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Russ College of Engineering and Technology
Stocker Center
Athens, OH 45701

EECS Ph.D. Advising, Comprehensive Exam & Dissertation

Committee and Advisor

Upon entering the program, the Chair of the EECS Graduate Committee can act as the student's temporary advisor until a major advisor has been obtained. In most cases, the Chair will not assist the student with course selection; rather, he or she will direct the student to an EECS faculty member with similar research interests for advice on course selection. The student should understand that giving such advice does not mean that the faculty member has agreed to serve as the student’s major advisor. This faculty member will aid the student in course selection for no more than two semesters.

The major advisor is a faculty member in the student's field of interest who will confer with the student and plan a Program of Study no later than the end of the sixth week of the first semester after the student has completed 9 hours of formal coursework. The student is responsible for obtaining the cooperation of the major advisor, by mutual consent. The student is expected to inform the major advisor of his or her progress on a regular basis.

The student's examining committee is chosen, in consultation with the major advisor, no later than the end of the sixth week of the first semester after the student has completed 9 hours of formal coursework. The examining committee consists of six (6) members: major advisor, who serves as chair, three (3) other EECS faculty members, all of which must be Graduate Faculty or Associate Graduate Faculty in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and two (2) external representative, who are recommended to and approved by the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. The expectation is that each member of the examining committee, with the exception of the external representatives, should be currently performing research in the student's area of specialization. The external representative must come from schools/departments outside the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. The examining committee is to be kept informed of the student's research progress. It is strongly encouraged for the student to submit a progress report to the examining committee each semester.

Program of Study

Immediately after (or during) the selection of the student's examining committee, the student must plan a Program of Study in consultation with the major advisor. The Program of Study is recorded on a form. After completing the form, the student must obtain the signatures of the major advisor and all examining committee members. The completed form is then submitted to the EECS Graduate Programs Office for final approval by the EECS Graduate Committee Chair.

The Program of Study must be submitted by the end of the sixth week of the first semester following the student's completion of 9 hours of formal coursework.

Changes to the Program of Study may be made by obtaining the appropriate form from the EECS website. Signatures of the major advisor and dissertation committee members must be obtained. The completed form is then submitted to the EECS Graduate Programs Office for final approval by the EECS Graduate Committee Chair.

No changes in the Program of Study will be approved for the addition or deletion of a course for which a grade has already been received.

Details of the Comprehensive Examination

The examination will be held upon mutual consent of the student and the examining committee.

The examination will consist of three (3) separate parts.

Part A – Written Exam

This is a one (1) day written examination covering the student’s chosen area of specialization. The exam will be 3 – 4 hours in duration. The exam will be prepared by the EECS faculty members on the student’s examining committee. The exam is intended to evaluate the student’s background in his/her chosen specialization. Exam topics will be drawn primarily from graduate-level coursework in the student’s chosen area of specialization. Related questions from mathematics and/or the natural sciences are acceptable. The examining committee will decide on the nature (i.e., open book, closed book) and format of the exam. The format and content of the exam must have the prior approval of the EECS Graduate Chair. The examining committee will then communicate the exam format, schedule, and location in advance and in writing to the student.

Part A must be passed in no more than two (2) attempts. The second attempt must be made within three (3) months of the first. If the student fails the exam on the second attempt he or she will be dropped from the Ph.D. program. If the student passes, he or she will continue with Part B.

Part B – Oral Exam

This is a one (1) day exam taken within 6 months of passing Part A. The exam is intended to evaluate the student’s ability to carry out independent supervised research in his/her chosen area of specialization. The exam is administered by the EECS faculty members on the student’s examining committee. The student shall demonstrate an understanding and competence in the state-of-the-art of his/her chosen area of specialization and in general EE/CS background in order to pass this part.

This part has no set time limit; however, the exam typically lasts two (2) to four (4) hours. In arranging times and locations for this exam, at least four (4) hours should be allotted.

Part B may be attempted no more than two (2) times and the second attempt must be made within three (3) months of the first.

Part C – Research Proposal Defense

This is a one (1) day exam, taken within one year of passing Part B. A written research proposal must be submitted to the student’s full examining committee two weeks prior to the proposal defense (Part C). The defense cannot be taken until Parts A and B are passed. The defense, administered by the student’s full examining committee, is intended to evaluate the originality, significance and depth of the proposed research. The student should be prepared to answer questions regarding his or her research proposal. In the event that Part C is failed on the first attempt the student’s full examining committee will designate a time for the second attempt not more than three months after the first. Part C may be attempted no more than two times.

The proposal must be written according to the “Guidelines for Dissertation Proposal” which is available on the EECS website.

The acceptability of the student’s performance on each part of the comprehensive exam, as well as the final dissertation, will be determined by a majority vote of the participating members of the examining committee. Note that the external representatives are the only committee members with veto power.

M.S. Conferral for Ph.D.-with-B.S. Students

Ph.D.-with-B.S. students may apply for conferral of a M.S. degree once the following requirements have been met:

  1. All formal coursework listed on the student’s Program of Study has been successfully completed.
  2. A passing grade in at least one (1) semester of EE 6981 Graduate Research Seminar has been earned and one (1) satisfactory seminar presentation has been made.
  3. Part A of the Comprehensive Examination has been passed.

Student Records

The student’s record will contain documentation of:

  1. Program of Study
  2. The results of Part A of the comprehensive exam
  3. The results of Part B of the comprehensive exam
  4. The results of Part C of the comprehensive exam
  5. Any documents deemed necessary by the dissertation advisor or Graduate Chair

Transfer of Credit

Credit Transferred from Another Institution

A maximum of six (6) semester hours, or the equivalent, may be transferred from an accredited university and applied towards a student’s Ph.D. degree requirements providing:

  1. The credit hours are designated at the transferring institution as graduate-level only.
  2. The credit hours were obtained by taking formal coursework within the past five (5) years. No correspondence credit will be accepted.
  3. Grades earned on all transfer credit are B or better.

Credit Obtained While Enrolled in the EE or CS M.S. Degree Program at Ohio University

A maximum of six (6) semester hours of graduate-level credit obtained while pursuing the EE or CS M.S. degree at Ohio University may be applied toward a student’s Ph.D. degree requirements providing:

  1. The credits were obtained by taking formal coursework at the graduate level. No correspondence credit will be accepted.
  2. Grades earned on all transfer credit are B or better.
  3. The credit was earned during the past year. The purpose of this requirement is to avoid delay in the submission of the M.S. thesis.
  4. The credits are not applied toward the M.S. degree.

Time Limit

Students must complete all degree requirements for the degree within seven (7) calendar years from the date of admission to the Ph.D. program. This is an Ohio University requirement.

Students must complete all degree requirements within six (6) calendar years from the date of admission to the M.S. program. This is an Ohio University requirement.