Academic Policies

4. The General Examination

4. The General Examination

Basis of the Examination:  In the General Examination a student is expected to demonstrate competence and professional expertise in the geological sciences and related fields as relevant to the student's major interests.   Accordingly, the examination is designed to explore: (1) the student's ability to organize and conduct an original research program and to present research results and material, (2) the student's depth of knowledge in the chosen fields of specialization, and (3) breadth in the geological and related sciences.

Short Guidelines for the General Examination

      The advisory committee, in consultation with the student, selects the examiners. The student can be charged with the actual arrangements (date, time and place).

     

 

Generally, there are 4-5 examiners (see Examination Committee below). All members of the Geosciences faculty may attend and may ask questions, but members other than the exam committee do not usually do so.  The exam is not open  to the general public.

       The student submits a written research report (10 - 20 pages) in the form of a scientific paper to the examiners at least one week before the exam.  He or she also submits a brief research proposal (at most two pages) at least one week before the exam. In addition to brief mention of methodology, goals, and research objectives, the proposal should include an explanation of why the research is important and how the research will be performed in a timely fashion.  This proposal should be mostly his/her own work and should outline a plan of research for the next two or three years.   Except for references, the papers cannot exceed the lengths above.  Copies of the report and proposal also go to Graduate Administrator for your files.

       Students will be tested on two areas of concentration.  They should choose areas relevant to their expertise and their research.  The 'areas of concentration' can be narrow (e.g. stable isotope geochemistry) or wide.  Students choosing narrow topics will be examined in greater depth.  Areas of concentration can be based on the non-GEO courses (e.g., inorganic chemistry, statistics).

      

 

Timing:   The general examination normally takes place in May of the second year. The examination may be taken earlier (October or January) by well-prepared students.  It can be delayed with the approval of the Graduate Work Committee only under very special circumstances such as serious illness.  Students taking the examination a second time must do so within one year at the most.  Their committee may require that the exam be taken at an earlier time, and can also insist on a minimum interval before the exam is retaken.

Examination Committee

       The committee for the general examination consists of four or five faculty members including the student's primary advisor, a secondary advisor, a member of the Graduate Work Committee, and at least one faculty member, the nonexpert, whose expertise is outside the student's research area. (With the goal of consistency and continuity between exams, two GWC members should be part of the examination committee. The secondary advisor and the outside member may both be GWC members). The committee may include a faculty member from another department of the university.  Each committee, including its chair, must be approved by the DGS prior to scheduling the examination.  These rules ensure some conformity and ensure that standards do not diverge between different groups in the department.  Members of the student's advisory committee during the first two years may be members of the Examination Committee, but it is not required.  The chair of the examination committee, who organizes the question period and insures that the exam proceeds according to the guidelines below, must not be the student's primary advisor.

 Preparing for the General Examination:   Some Suggestions

  ·      There are no formal preparation requirements.  However, all parties will recognize that they have a huge stake in the student’s success.  We recommend that the student’s preparation include the following steps.

  ·       Several months before the examination period, students being examined should meet with students who have passed the general exam to ask for information about preparing for, and taking, the exam.

  ·       The student should work with his/her advisor in the preparation of the report and the proposal.   This means submitting drafts for review well in advance of the due date.  The advisor should read these drafts carefully; making suggestions as to how they can be strengthened, and helping the student identify areas where their knowledge of the subject matter should be improved.

  ·       The student should meet with the examiners individually to discuss the topics to be covered during the examination, to identify readings as part of the preparation, and to ask for any help in understanding the science.

  ·       The student should review all relevant course material in depth prior to the examination.   There is no reason students should be unable to answer questions involving basic information and concepts covered in class.

  ·       1-2 weeks before the exam, the student should convene a group of graduate students to serve as the examining committee in a “mock exam”.

Format and Timing of the General Examination

The first hour of the exam covers the research paper and the thesis proposal.  Students' presentations of their research should be no longer than 20 minutes with minimal interruptions.  Each committee member will question the student on his/her research area.  Then, after a short break, the second part covers the two topics selected by the student, and lasts about an hour and a quarter.  Each committee member will ask questions testing the student's general knowledge of the basic science underlying the areas of specialization and fundamental concepts in earth sciences and related disciplines.  Including the break, the exam does not normally last longer than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Criteria for Passing the General Exam

     Research paper and thesis proposal:   The research paper does not need to be ready for publication, but the paper should have a scholarly level close to that of a paper submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. The research accomplishments should indicate a reasonable level of productivity and the interpretation should indicate a knowledge of the literature and good critical thinking. The thesis proposal should clearly express the justification and the research plans. In response to questions, students should show a broad knowledge of the relevant literature, an understanding of the underlying principles, knowledge of analytical or modeling tools, an appreciation of uncertainties and limitations of the work, and the skills to interpret the results and draw appropriate conclusions.  In general, students should show intellectual ownership of their research.

     Topics selected by the student:  The student should show an understanding of the basic scientific principles underlying each topic, and a broad knowledge of the field. The required depth increases as the breadth of the topic narrows. Students should show a reasonable knowledge of the literature and an ability to invoke and apply concepts relevant to their topics. 

     Students can discuss with their committees alternative formats for their exams if there are special considerations.

Possible Outcomes of the General Exam, and Instructions to the Examining Committee for Reporting the Outcome

      The student passes unconditionally.   Check the "Pass" box.

      The student fails.  Check the "Fail" box.   If it is the second failure, the student is required to leave the program.   If it is the first failure, the student has the option of retaking the exam according to the rules of the Graduate School.   The Committee should recommend when the exam can be retaken.

     

The student passes the exam at the level required for a terminal master's degree, but fails at the level required for advancing for the Ph.D.  Check the "Pass" box and attach a note with the committee's recommendation concerning the level of the pass.

 

     A student passes one part of the exam but fails the other(s), and the examining committee recommends that he retake part of the exam.  Check the "Fail" box.   Attach a memo explaining what part is satisfactory, what part should be retaken, and when the student should retake part of the exam.

 

     The student passes the exam but the committee wishes to require certain additional work (a course for example).  Check the "Pass" box.   It will then be up to the committee to monitor completion of the additional work.   If necessary the student can be required to do this work as a condition of re-enrollment.

 

     The outcome of the general exam is decided by the examining committee at the completion of the exam.   If the decision in favor of any of the options outlined above is unanimous, that decision is final and does not require a vote of the full faculty.   If there is a dissenting vote among the committee, the decision must be presented to and voted upon by the faculty. It is usual for all general exams to be summarized for the full faculty, but only split decisions require a formal vote.

If a Student Decides to Withdraw from Graduate School with a Master’s Degree Before taking the General Exam.

      Under some circumstances, a student may decide prior to the general exam that he or she does not wish to continue in the Ph.D. program but does wish to qualify for a master's degree (M.A.) from the department. In this case, the student should discuss this option with the advisor and advisory committee well in advance.  The general exam for an M.A. degree is similar to that for Ph.D. candidacy but will not include defense of a research plan.   It should be noted that passing the general exam for a terminal M.A. degree does not quality the student for Ph.D. candidacy, and some or all of the exam would need to be retaken if the student later decides to pursue a Ph.D. in the department. The requirements for the M.A. degree are as follows:  Completion of all required coursework with no Incompletes, satisfactory completion of the required pre-general exam research project or paper, and the student must stand for the general exam.

Regulations of the Graduate School

      Attention is drawn to the general regulations for the general examination as published in the Graduate Catalogue and particularly to the following paragraphs:   A student is not admitted to the examination until he or she has devoted at least one year or the equivalent of one year entirely to graduate study at Princeton University.

     

 

A graduate student who withdraws from the University in good standing before passing the general examination, and who is therefore not enrolled as a resident graduate student, may ask to stand for the examination with the approval of the Dean on the advice of the department, provided he/she has met the residence and language requirements.

     

 

In case the general examination is not passed, the student will be allowed to stand for re-examination within one year.  If unsuccessful the second time, the student may not stand for the examination again.

     

 

Should a student's performance on the general examination, though judged as passing, raise serious doubt about that student's capacity for doing the scholarly work which is required for the Ph.D. degree, the Department may rule that qualifying for the Master's Degree terminates the student's degree candidacy.  The termination of degree candidacy at the Master's level shall stand without further appeal unless new evidence of scholarly promise or capacity is provided by the student's subsequent professional achievement as shown by scholarly publication. In the latter event, the Dean may entertain a recommendation that the student be readmitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

·        Several months before the examination period, students being examined should meet with students who have passed the general exam to ask for information about preparing for, and taking, the exam.

·        The student should work with his/her advisor in the preparation of the report and the proposal.   This means submitting drafts for review well in advance of the due date.   The advisor should read these drafts carefully; making suggestions as to how they can be strengthened, and helping the student identify areas where their knowledge of the subject matter should be improved.

·        The student should meet with the examiners individually to discuss the topics to be covered during the examination, to identify readings as part of the preparation, and to ask for any help in understanding the science.

·        The student should review all relevant course material in depth prior to the examination.   There is no reason students should be unable to answer questions involving basic information and concepts covered in class.

·        1-2 weeks before the exam, the student should convene a group of graduate students to serve as the examining committee in a “mock exam”.

Format of the General Examination

      The overall length of the examination will generally be two-and-a-half to three hours.   The examination will consist of the following three sections:

      At the beginning of the examination, the student will give a 15 - 20 minute talk on his/her research and proposal. The committee will refrain from asking questions (except for minor clarification) until the talk is completed.

      Each committee member will first question the student on his/her thesis research area.


      Each committee member will then ask questions testing the student's general knowledge of the basic science underlying the areas of specialization and fundamental concepts in earth sciences and related disciplines.


   The Chair is encouraged to declare a short recess after the questioning on the student’s report and proposal.

Academic Program Overview

1. GEO Requirements for First Year Studies

2. Graduate Work Committee

3. Advisory Committee

4. The General Examination

5. Dissertation

6. Thesis Formalities

7. Final Oral Examination

8. Graduation

9. Readmission

10. Length of the Program

11. Formal Foreign Language Requirement

12. Undergraduate Courses

13. Grades

14. Financial Support of Graduate Research

15. Fellowships

16. Assistants-in-Instruction

17. Procedure for Terminating Enrollment

18. Housing

19. Rules, Regulations, and Procedures

20. Administrative and Technical Personnel and Services

21. Miscellaneous Department Information


Appendix

A. Publication of the Doctoral Dissertation