Doctor of Philosophy
Policies and Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy degree requires a minimum of 60 graduate credits, of which 30 to 48 credits are for course work and 12 to 30 credits are awarded for dissertation. Individual academic departments will determine the applicable credit hour requirements within these ranges to reflect individual program requirements and emphases. The graduate credits earned for a master’s degree that are applicable to a student’s doctoral program of study are determined on an individual basis by the steering committee. The student must pass the doctoral candidacy examination covering selected fields of study at least one year prior to dissertation defense and successfully defend the dissertation. The dissertation must be prepared according to college standards and will be deposited in Moon Library and submitted for microfilming to ProQuest.
Tool Requirements
Doctoral students must demonstrate competence in at least one research tool as a requirement for graduation. Such tools include statistics, computer science, or the ability to translate technical articles in a language, other than English, commonly used in science. Tool requirements and standards for each doctorate program will be determined by the corresponding program Faculty.
Communication Skills
All students entering graduate programs at ESF are expected to be proficient in communication skills, including technical writing and library skills. Students are required to have completed at least one course in technical writing and one course in library usage, either as an undergraduate or as a graduate student. Credits for such courses taken during the graduate program are not counted towards degree requirements. Alternatively, graduate students can meet the requirement by demonstrating the equivalent in experience in writing and library skills, as determined by the steering committee.
Seminars
Participation in seminars, including the preparation and presentation of technical material, is vital to graduate education. All graduate students at ESF are required to participate in graduate seminars, as follows:
- Each graduate student is expected to participate in topic seminars, including presentations, as determined by the individual department. This requirement can be fulfilled, with appropriate approval, by seminars offered at Syracuse University or the SUNY Upstate Medical University.
- Students completing the doctoral degree are required to present a "capstone seminar" on their dissertation. The purpose of the capstone seminar is to provide an opportunity for the graduate student to present technical information to a critical body of professionals and peers. This seminar will be presented prior to the dissertation defense and should be attended by the student's steering committee. Each seminar is open to the College community and will be announced College-wide to encourage attendance by students and faculty.
Academic Performance
All graduate students are required to maintain at least a 3.000 cumulative grade point average (4.000 =A) for graduate level courses. Students who do not maintain this average, or who receive two or more grades of Unsatisfactory (U) for work on the thesis or project, will be placed on probation or suspended from ESF by the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies upon the recommendation of the College Subcommittee on Academic Standards.
Credit Hour Load
To meet academic requirements, graduate students must be registered for at least one credit each semester, excluding summers, from the first semester of matriculation until all degree requirements have been completed. Students are required to register for at least one credit in the summer if they will complete all requirements during that time. There is no full-time credit hour load to meet academic requirements.
To qualify for various forms of financial support, the following credit hour loads are defined: Graduate students who hold an assistantship must be registered for at least nine credits each semester while holding such an award. Graduate students not holding an assistantship are considered full-time if they are registered for at least 12 credits each semester.
Graduate students, holding an assistantship or not, in their last semester of study who have met all academic requirements except for the completion of their dissertation or an examination may be considered full-time if registered for at least one credit and have their major professor verify they are working full-time on the completion of degree requirements.
Transfer Credit
Credit hours appropriate to the graduate degree in which a minimum grade of B was earned from an accredited institution can be transferred to the college, but grades and grade points cannot be transferred.
- Up to six credits of graduate course work not used to complete another degree may be accpted toward completion of a master's or doctoral degree as approved by the steering committee.
- Up to thirty credits of graduate level course work earned as part of a conferred master's degree may be transferred (by petition) to a doctoral degree with approval of the steering committee.
- Students may transfer no more than nine credits of credit-bearing non-degree ESF course work to graduate degree programs.
All transfer credit will remain tentative until official, final transcripts are received. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that official, final transcripts are sent to and received by the college.
Time Limits
For the doctoral degree, students must complete the candidacy exam within three years of the first date of matriculation. Doctoral candidates must complete all degree requirements within three years of passing the doctoral candidacy examination, or they will be required to retake the candidacy examination.
Graduate Program of Study (3B)
The program of study must include the sequence of courses that must be completed and a plan for research. The program of study, developed by the student with the advice and approval of the major professor and other members of the steering committee, must be submitted to the Department Chairperson for approval, and then forwarded to the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies at least by the end of the third semester. This program of study can be changed during the course of studies. Changes must be approved by the major professor, steering committee, Department Chairperson, and the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies.
- Printable version of the PhD Program of Study (3B)—PDF, Word
Major Professor
The student’s major professor is appointed by the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies, upon the recommendation of the Department Chairperson. A major professor should be appointed upon the student’s matriculation into a graduate program. For the graduate student accepted into a graduate program but lacking a major professor, a temporary advisor will be appointed by the Department Chairperson. However, every effort should be made to expedite appointment of a major professor as soon as possible.
It is the duty of the major professor to fulfill a primary role as the student’s mentor. Aided by other members of the steering committee, the major professor guides the student in the development and implementation of the program of study, including course selection, research planning, choice of the professional experience, and facilitation of the examination schedule. The major professor also guides the student in reviews of dissertation drafts, including a complete review of the dissertation before the final copy is presented for defense.
Steering Committee
The steering committee for Doctor of Philosophy is composed of the major professor and at least two faculty members or other qualified persons. Other qualified persons include faculty at other institutions, or other recognized professionals.
The student’s steering committee is appointed by the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies, upon the recommendation of the Department Chairperson. The steering committee should be appointed within the first semester and must have met by the end of the third semester of graduate study.
The steering committee assists the student in the development of the program of study, including the development of the student’s research or professional experience. All steering committee members should sign the 3B form before the end of the last year of the student's program. The steering committee guides the development of the dissertation, including a review of the dissertation before the final copy is presented for defense.
Examinations
Students who wish to complete the doctoral candidacy examination or defense of dissertation should request formation of their examining committee guided by the schedule provided by the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies.
To ensure the integrity of the examination process, oral examinations will generally take place during the academic year and all members of the examination committee appointed by the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies will be present at the oral examination. Students must complete the oral examination within six months from the appointment of the examination committee or the student will be required to request the assignment of a new examination committee. Exceptions may be granted by the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies.
Doctoral Preliminary Examination
The requirement for this examination is determined by individual academic departments. The purpose of this examination is to assess the entering student’s basic knowledge in the chosen field of study. The results of this examination may be used to determine the student’s suitability for the doctoral program and as a guide in selecting course work and developing a program of study.
Doctoral Candidacy Examination
The objectives of this examination are to determine the breadth and depth of knowledge in the chosen field of study and assess the student’s understanding of the scientific process. The doctoral candidacy examination is taken when the majority of course work is completed. This examination must be taken at least one year prior to the dissertation defense.
Upon the recommendation of the appropriate Department Chairperson, the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies appoints the doctoral candidacy examination committee consisting of the student’s major professor, the student’s steering committee and an additional faculty member from an appropriate area who serves as the “examiner.” Additionally, the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies appoints a committee chair who is not from the department of the student’s degree program. The examination must have both written and oral components.
The role of the examination committee chair is to manage the examination, ensure its integrity, and represent the interests of the faculty and student. Any member of the faculty may be an observer. The student examinee may invite a silent student observer to attend the oral examination.
Written Examination: There are three alternative forms for the written component, as follows:
- Form 1: The members of the committee submit questions or problems addressing the objectives of the exam. The questions are discussed and agreed upon at the planning meeting.
- The major professor administers the written examination. Usually, one-half day is allocated to questions submitted by each examiner. Upon completion by the student, the examination questions are reviewed and graded by the committee members who prepared them. The committee then reviews the entire examination.
- Form 2: The student prepares a written report on a topic or problem assigned by the examining committee. The topic or problem must meet the objectives of this examination and its content cannot be directly related to the student’s thesis research. The student has approximately one month to develop a thorough understanding of the assigned topic and prepare a written report. The report is reviewed by the committee members and committee chair.
- FORM 3: The student prepares and defends a written proposal of future research likely to be carried out during their Ph.D. project. This research prospectus must be presented to the examining committee two weeks prior to the candidacy exam and should include preliminary studies supporting the feasibility of the proposed research. The exam will test the candidate’s understanding of concepts directly related to his or her immediate area of research, knowledge of prior related research that has been conducted by others, their ability to design and interpret experiments in this area, and capacity to think and write independently and to present work plans orally in a clear and rational manner. The report is reviewed by the committee members and committee chair. This option is available only to doctoral students in the Department of Chemistry.
Oral Examination: Following the written examination under Form 1, completion of the report under Form 2, or completion of proposal under Form 3, the committee meets with the student for an oral examination usually lasting two hours. However, the duration can be longer if required. The questions may address the report or other areas appropriate to the objectives of the examination, including subject matter in allied fields. At the conclusion of the examination period, the student examinee and observers are excused from the room and the examination committee determines whether the student has passed the examination. Unanimous agreement is required to pass the student. If less than unanimous agreement is reached, the student is considered to have failed the first doctoral candidacy examination. The student can request a second examination. A student is considered to have passed the second examination if there is no more than one negative vote. A student who has failed the second examination is terminated from the graduate program.
Dissertation Defense
At the conclusion of the study and research program, each doctoral candidate must successfully defend the dissertation. The objectives of the defense examination are (1) to probe the validity and significance of the data and information presented in the thesis or dissertation, (2) to assess the student as a critical thinker and data analyst, (3) to evaluate the student's scientific creativity, including the student's ability to relate research results to scientific theory within the chosen field, and (4) to present the results effectively in writing.
Students should follow the academic guidelines for timely completion of their degree (see academic deadlines). Upon the recommendation of the appropriate Department Chairperson, the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies appoints the dissertation defense examination committee. It consists of members of the steering committee and at least two additional faculty members for the doctoral degree examination. Additionally, the Dean of Instruction and Graduate Studies appoints a committee chair who is not from the student's degree program.
This oral examination covers principally the material in the dissertation as well as literature and information relating to the dissertation. The role of the examination committee chair is to manage the defense, ensure its integrity and represent the interests of the faculty and student. Any member of the faculty may be an observer. The student examinee may invite a silent student observer to attend the examination. The defense examination usually lasts two hours, although this time period may be extended as required. At the completion of the examination, the candidate and observers are excused from the room and the examination committee determines whether the candidate has successfully defended the dissertation. Unanimous agreement is required to pass the student. If less than unanimous agreement is reached, the student is considered to have failed the first doctoral defense examination. A student who fails the first defense may request a second defense. At the second defense, the student has passed the defense if there is no more than one negative vote. A student who has failed the second defense is terminated from the graduate program
