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Entering Candidacy General Qualifying Exam

 

Entering Candidacy: General Qualifying Exam (GQE)

Admission to Stanford University for study beyond the master’s degree does not imply that you have been admitted to candidacy for the PhD degree—that special designation is reserved for students who have passed the department’s General Qualifying Exam (GQE) and have submitted an approved program of PhD course work on an Application for Candidacy for Doctoral Degree.

The purpose of the General Qualifying Examination (GQE) is to ensure that you have a well-planned research project and that you are adequately prepared to undertake the research. The exam can take either of two forms:

  • It may be written and/or oral general examination of your major field.
  • Alternatively, at the option of your advisory committee, the GQE may take the form of a dissertation proposal defense.

Scheduling the Exam

When your advisory committee deems that you are ready for the GQE, you should jointly select a date and time for the examination, which may take from one to three hours.

Normally, by the end of the second year of graduate study, the student is expected to take and pass the department’s General Qualifying Examination (GQE). At the time, you should complete the top portion of the Advisory Committee GQE Record Sheet for Pre-Doctoral Student, and submit it to the department office. Your principal advisor will complete the remainder of this form following the exam.

Preparing for the GQE

To assist your examiners in assessing the adequacy of the proposed plan of course work in supporting your proposed research, submit the following for use during the GQE:

Administering the GQE

The GQE must be administered by at least three members of the University faculty (members of the Academic Council). At least one member must be from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. When the primary advisor is not a member of the CEE faculty (CEE-Academic Council) the committee will consist of four examiners, with 2 members from the CEE department. The examiners will seek to ascertain that:

  • The content of the proposed research is relevant to the area of study.
  • The reasons for making the investigation are adequate.
  • The student has developed a suitable strategy for pursuing the subject.
  • There is contribution to knowledge.

Because passing the GQE signifies that you may enter candidacy and continue study toward the PhD degree, it is important that this decision be based upon all relevant information, including performance on the GQE and prior academic record.