Ph.D. Qualifying Exams

In Fall 2025, the ME program updated the policy on degree progression for the PhD by removing the qualifying exam (QE). The QE has been replaced by a coursework evaluation that occurs when the student submits their plan of study or in semester 3, whichever occurs first. The full policy and transition plan for students admitted prior to Fall 2026 is available in the ME Graduate Student Sharepoint site. 

Upon passing the coursework evaluation and submitting an approved plan of study, ME PhD students are able to begin preparations for the preliminary exam. The preliminary exam will take place during semesters 4-5, and the student must be enrolled in credit hours at the time of the exam. Once the preliminary exam has been taken and passed, the student is considered a PhD Candidate.

In Nuclear Engineering, the purpose of the QE is to ensure students have a broad mastery of graduate material enough to serve as a basis for doctoral level research and scholarship. Students are eligible to sit for the QE after completing the five core nuclear engineering courses: 

• NSEG 5124 Nuclear Reactor Analysis (3 cr)
• NSEG 5204 Nuclear Fuel Cycle (3 cr)
• NSEG 5604 Radiation Detection and Shielding (3 cr)
• Mathematics course from NE Program Handbook (3 cr)
• Choose one additional course:
  • NSEG 5424 Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (3 cr)

  • MSE 5384G Advanced Nuclear Materials (3 cr)

Qualifying Exam Procedure for the ME Nuclear Engineering PhD Program 

In Nuclear Engineering, the purpose of the QE is to ensure students have a broad mastery of graduate material enough to serve as a basis for doctoral level research and scholarship.  

The exam can have two segments: a written part and an oral component. However, a student is exempted from the oral exam if the student receives a grade better than 75% in the two parts of the written segment. The oral segment is offered only to those students who receive at least a grade of 50% in the written segment. A written grade of less than 50% is considered a fail and the student must re-take the exam next time it is offered.  Only portions with a grade less than 75% are re-taken.  Descriptions of the two parts are given below: 

• Written Examination (6 hours) The written exam is comprised of two parts: 
  • Part 1: Math and NEP Core (choose 3 out of 5 questions) (3 hours) 
  • Part 2: NEP Specialty (3 questions) (3 hours) (each student chooses up to 3 specialty areas) 
• Oral Examination (1.5-2 hours) The oral examination will involve at least three (3) NEP faculty members; one of the faculty members must be the student’s research mentor. During the oral exam, the faculty are encouraged to ask questions related to the written exam at least for the first hour of the exam. All the faculty are given equal chance to question students. The student’s mentor monitors the exam.