3.8 Qualifying Examination

An oral qualifying examination must be taken in the spring of the second year or the fall of the third year. The deadline is December of the third year. In this examination, students demonstrate their ability to recognize research problems of fundamental importance, to propose appropriate experimental approaches to address these problems, and to display comprehensive knowledge of their disciplinary area and related subjects. Students should consult with their Research Mentors and Graduate Advisers about when to schedule their exam. The composition of the Qualifying Examination Committee is subject to the approval of the Home Campus Graduate Dean.

Qualifying Examination Committee

The oral examination is administered by a committee composed of four faculty members who are selected by the student with the advice of their Graduate Adviser and Research Mentor, and then appointed by the Graduate Division on the student’s Home Campus. Everyone on the committee must be members of the academic senate at UCSF or Berkeley and reflect the breadth of the student's background, with expertise in the areas specified in the major and minor Program of Study.

Information about membership in the schools’ academic senates can be found at:
http://academic-senate.berkeley.edu/resources/bylaws_part1.html#2
http://www.ucsf.edu/senate/0-faq/index.html#anchor02

Under exceptional circumstances it is possible to include one faculty member who is not a member of the Academic Senate. Such exceptions require approval by the Head Graduate Adviser and the Graduate Dean on the student’s Home Campus.  At UCSF, the Graduate Dean must be petitioned using this form:
http://saawww.ucsf.edu/graduate/pdf/Petition.pdf

For UC Berkeley, the petition procedure is explained at:
http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/policies/faq.shtml#4

Other requirements are:
1.    The committee chair must be both a core member of the Group and of the academic senate of the student’s Home Campus.  For a faculty list, see http://bioeng.berkeley.edu/graduatefaculty.php
2.    At least one other member of the committee must be a core Group member.
3.    One committee member must be from outside the Group, and also must belong to the Academic Senate on the student’s Home Campus.
4.    Both campuses (Berkeley and UCSF) and both biological and engineering disciplines must be represented.
5.    The student's Research Mentor may not serve on the qualifying committee. 

Content of the Examination

The examination is composed of two sections.  The first is organized around the presentation of a written research proposal, and includes an in-depth question and answer session probing the student's grasp of the basic principles underlying the project, the details of the methods, any statistical methods employed, and the significance of the project within a wider context.

The project should be designed to last 6-12 months and not cover the student’s entire thesis.  Proposals should be 3-4 pages in length, outlining the general goals of the project, their significance and the methods used to approach them.  Students will distribute and discuss their proposal with the members of the committee as early as possible, and no later than one month in advance of the examination. The format of the student presentation has to be agreed upon by the Chair and the student.

Usually, a 5 to 15 minute (maximum) overview of the project is given by the student.  Visual media (overheads, powerpoint) are allowed, with comprehensive summary statements and diagrams are preferred over detailed methods (the Chair can suggest a chalk-talk format if appropriate).  For instance, powerpoint presentations are typically limited to around 15 slides.

After a brief intermission and discussion of the student’s performance among the committee members, the second part of the examination commences. The second section of the exam consists of questions exploring relevant areas of science and engineering, usually related to subjects of the major and minor identified by the student. Also included are questions pertaining to ethical aspects of Bioengineering.

Although the examination is intended to be challenging, it is quite unusual for a student not to pass. In the event of a complete or partial failure (section one or two), students must take a second examination approximately three months following the initial examination. Passage of the examination is a requirement for advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree.

Intermediate Deadlines

The best predictor of success in the oral examination is the amount of time students spend with their Research Mentors and examination committee members. The Group has set intermediate deadlines to encourage these interactions. The qualifying examination committee should be selected by the end of the second year and the research proposal submitted to each member in a timely fashion.

Forms from both the Graduate Division at the student’s home campus and the Bioengineering office must be filled out, approved and submitted at least six weeks prior to the examination date:
http://saawww.ucsf.edu/graduate/forms.htm
http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/policies/forms.shtml

The absolute deadline for completion of the qualifying examination is December of the third year. If the student exceeds this deadline, he/she will be subject to academic probation.