Graduation Requirements

General

PhD student Esin Koc Alkislar works on enhanced flame stability in the departmental Subsonic Combustion Laboratory.

A demonstrated ability to perform original research in Mechanical Engineering is the final and major criterion for granting the Doctoral degree. The candidate's dissertation serves in part to demonstrate such ability. On completion, it is defended orally in a public seminar.

Major Professor

The student must choose a major professor by the semester that he/she passes the Preliminary Exam. The major professor must be a member of the graduate faculty with doctoral directive status. If the student has not chosen a major professor prior to this time, a professor approved by the Graduate Committee Chair will act as the student's Academic Advisor.

Dissertation Supervisory Committee

The Dissertation Supervisory Committee is chosen as soon as possible after the student passes the Preliminary Exam and must be chosen prior to the Prospectus Defense. The Formation of Committee form may be found on the Ph.D. forms page.

The Dissertation Committee consists of a minimum of 4 members of the graduate faculty who have doctoral directive status: the major professor, at least two members of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, (one of which must be outside the depth area), and at least one member from outside the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Faculty without doctoral directive status may assist a student on a Supervisory Committee, but cannot vote on or sign the dissertation.

Overview of Credit Requirements

Beyond the Master's degree, a total of 45 additional semester hours are required, of which 24 hours must be dissertation. The remaining 21 semester hours must be letter-graded course work.

Advisement is required every semester prior to registration. The 21 semester hours of course work are selected by the candidate with the approval of his/her advisor only, and must agree with the minimum requirements listed here.

Normally, continued registration is expected for each semester, however, due to shortage of funds in the summer, graduate courses have not been offered in the recent past. The student should check with the department to see if summer registration is required.

Preliminary Examination (0 Semester Hours)

All students admitted to the Doctoral Program are required to take the EML 8968 Preliminary Examination before the end of the second semester. The exam consists of both written and oral examinations and is usually only administered in the Spring semester. The student has two chances to pass this examination. If the student fails the exam the first time it is attempted, the exam must be taken again within one year. Satisfactory completion of the Preliminary Exam is required for admission to candidacy for the Doctoral Degree.

Analysis Courses (6 Semester Hours)

A minimum of 6 of the 21 hours must be general engineering and advanced mathematics courses such as those in the following list (consult the Graduate Coordinator for questions about courses not listed here):

Breadth Courses (6 Semester Hours)

Ph.D candidates must complete 6 credits of ME courses outside their major and allied field. Allied fields are

1. Dynamics & Controls
2. Mechanics & Materials
3. Fluid Mechanics & Heat Transfer

For example, a Mechanics student needs to take a total of 6 credit hours from the first and third group above.

For a listing of available courses in the groups, see the graduation requirements for the MS Program.

Other courses (9 Semester Hours)

For a listing of some classes that could be used to satisfy the other 9 semester hours of letter-graded course work, see the graduation requirements for the MS Program.

Seminars (0 Semester Hours)

Each semester, students must sign-up for and attend the weekly Departmental Seminar:

Prospectus Defense (0 Semester Hours)

After passing the Preliminary Examination, the student is eligible to take the Prospectus Defense. This exam should be taken by the fourth (academic year) semester of the program and must be passed at least one year prior to the semester in which the Ph.D. dissertation is defended. The Prospectus Defense consists of a 45 minute presentation of the proposed dissertation topic, followed by an oral examination in the general area of the dissertation. The student has two chances to pass the Prospectus Defense.

Dissertation Research (24 Semester Hours)

Immediately after the student has successfully passed the Preliminary Examination, he/she must file an Admission to Candidacy Form with the Registrar's Office of the Preferred University. The form may be found on the Ph.D. forms page. After completion of the Admission to Candidacy process, the student may retroactively add dissertation hours for the semester in which the Preliminary Examination was passed.

Dissertation Defense (0 Semester Hours)

The dissertation must be defended orally for the award of the Ph.D. Degree. The semester the student defends he/she must register for the Ph.D. Dissertation Defense:

Final Term Registration

Both Florida A & M University and Florida State University have a university policy which requires students to register for one hour of dissertation in the final term of registration, even if the minimum requirement of 24 hours of dissertation has been previously fulfilled. The final term registration requirement must be completed or graduation will be denied.