Qualifying Examination
Qualifying (preliminary) Exam Information
Purpose of the exam.
The purpose of the qualifying examination is to determine if the student has the intellectual capacity and preparation necessary to successfully conduct independent research and complete a doctoral dissertation. Thus the student is expected to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the basic principles of plant pathology and related areas, and to effectively present and defend a dissertation proposal that involves novel and independent research. Students are expected to respond effectively to in-depth questions about their proposal, plant pathology in general, and other fields of science related to their area of study.
ii. When must the qualifying exam be taken?
Students must take the qualifying exam before the beginning of their tenth quarter as a registered student in the Plant Pathology Graduate Program. However, it is often feasible and appropriate for students to take the exam after two years. Ph.D. students should consult with their graduate adviser and major professor concerning the scheduling of their exam. Students admitted into the Plant Pathology Graduate Program for a master's degree and change their degree goal to a Ph.D. without completing a master's thesis remain subject to the 9 quarter limitation (i.e. you cannot enroll for the 10th quarter without having taken your qualifying exam). Students who complete a master's degree and continue for a Ph.D. have an additional 9 quarters before they must take the qualifying exam. Students must be registered for the quarter in which they take the exam and have a "B" average in all work undertaken in graduate standing. The student's graduate adviser must certify that all course requirements have been satisfied before the qualifying exam can be taken.
iii. Selection of the Qualifying Examination Committee.
The qualifying exam committee consists of 5 members. Four must be faculty members in the Plant Pathology Graduate Program, one of whom serves as the chairperson. One member may be from outside the program (e.g., a faculty member from another UCD Department or a faculty member from another institution). The student's Major Professor can not serve on the qualifying exam committee. Four of the five committee members will be identified by the student in consultation with his/her major professor and Graduate Advisor. The Graduate Adviser will present the proposed qualifying exam committee to the Graduate Affairs Committee, which will approve it or recommend changes. The Graduate Affairs Committee will also be responsible for identifying the fifth member of the qualifying exam committee based, in part, on the relative frequency of service among the faculty. Once the qualifying exam committee has been approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee, it is forwarded to Graduate Studies, wherein the Chair of the Graduate Council makes the final approval.
v. What is the content of the qualifying exam?
All students are presumed to possess a strong basic knowledge and understanding of plant pathology. For students specializing in nematology, similar expectations would apply regarding basic knowledge and understanding of the principles of nematology. In addition, three specific areas will be defended. These areas (listed below) are usually selected by the student in consultation with the graduate adviser and/or major professor. Students may propose alternative specialty areas, but these must be approved by the Graduate Affairs Committee.
In the qualifying exam, students should expect to defend their thesis research in detail. Students should prepare a concise dissertation proposal to be given to the members of the qualifying examination committee two weeks before the examination date. This document should be 7-10 pages in length, excluding figures and references. Students are encouraged to seek feedback on their proposal from their qualifying exam committee members prior to their exam. Students should consult the chair of the qualifying exam committee concerning the manner in which the research proposal should be presented during the exam. Approximately one hour of the exam will be devoted to the presentation and defense of the proposal. The committee chair will be responsible for ensuring that the time devoted to this portion of the exam is properly balanced with broader coverage of the subject areas being defended.
Areas for Defense in the Qualifying Examination
1. General Plant Pathology
2. Bacteriology
3. Mycology/Plant Pathogenic Fungi
4. Virology
5. Host-Pathogen Interaction
6. Epidemiology
7. Soil Microbiology
8. Molecular Biology
9. Genetics
10. Biochemistry/Physiology of Plant Disease
11. Plant Pathogen/Insect Interactions
12. Ecology
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Telephone: (530) 752-0300 - FAX: (530) 752-5674
Email the Plant Pathology Office