PhD Qualifying and Remedial Examinations

The Qualifying Examination is a written exam required by the School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences (SAFS) and administered by the PhD Supervisory Committee over a one-week period. The Qualifying Exam should be completed within 18 months of residency in the doctoral program (e.g., if entering in September, the written is completed by the end of the second Winter Quarter).

The Qualifying Exam is intended to be general, in the sense that it should cover a range of material that the Supervisory Committee deems necessary for the education and future success of the student in his or her area of interest within the aquatic sciences. If the Committee does not adequately represent an area of expertise judged to be crucial to the student’s education, the chair of the Committee is free to solicit participation from other members of the UW Graduate Faculty.

Prior to the Qualifying Exam, the student obtains guidance from each Committee member on the subject matter to be covered and the expected question and answer formats. (Note: Graduate School Representative (GSR) participation in the Qualifying Exam is optional.) The Qualifying Exam can be either open- or closed-book, depending on the Committee’s preference. Each Committee member (the GSR is optional) should submit questions to the chairperson, who is responsible for the final content of the exam. The total time allotted for exam completion should not exceed one calendar week.

The Supervisory Committee evaluates the Qualifying Exam and discusses the student's performance via email, telephone, in-person, or any combination therein. Within two weeks of completing the exam, the Committee chairperson meets with the student to discuss the results. If the exam is satisfactory in all of its parts, as determined by the Supervisory Committee, the student is allowed to schedule the General Examination, usually in a subsequent quarter. An approved Dissertation Proposal must be on file before the General Exam can be scheduled.

Within two weeks of exam completion, the chair attaches all of the Committee members’ evaluations to the Report on the PhD Qualifying Examination form, completes and signs the form, and submits the form and evaluations to the SAFS Student Services Office for the student’s file.

Because of extensive consultation with Committee members and use of UW resources during an exam quarter, registration in at least two credits (e.g., Fish 800) is required when taking the Qualifying or Remedial Exam.

Remedial Examination

If the Qualifying Exam is unsatisfactory, the Supervisory Committee may require the student to take a Remedial Exam within 30 days. This is a written exam designed to further explore and evaluate competencies in the areas needing improvement. The Committee shall provide the student with a detailed analysis of his or her performance on the Qualifying Exam, including, if necessary, a discussion and decision regarding the continuance of the student in the doctoral program. The chair is responsible for the final content and format of the Remedial Exam, in consultation with the rest of the Committee. Prior to the Remedial Exam, the Committee may require a student to take additional courses, complete a series of readings, or satisfy other appropriate requirements. At the conclusion of the Remedial Exam, the Committee chair submits the Report on the PhD Remedial Examination to the SAFS Student Services Office for the student’s file.

The Graduate Program Coordinator shall be apprised of all Remedial Examinations.

Pending satisfactory completion of the Qualifying or Remedial Exam, when applicable, the student is allowed to schedule the General Examination, usually in a subsequent quarter. An approved Dissertation Proposal must be on file before the General Exam can be scheduled.

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