Texas A&M University Graduate Catalog

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Degree Information

The Degree of Doctor of Engineering

Examinations

A student admitted to the program is required to pass a comprehensive written and oral examination called the Doctor of Engineering Qualifying Examination. It will be administered when semester credit hours equivalent to the number required for a Master of Engineering degree have been accumulated. An individual holding a master’s degree when he/she enters the Doctor of Engineering program will be expected to take the Doctor of Engineering Qualifying Examination during his/her first semester of enrollment. The examination determines whether or not the student is prepared to continue study toward the Doctor of Engineering degree. A student who fails the Qualifying Examination may, with the approval of the advisory committee, retake the examination once. The second examination will be administered after a suitable period of preparation, normally not less than six months, upon the recommendation of the advisory committee.

The student’s major department and advisory committee may require departmental, cumulative or other types of examinations at any time deemed desirable. These examinations are entirely at the discretion of the department and the student’s advisory committee. For instance, these examinations may be used for determining the technical depth and breadth required for the internship project. The candidate for the degree of Doctor of Engineering must pass a final oral examination in the final semester following the internship. The student is allowed only one opportunity to take the final examination. This exam will include presentation of results of internship work. The student’s advisory committee, as finally constituted, will conduct this examination, which will include the internship experience and closely allied topics as well as the broad field of the candidate’s training. A positive vote by all members of the graduate committee with at most one dissension is required to pass a student on his or her exam. A department can have a stricter requirement provided there is consistency within all degree programs within a department. Persons other than members of the graduate faculty may, with mutual consent of the candidate and the major professor, attend final examinations for advanced degrees. Upon completion of the questioning of the candidate, all visitors must excuse themselves from the proceedings. The advisory committee will submit its recommendations through the Dean of Engineering to the Office of Graduate Studies regarding the acceptability of the candidate for the doctoral degree.