and vote at the oral examination. Although there is no restriction on the questions to be asked by the examiners, the candidate's proposed area of specialization ordinarily receives special emphasis. To pass the Preliminary Examination, the candidate must pass the written and oral parts as a unit. Thus a fail on one part does not necessarily mean a fail on the whole examination. The candidate may repeat the Preliminary Examination once. The candidate is expected to take the Preliminary Examination within one year of passing the Qualifying Examination.

The Final Examination

This is an oral examination for the defense of the thesis, normally held after the Doctoral Committee approves the thesis. It is devoted mainly, though not always entirely, to a presentation of the content of the thesis and normally lasts approximately two hours. It must follow the preliminary examination by at least four and at most thirty-six months.

It is proper for students to ask their major professors for explicit advice about preparing for this examination. Before this examination may be scheduled, a Thesis Acceptance/Final Examination Form must be filled out. This form may be obtained from the Graduate School Office or downloaded from its web site.

The examining committee consists of the Doctoral Committee, the Representative of the University Graduate Studies Committee, and other members of the graduate faculty present.