The Ph.D. degree does not require a pre-qualifying examination.

Since English predominants in the biological sciences, students have no foreign language requirement.

The Qualifying Examination assesses the candidate's broad knowledge of microbial biology and determines in-depth knowledge in the proposed area of research. The Examination consists of a dialog between the student and the examiners to provide a forum for the student to demonstrate an ability to integrate and extrapolate from information obtained in the classroom and laboratory. The Examination provides a way to evaluate the student's preparation and potential for a research or teaching career at the professorial level. It stresses breadth, depth, and sophistication of knowledge. During the Examination the student will demonstrate:

1. Mastery of a significant body of relevant knowledge
2. The capacity to think and write critically
3. The ability to apply information learned in the classroom and laboratory to the solution of relevant biological problems.

The student normally takes the Qualifying Examination normally in the third or fourth semester. The student, in consultation with the Head Graduate Advisor, will recommend a four-member Examination Committee, approved by the Graduate Division. This Committee shall have at least three regular faculty from the Graduate Group and include representatives from least two departments. Adjunct Professors may serve as members of the Committee. Non-Senate members and faculty from other campuses may serve upon approval of the Graduate Advisor and Dean of the Graduate Division.

No later than one week before the Examination the candidate will prepare and deliver to the Committee two research proposals, both of the scope and caliber appropriate for doctoral dissertation research. The steudent develops the topics of both the major and minor proposals in consultation with the Examination Committee Chair. To focus questioning in the candidate's proposed research area, the major proposal, in about three pages, should address the specific topic proposed for thesis research. To provide a starting point for questioning across the breadth of microbial biology, the minor proposal, in about two pages, should address a specific topic in a field that differs significantly in approach from that of the candidate's proposed dissertation research. The proposals serve as the basis for the oral examination, do not limit it.

The student, in consultation with the Research Advisor and Graduate Advisors, should ensure that Examination Committee composition's permits it to assess knowledge in both areas covered by the proposals. Any examiner may ask questions in any subject area. Thus, we strongly recommend that the student meet with each Committee member before the Examination. The professor and student may choose to focus on topics within a particular subject area and may meet regularly to discuss these topics. As long as the Committee adequately assesses the student's broad knowledge of microbial biology, the Committee may discuss additional areas by mutual agreement between the student and the examiners.

The oral examination will last approximately 3 hours. Approximately one-third of the Examination covers the major proposal, with the remaining time aloocated to the minor proposal and the breadth of microbiology. Passing the Qualifying Examination requires a unanimous vote of the Committee.

Following the Examination, the Committee Chair will write a short statement about the performance of the student in each area. This summary, added to the student's file, documents that the Committee spent adequate time on Examination areas and also guides the student's future program.