# Big Picture
> The PhD Qualifying Exam or preliminary evaluation is designed to assess the breadth of the student’s knowledge of the discipline, the student’s achievement during the first year of graduate study, and the potential to apply research methods independently. The evaluation is used to identify those students who may be expected to complete a doctoral program successfully and to reveal areas of weakness in the student's preparation. 
> 
> The qualifying exam in the mechanical engineering PhD program is a two-component examination that includes the submission of a **written research proposal** to an examining committee and **a formal oral presentation** on the proposed research with **a period of open questioning** by an examining committee. *This period of open questioning may include fundamental topics relevant to achieving a PhD degree in the chosen field of study by the examining committee as it evaluates the student’s case toward PhD candidacy.*
[[ME_PhD_Qualifying_Exam_Guideline_Fall2024.pdf#page=1&selection=20,0,122,14|ME_PhD_Qualifying_Exam_Guideline_Fall2024, page 1]]

# Scheduling
Minimum of 12 credits of coursework:
- 3 ME 2045
- 3 ME 2646
- 3 ME 2020
- 3 ME 2027 Advanced Dynamics
- 3 ENGR 2811 Innovating for Public Impact
- 3 NUCE 2103

QPA greater than 3.3:
* Done. 

# General Information
> ***It will be deemed an honor violation if a student solicits or receives help on any of the specific technical points of the research proposal.***
[[ME_PhD_Qualifying_Exam_Guideline_Fall2024.pdf#page=2&selection=13,1,17,0|ME_PhD_Qualifying_Exam_Guideline_Fall2024, page 2]]

Any faculty who wants to come can.

# Formation of the Examining Committee
Minimum three members, dynamic systems and control track.

# Format of the PhD Qualifying Exam
1. A technical report
2. An oral presentation (30 minute presentation, anticipated 90 minute duration)

## Topic
Should be in the same general field of PhD research, but not exactly the same as the dissertation topic. 

Topic descirption should be devloped by the student **in consultation with their advisor**. Maximum 250 words. 

## Written Research Proposal
- 8 weeks after abstract due 
- 10 pages long maximum

Two tries. 
## Outcomes
Pass or fail baby. 

# Student Guideline for the Written Research Proposal
Three Major Parts:
1. Project Summary
2. Project Description
3. References

## Project Summary (1 Page Limit)
Maximum one page.
A concise *overview* of the project, an explanation of the *intellectual merit*, and a statement of the *broader impacts*. 
### *Overview*
This is the goals and outcomes
### *Intellectual Merit*
A tease of this?
### *Broader Impacts*
Maybe this is some of the outcomes?
## Project Description (10 Page Limit)
A clear statement of the work. Should be a 2-3 year project.
### Background / Literature Review / State of the Art
*How is it done today?*
### Research Approach
*What's new in your approach, and why will it be successful?*
Gotta mention the implementation of new technologies, and how they **will be interpreted**. 
Each method **must** be explained why it was selected, and how the data will be analyzed. *How do you measure success?* 
### Broader Impacts
*If you're successful, who cares?* 
### Timeline
Optional. 
## References (No Page Limit)
Choose a referencing style that is appropriate. (Likely IEEE).  No page limit.
## Academic Integrity
Gotta do a course and badge for the University's online Academic Integrity Course:
- [ ] [Plagiarism Course](https://pitt.libguides.com/academicintegrity/plagiarism)
## Plagiarism Checking
Have to submit a plagiarism report obtained from an online plagiarism detection software. Must be submitted along side written research Proposal. Pitt recommends Turnitin.
# Must have checklist
 - [ ] Cover Page
	 - [ ] Title
	 - [ ] My name
	 - [ ] PhD advisor name
	 - [ ] Dynamic Systems and Control
- [ ] Main Report
	- [ ] 12-pt TNR font
	- [ ] 1 inch margins all around
	- [ ] letter sized paper
	- [ ] Figures and tables must have captions
- [ ] Project Summary
	- [ ] Maximum one page
	- [ ] Goals
	- [ ] Outcomes
	- [ ] Understanding of broader impact and intellectual merit
- [ ] Project Description
	- [ ] Maximum 10 pages
	- [ ] Background and literature review
	- [ ] Research Approach
	- [ ] Broader Impacts
- [ ] Academic Integrity Course
- [ ] Plagiarism Report

# How am I going to organize things?
[Based on feedback from Dan](2024-08-19):
1. Goals and Outcomes - 1 page
2. SOTA - 1.25 pages
	1. Verification and validation
	2. Can't handle P(G) probability
3. Approach - 5 pages
4. Impact - 0.75 pages
5. Metrics of Success - 0.5 pages
6. Risks and Contingencies - 0.5 pages
7. Schedule - 0.5 pages. (OPTIONAL)
