Computational Examinations

The computational part covers the computational background needed to do research in the area chosen by the student and advisor. The computational examination will usually consist of three exams that cover course work. The Advisory Committee will determine the specific courses to be covered in the exam. The Advisory Committee working with the faculty writing and grading the exams will determine if the computational exams will cover only the course materials or also extra materials. Typically, each exam is three hours long and covers only course material. If extra materials are covered, they should be explicitly known to the student at least eight weeks in advance of the exam.

It is often the case that a computational exam corresponds to a prelim exam given in the `home' department. For example, many CS&E students take a computational exam that covers the algorithms course offered in the Computer Science department. In this case, the corresponding CS&E exam must be taken at the same time as the departmental exam. Usually it will be the case that the faculty who prepare the departmental exam will prepare and grade the corresponding CS&E exam. The Advisor should coordinate with the respective departments to arrange for a reasonable exam schedule for the CS&E student.

After all parts of the computational exams are taken and graded, the Advisory Committee will meet to decide which of the following three possible exam outcomes is appropriate.

pass

A pass means that, based on the exam results, the Advisory Committee judges that the student has the intellectual potential and the computational background to do CS&E doctoral research in her/his chosen area. Having the ``computational background'' does not mean that the student knows all that needs to be known to do the research. It does, however, mean that the student has mastered enough preparatory material so that the research can begin in the near future. It also means that the student will be able to reach the necessary computational maturity in time to do the research.

conditional pass

A conditional pass means that, based on exam results, the student though seemingly having the potential is nevertheless lacking in some significant area. Thus, the conditional pass allows the student to make up this deficiency. The student will be given explicit written instructions as to what needs to be done to obtain a pass on the computational exam, and will be given adequate time to satisfy those requirements. The deadline for meeting the requirements of a conditional pass must be given in writing to the student. After the student has completed the required work for the conditional pass or after the deadline has passed, the Advisory Committee will decide if the requirements have indeed been met. If they have been, the student will receive a pass; if not, the student has failed the computational exam. In deciding pass or conditional pass, an Advisory Committee vote of 75% is required.

fail

A fail means that, based on the exam results, the Advisory Committee either judges the student has not demonstrated the intellectual potential to do doctoral research or has not shown the necessary computational background to do research in the chosen area.