Qualifying
Exam (QE)
Objective:
General written exam to test master’s level
knowledge.
Description:
General test on 13 subjects. The student must answer
8 problems, and must complete the test in 4 hours.
The passing criteria are that the student must have
a score of 70% or better overall, and must pass at
least one-half of the problems they choose in each
part (must pass at least one math problem, at least
two Major Core problems and at least one General Subjects
problem). Students who score greater than 70% overall,
but who fail one part of the exam (by not passing
half of the problems attempted) will only have to
re-take that part of the QE. The time allowed for
re-taking only one part of the examination will be
scaled appropriately (1 hour for math or general part,
two hours for core part). Students who fail the qualifying
examination on two occasions will be dismissed from
the program.
When
taking the QE and CE, students will be permitted to
use textbooks and bound sets of class notes. The use
of solution manuals in any form is prohibited and
constitutes forfeiture of the exam.
Timeline:
A student who enters the Ph.D. program with a bachelor’s
degree must take the QE no later than the beginning
of Year 3. A student who enters the Ph.D. program
with a master’s degree must take the QE no later
then the beginning of Year 2. Students may petition
for exceptions to the timeline in writing to the ME
Department Graduate Committee. Any such request must
have the prior approval of the student’s advisor.
Subjects
Part
I: Analytical Math (answer 2 out of 3 problems
given)
Math
knowledge to be tested is in the areas of analytical
methods, numerical methods, ODE/PDE, complex variables
and advanced linear algebra.
Suggested
courses to obtain this knowledge include:
EGM
5315 Intermediate Analysis of Mechanical Systems
MAA
4402 Complex Variables
MAS
5145 Theory Linear Algebra
Part
II: Computational Math (answer 1 out of 3
problems given)
EGM
5346 Computational Engineering Analysis
EGM
6422 Advanced Analysis of Mechanical Systems
EGM
5354 Finite Element Methods Applications in ME
Part
III: Major (answer 4 out of 4 problems given
from 2 courses)
Major
Core (Select one area and answer all 4 problems given)
Thermo/Fluid/Biomedical
Part
IV: Breath Area (answer 1 out of 2 problems
given from 2 courses)
Student
must select 2 out of as many as 26 problems in the
following 13 subjects.
Students
must declare the courses they wish to be covered in
this portion of the exam when they declare their intention
to take the QE.
1)
Mathematics (courses as listed above)
2)
Thermo/Fluid/Bioengineering
