Introduction
The ScD Qualifying Examinations ("quals") consist
of three core exams and one area exam:
- Algorithms
- Foundations
- Languages
- An area exam
Policies concerning the quals
- The quals consist of four
separate exams. In order to "pass the quals," a student must pass
each of the four parts.
- Students are strongly urged
to choose an Area Exam in consultation with a prospective thesis advisor.
- A student has a maximum of
three consecutive offerings of the quals to pass all three core exams.
- A student must take at least
two core exams in each given offering within the
three-consecutive-offering period, unless the student has already passed
two core exams and has only one core exam remaining to take or re-take.
- A student is allowed at most
two attempts to pass each part of the quals. That is, if a student fails
an exam on the first attempt, the student is allowed only one more attempt
to pass it.
- An area exam can be taken
whenever the student and the prospective thesis advisor think is the right
time, which may or may not be within the three-consecutive-offering
period. A student is allowed at most two attempts to pass it in two
consecutive quals offerings.
- A student must sign up at
least two weeks in advance of the start of an offering during which he/she
plans to take one or more exams.
- Students in the Computational
Mathematics Option will take two of the core exams (that is, select two
from Algorithms, Foundations, and Languages) and two exams in the Department
of Mathematical Sciences.
- If for any personal reason a
student cannot take an exam that he or she has signed up for, it is the
student's responsibility to provide written documentation for approval on
the reason for his or her absence. Otherwise, the student will
automatically receive a failing grade for the exam.
- Any exception requires a
petition to the Graduate Committee.
For further information ...
Students with questions about the quals may contact Dr. J.
Wang:
Office: Olsen Hall 201
E-mail : wang@cs.uml.edu
Back to CS
graduate topic index
To CS Home Page
To UML
Home Page