Education

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

Held twice a year during vacation · Written exam on 3 core environmental courses · Minimum 60 points out of 100 per course (or grade substitution) · Must pass within 2 years of admission

Purpose
  • To assess the academic ability and fundamental knowledge required for completing the Ph.D. program and to determine whether dissertation research may continue
Schedule & Eligibility
  • Schedule: In principle, held twice a year during vacation (announced 1 month in advance)
  • Ph.D. / Integrated Program: Eligible after completing at least 1 semester; must pass within 2 years of admission (within 3 years for part-time students)
  • Master’s Program: Eligible to sit the exam only once after completing at least 2 semesters. If passed, the student is granted eligibility to apply for the Integrated Master’s & Ph.D. Program, and the Ph.D. qualifying examination is then waived.
Examination Method
  • Course Selection: Select 3 courses from the core environmental courses listed below.
  • Format: In principle, written examination
  • Evaluation Procedure: Exam results submitted by course instructors → Deliberation / approval by the departmental faculty meeting
  • Pass/Fail Decision: Pass / fail determined for each course; the qualifying exam is passed upon passing all 3 courses
  • Retake Policy: Students who fail may retake the exam once within 2 years of admission
  • Core Environmental Courses (exam subject options)
No. Course Code Course Title
1 EVSE 510 Introduction to Environmental Engineering
2 EVSE 520 Air Pollution
3 EVSE 525 Water Pollution
4 EVSE 540 Environmental Microbiology
5 EVSE 575 Earth Environment
6 EVSE 579 Environmental Statistics
7 EVSE 581 Environmental Physical Chemistry
8 EVSE 583 Environmental Inorganic Chemistry
9 EVSE 584 Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
10 EVSE 587 Environmental Organic Chemistry
11 EVSE 588 Climate Physics
12 EVSE 591 Environmental Risk Assessment
13 EVSE 593 Introduction to Environmental Big Data
Passing Criteria
  • 60 points or higher out of 100 in each course is required to pass.
  • If the course grade is A or higher, the exam is waived and the course is considered passed.
    (For students entering from the Class of 2019, A- or higher is accepted.)
Others
  • Master’s students who fail the Ph.D. qualifying exam during their Master’s enrollment will not receive partial credit for previously passed subjects upon later admission to the Ph.D. program.
  • Matters not specified in this guide shall be determined by the Education Committee and approved by the Steering Committee.