2004 - 2005 Calendar
Professor and Dean
R. Gosine
Professor and Associate Dean (Graduate Studies and Research)
R. Venkatesan
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy is offered in the Faculty of Engineering
and Applied Science and may be obtained either through full-time or part-time
studies. The Ph.D. degree can be obtained through programs in the following
disciplines: Civil Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical
Engineering, and Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering. At present,
the following interdisciplinary research areas are active in the Faculty:
Engineering Analysis; Environmental and Hydrotechnical Studies; Manufacturing
and Robotics; Mechanics, Structures, and Materials; and Ocean Engineering.
The interdisciplinary area of Ocean Engineering has been and continues
to be a major strength for graduate studies and research in the Faculty
of Engineering and Applied Science.
A) QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION
B) PROGRAM OF STUDY AND
RESEARCH
C) REGULATIONS FOR
PH.D. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
Admission to the Ph.D. program is limited and competitive. All applicants
must meet the minimum qualifications described in the GENERAL REGULATIONS for the School of Graduate
Studies. Admission is normally restricted to candidates holding a Master’s
degree in Engineering or a related area. Decisions on admission, however,
will also take into account such things as the applicant’s rank in class,
referees’ assessments, general performance throughout the applicant’s previous
academic programs, and the availability of supervisors in the area of the
applicant’s interest. In cases of demonstrated ability, a student enrolled
in the M.Eng. program may be allowed to transfer to the Ph.D. program without
the completion of all the M.Eng. degree requirements. As well, in exceptional
cases, direct entry to the Ph.D. program, after completion of a Bachelor’s
degree in Engineering or a related area, is possible.
Normally, applicants will be considered in January for admission for
the following September. In special cases, applicants may also be considered
in April and August. Applications should be made sufficiently far in advance
to permit the University to obtain all relevant documents and review the
application.
B) PROGRAM OF STUDY AND RESEARCH
A Ph.D. program shall normally consist of three components:
1) a minimum of 6 credit hours consisting of graduate courses recommended
by the student’s supervisory committee
2) a comprehensive examination as detailed in Section C
3) a thesis satisfying the requirements of the GENERAL REGULATIONS for the School of Graduate
Studies.
In cases of direct entry after a Bachelor’s degree or promotion from
a Master’s program before fulfilment of the Master’s course requirements,
it is likely that the student will be required to take more credit hours
than the normally required minimum. In such cases, the requirements for
the course component of the student’s program will be reviewed on an individual
basis by the student’s supervisory committee and the Dean of the Faculty
of Engineering and Applied Science.
C) REGULATIONS FOR PH.D. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
PART I - Timing of Examination
A candidate registered in a Ph.D. program in the Faculty of Engineering
and Applied Science shall normally take the Comprehensive Examination during
the first year of the program.
PART II - Composition of the Examination Committee
The Examination Committee shall be appointed by the Dean of Graduate
Studies on the recommendation of the Dean of Engineering and Applied Science.
It shall consist of:
a) The Dean of Engineering and Applied Science (or
delegate) who shall be the Chair and a voting member.
b) The Dean of Graduate Studies or delegate.
c) Four additional voting members nominated
by the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. The candidate's Supervisor
and not more than one other from the Supervisory Committee shall be among
the nominated members of the Examination Committee.
PART III - Content of Comprehensive Examination
The Comprehensive Examination for Ph.D. candidates shall consist of
two parts, a research examination and a general examination.
a) Research Examination
The candidate will provide a written submission to the Examination
Committee outlining the proposed research program. In this brief, the
candidate must demonstrate an acceptable understanding of the proposed
research and indicate the availability of the facilities necessary to
carry out the work.
The Comprehensive Examination Committee shall examine the candidate
orally on any or all aspect(s) of the research proposal.
b) General Examination
Within two weeks after the Research Examination the candidate shall
submit to another oral examination by the same Committee. The candidate
will be expected to demonstrate a mastery of the subdisciplines of engineering
as defined in General Regulation
H.2.c.
At least one week in advance of the first oral examination, the Chair
of the Examination Committee will issue a notice to faculty and graduate
students in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, notifying the
date and place of the examinations. Both oral examinations shall be open.
After the candidate has been examined by the Examination Committee, others
in the audience will be given an opportunity to question the candidate.
At the conclusion of the public portion of the oral examination, the
Committee may meet in private to further question the candidate and may
ask the candidate to appear for a written examination on specified topics
within 14 days after the general oral examination. The candidate shall
be given at least 7 days notice before such written examination.
The Examination Committee will meet in camera to arrive at its recommendations.
After the Committee has considered the candidate's performance on all
portions of the examination, the Chair shall report the result of the
examination to the Dean of Graduate Studies. The report will be in accordance
with General Regulation H.2.
For a list of graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Engineering and
Applied Science refer to the list of “Core Courses” and the list of “Other
Courses” offered for the Master of Engineering
program.
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