UC Davis ECE Preliminary Examination Process
Understand the Ph.D. preliminary examination process for Electrical and Computer Engineering at UC Davis, involving oral exams in six key areas. Learn about the scoring criteria and requirements to pass the exam within a specific timeframe. Get insights into the scoring system and what determines a clear pass, intermediate result, or clear fail. Be prepared for proctored exams by faculty members, aiming to assess your potential for independent research.
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Presentation Transcript
PREPARING FOR THE PRELIM UC Davis - Electrical and Computer Engineering
GENERAL INFORMATION The Prelim is an Oral Examination. The purpose of the Ph.D. preliminary examination process is to determine a student s potential for independent research. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program who already have an M.S. degree in ECE must pass the preliminary examination within two years of admission. Students not in possession of an M.S. degree in ECE when admitted must pass the examination within their first three years. MS Students will have to petition to take the Preliminary Exam.
EXAMINATION PROCESS Proctored by two faculty members in each of the following six areas: 1. Physical Electronics 2. Signals and Systems 3. Electromagnetics 4. Active and Passive Circuits 5. Systems and Software 6. Digital System Design
EXAMINATION PROCESS Required to take two examination s in at least two and no more than three areas. Scores of two areas leading to the best outcome will be used. Each examining panel can decide the length of its exam but it must be between 15 and 30 minutes long. Exams will be finished by the end of the third week of the winter quarter.
SCORING Each of the two examiners present will assign a score from 1 to 4 (Fractional scores are allowed) 1 = Clear Fail 2 = Marginal Fail 3 = Marginal Pass 4 = Clear Pass A total score of 16 is possible and the maximum exam score of each area, which is the sum of two individual scores, is 8
SCORING The following determinations are made from scores of four examiners in two areas: Clear Pass if all of the following holds: the sum of all four scores is at least 12, the exam score of each area is at least 5, and no individual score (from any of the four examiners) is less than two. Intermediate result if the student does not get a clear pass but the exam score of each area is at least 4. Clear Fail if the student does not achieve either a clear pass or an intermediate result.
SCORING CLEAR PASS Exam 1 Exam 2 Examiner A = 4 Examiner B = 4 _________________________ Exam 1 Score = 8 Examiner A = 3 Examiner B = 4 _________________________ Exam 2 Score = 7 Total Score: 15
SCORING INTERMEDIATE Exam 1 Exam 2 Examiner A = 2 Examiner B = 2 _________________________ Exam 1 Score = 4 Examiner A = 3 Examiner B = 4 _________________________ Exam 2 Score = 7 Total Score: 11
SCORING CLEAR FAIL Exam 1 Exam 2 Examiner A = 1 Examiner B = 2 _________________________ Exam 1 Score = 3 Examiner A = 3 Examiner B = 4 _________________________ Exam 2 Score = 7 Total Score: 10
INTERMEDIATE PASS Intermediate result if the student does not get a clear pass but the exam score of each area is at least 4. A letter of support from the Major Professor is needed The student should discuss what information his/her major professor will require him/her to provide in order to write the letter The letter should not be more than two pages long and should be received by the Graduate Program Coordinator by the end of the sixth week of the winter quarter. (Will provide exact deadline)
INTERMEDIATE PROCESS The Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee will make a recommendation on each intermediate result case by the end of the eighth week of the winter quarter. The ECE Graduate Program faculty vote will determine the final outcome, either pass or fail, by the end of the winter quarter.
PRELIM EXAM STATS WINTER 2023 Mock Interview Yes No Total Pass Intermediate Fail 2023 13 1 14 10 2 12 3 0 3 # of Exams Pass Intermediate Fail Total Two Exams Three Exams *A student took only 1 exam automatic fail 9 7 2 4 1 20 14 11
PREPARING FOR THE PRELIM EXAMS Accessing Expanded Course Descriptions and Reading Materials Undergraduate Course List and Descriptions Doctoral Preliminary Oral Examination Prelim Estimated Time Line Preparing for the Prelim Workshop October 20, 2023 Prelim applications opens October 20, 2023 Prelim application closes November 3, 2023 Declaration of Major Professor Form November 3, 2023 GSA Mock Interview Dates: First round of Prelim Mock Interviews Mid November 2023 Second round of Prelim Mock Interviews Early January 2024 Prelim Exam January 22 26, 2024 in person
REGISTRATION PROCESS Online Application link was emailed October 18, 2023 Application Form due by November 3, 2023 Indicate exam topics Can select three topics and committee will count highest two grades. Must select at least two topics. One topic must be related to research area of Major Professor
ELIGIBILITY Ph.D. Candidate Must be in good academic standing Must be registered as a full-time student Have submitted a signed Major Professor Form MS Students will have to petition to take the Preliminary Exam This includes a referral letter from a professor Passing the Prelim does NOT grant automatic acceptance to the Ph.D. program
REGISTRATION PROCESS Your exam date and time will be assigned to you You will be notified by email of your scheduled date and time early in January The Preliminary Exam will be held in person this year Please make sure you are available the week of January 22nd for your exam date and time Submit the Honor Code agreement
