If a second attempt is required, it must occur no later than the fifth semester after admission. In addition, one extra semester will be allotted for every two semesters the student is away, leaving the student with at most four semesters after returning to take the exam the first time. These rules apply to every graduate student, including those who initially pursue an M.S. degree. The Qualifying Examination is given twice a year, during the fall and spring semesters. The Qualifying Examination is a general examination that places emphasis on a student's ability to reason, formulate and solve problems, and apply basic engineering and analytical skills.
Special emphasis is placed on problem solving relative to the student's area of specialization.
Students are examined by nine ECE professors, selected by the Graduate Committee. Four examiners are chosen from the student's area, and five examiners are chosen randomly from the remaining areas. The primary area exam may contain both a written and oral portion, and be of varying length. Because part of the test may be oral, students who have difficulty conversing in English are advised to take the necessary steps toward improvement in spoken English prior to taking the Qualifying Examination. A sample application form is shown in the Appendix.