M.S. & Ph.D. Programs

In accordance with their original application, students may enter the Department through the Master's of Science Program or the Ph.D. Program. Those wishing to switch between the programs, must formally apply by the general deadline to compete for admission with all other applicants. Each admitted student first identifies a track and signs up for one or more core courses (either departmental or track-specific). Typically, each student in both degree programs registers for 12 course credits each semester (4 courses at 3 credits per course) until earning the requisite number of credits.

Each student entering the program chooses, or is assigned, a Faculty Advisor by the Graduate Program Committee. Doctoral students are also assigned an ad hoc Qualifying Exam Committee (QEC) to advise them until their successful passing of the qualifying exam. The QECs mentor the students and help them choose courses. Other functions of the QEC are described below. After passing the qualifying exam the QEC’s advisory role is taken over by the Ph.D. Committee chaired by the student’s advisor. This committee focuses on the timely progress of the student’s research or engineering invention.

The main requirements for the Ph.D. degree are:

1. Continuous registration and enrollment for 6 semesters during which courses are taken with the full-time tuition paid (or 5 semesters, if transfer credits are approved),

2. Meeting with the QEC each semester before class registration begins,

3. Completion of departmental and track-specific core courses and other graduate courses recommended by the QEC,

4. Successful completion of the Qualifying Exam administered by the QEC,

5. Meeting with the Ph.D. Committee at least two months before the Preliminary Examination,

6. Passing the Preliminary Examination,

7. Providing semester progress reports to the Ph.D. Committee,

8. Completion of the dissertation, and Final Examination (oral defense of the dissertation).

Course Requirements

The following three options are available to degree candidates.

1. M.S. degree without a thesis. 30 course credits: 6 credits in the departmental core courses, 9 credits in the track-specific core courses, and at least 9 credits in other graduate courses. The remaining time may be spent in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses. The student takes an oral exam, which includes questions on his/her Master’s project and on the coursework.

2. M.S. degree with a thesis. 30 course credits: 6 credits in the departmental core courses, 9 credits in the track specific core courses, at least 9 credits in other graduate courses, and 6 research credits to support their M.S. thesis. The student takes an oral exam on the thesis.

3. Ph.D. degree. 60 credits, including 36 course credits (15 in core courses and 21 in courses related to the student’s area of study) and 24 research credits. Students are encouraged to take advantage of the variety of courses across the University to receive a broad academic education. However, courses have to be approved by their QEC before the qualifying exam is taken, and by the Advisor after this exam.

In pursuing a Ph.D., after completing the credit requirements for the M.S. degree, as described in Table 2, the student may apply for an M.S. degree. Typically an M.S. thesis and its defense are required. Students who fail the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam may apply for a (terminal) M.S. degree with or without a thesis. An M.S. exam is required in any of these cases. Note again that, for the Ph.D., full tuition payment for a total of 6 (or 5) semesters is required.

Students entering the Ph.D. program with an M.S. degree, can, with approval of the QEC, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Dean of the Graduate School, transfer up to 12 relevant course credits from the previous institution. Full tuition payment for a total of five semesters is then required.

Minimum Course Credits for the M.S. and Ph.D. Degrees

Typical required credits for M.S. and Ph.D. students are summarized below.

Type of Degree Core Courses Study track and other graduate courses Advanced undergraduate and other graduate classes Research (RES 001) Total Credits

M.S. (without thesis) 15 At least 9 Up to 6 0 30

M.S. (thesis) 15 9 Substitution of certain classes may be allowed with concurrence of the faculty advisor 6 30

Ph.D. 15 21 Substitution of certain classes may be allowed with concurrence of the QEC and/or faculty advisor 24 60

Ph.D. (M.S. transfer) 15* 21* Substitution of certain classes may be allowed with concurrence

of the QEC and/or faculty advisor 24 60

* A maximum of 12 of the total 36 credits may be earned via transfer of earlier graduate credits under the Graduate School rules.

Graduate Colloquium

In addition to the course credits listed and discussed above, each graduate student in the Department is required to participate in the Departmental Seminar called “Colloquia on ‘Mechanics and the Environment’.” This Colloquium is a series of about 18 seminars scheduled when classes are in session during the eight-month academic year. The faculty of the university, visiting scientists, and senior graduate students give the seminars. Additionally, two workshops are planned for the Ph.D. students as a part of the Colloquia to prepare them for their Qualifying Exam. One, in the spring semester of their first year, is on “Preparing and Writing a Research Proposal.” The other one, in the fall semester, is on “Research Communications” to prepare students for oral presentations at the Qualifying Exam and at scientific and professional meetings.

The minimal seminar participation requirements are as follows:

• Each degree candidate needs to register for CE 301 (Fall) or CE 302 (Spring) and is expected to attend at least 75% of the seminars in a given semester. Attendance is recorded. Although no grades are assigned in CE 301-302, student transcripts will show that the courses have been completed and thereby that the requirement has been satisfied. Students having scheduling conflicts should inform the Director of Graduate Studies.

• Each candidate for an M.S. degree shall register for CE 301-302 for at least one academic year. Some candidates for an M.S. degree with a thesis may be asked to present a seminar on their research. Such seminar does not replace the oral defense of the thesis.

• Each candidate for a Ph.D. degree shall register for CE 301-302 for at least two academic years. If the candidate previously completed one year of the Colloquium as part of the Duke M.S. degree requirement, then only one additional year of seminar attendance is required. All Ph.D. candidates are expected to present at least one seminar on their research. This seminar does not replace the oral defense of the dissertation and should be scheduled at the request of the advisor, in coordination with the student and Director of Graduate Studies.

• A degree candidate does not need to be registered in CE 301-302 in the semester that he or she presents a seminar.

The faculty encourages all graduate students to attend as many Graduate Colloquium seminars as possible, as exposure to novel ideas, research methodologies, and results from broadly or even remotely related fields is enriching and stimulating and helps to develop a critical sense of what constitutes an effective presentation.