Qualifying
Examinations
The objective of the EPP Qualifying Examinations
is to assess the student's ability to do interdisciplinary
research, based on sound knowledge of technical and
social processes, good analytical methods, and the
ability to structure and analyze problems in engineering
and policy in a way that appropriately integrates
the required knowledge, methods, and judgment. The
levels of synthesis and evaluation to be demonstrated
in these examinations go beyond those expected in
most courses, although the core sequence (19-701 through
19-705) is aimed at developing and exercising this
level of problem solving.
The Qualifiers consist of two parts: a research paper
(Part A) and an extended take-home examination on
an applied problem in policy analysis (Part B).
Part A
For EPP Part A Qualifier, the student must prepare
an original research paper that addresses a problem
in technology and policy in which the issues of technology
play a central role. This paper is expected to demonstrate
the student's ability to structure and perform research
on problems in engineering and policy, including the
ability to apply formal analytical tools in such research.
The typical paper requires approximately one year
of preparation, in parallel with regular course work.
In preparing this paper, students are expected to
seek the assistance and supervision of their faculty
advisor and other members of the faculty. Considerable
student initiative is expected in this process. The
paper may be based on a joint M.S. project prepared
under the supervision of faculty members from EPP
and other departments.
Students who have prepared such a piece of work prior
to joining EPP may elect to use this work with the
approval of the Graduate Education Committee. However,
the student must demonstrate that the work is his
or hers and not the product of a group effort in which
he or she played primarily a supervisory role, and
that the work was done after he or she had obtained
an undergraduate degree.
The Qualifying Examinations are conducted once a
year, in January, and must be taken after students
have been in the program for three semesters. Students
must have the topic of their paper approved by June,
at the end of their second semester, and give a preliminary
oral presentation of their paper to the faculty in
early fall. To obtain the preliminary approval in
June, the student prepares a one-page prospectus which
is distributed to all members of the EPP faculty and
approved by the Graduate Education Committee. The
final paper must be less than 5,000 words in length,
and must be submitted to the department for distribution
to the faculty on a prescribed date in December, a
few weeks prior to the January examination date. At
the examination, the student makes a 15- to 20-minute
oral presentation of the paper and is then questioned
by the faculty. Faculty questions may relate to the
specifics of the paper, as well as to related but
more fundamental material which forms the basis of
the paper topic or the methods used.
Part B
Part B of the Qualifying Examinations occurs soon
after Part A has been submitted, usually in late January
or early February. The objective of Part B is to examine
students' ability to structure an unstructured policy
problem on their own, and to select and apply appropriate
problem-solving techniques. All students appearing
for the Qualifier are presented with a problem in
technology and policy, and given five days to prepare
a written response. Examination problems are carefully
constructed so as not to give a significant topic
area advantage to any particular student.
Several outcomes of the Qualifying Examinations are
possible. These are:
- The student passes both parts of the examinations
at the Ph.D. level.
- The student passes one or both parts at the M.S.
level, but not at the Ph.D. level. In this case,
the student can take an M.S. degree. However, the
option is also open to retake the examination(s)
one more time when next offered. Students receive
individual guidance on whether they should plan
to retake the examination or leave the program with
an M.S.
- The student fails one or both parts. Such students
are almost always advised to withdraw from graduate
studies in EPP. They may, however, elect to retake
the failed examination(s) one more time when next
offered.
Students who retake the Qualifiers must do so the year
after the first attempt. Students who have failed one
or more parts of the Qualifying Examination normally
do not receive graduate assistantship support while
waiting to retake the examination.
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