The Ph.D. Dissertation Proposal

1. The Ph.D. Thesis Proposal is an oral examination and is an integral part of the Ph.D. approval process.
2. Students who successfully pass the Research Aptitude Examination must take the Ph.D. Proposal exam within 18 months of passing the Research Aptitude Examination and they must pass the Ph.D. Proposal exam within 24 months of passing the Research Aptitude Examination. If the student successfully completes the requirements for an M.S. degree within 18 months of passing the Research Aptitude Examination, an additional 12 months is added to both limits.
3. The proposed committee must include at least two members of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Faculty Assembly other than the advisor or co-advisor. These members will normally serve on the final dissertation committee. It will include the candidate's advisor.
4. The candidate must submit a written document of approximately 20 pages to the committee at least 5 days before the examination. This document may be prepared with the consultation the thesis advisor.
5. The seminar is open; however, the final deliberations are closed to all but the committee members.
   The student must secure a majority of positive votes to pass.
6. The student may apply for admission to candidacy to the Ph.D. program upon passing the Ph.D. Proposal exam.