In the first year at Rice, the student typically takes 6 courses, completes a First Year Project, finds an MS Thesis Advisor, begins research, and formulates an PhD Course Plan.
The decision on admission into MS Candidacy is made by the Graduate Committee in May of the student's first year, based on:
There are three possible outcomes of the Graduate Committee's evaluation: satisfactory progress, satisfactory progress with remedial work required, and unsatisfactory progress. In the second case, students will be advised in writing of the required remedial work and the time period allowed to complete the work. In the case of unsatisfactory progress, the student will not be allowed to continue toward the MS/PhD degrees. All students must advance to MS candidacy in their first year at Rice. (Transfers to other degree programs (MEE, for example) require special permission of the ECE Graduate Committee and the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.)
Over the course of the second year at Rice, the MS candidate completes the course requirements for the MS degree (typically two more courses), performs research, forms an MS Thesis Committee, and writes and defends an MS Thesis.
The Graduate Committee reviews students completing all of the MS degree requirements for advancement to PhD candidacy. This decision is based on:
There are three possible outcomes of the Graduate Committee's evaluation: satisfactory progress, satisfactory progress with remedial work required, and unsatisfactory progress. In the second case, students will be advised in writing of the required remedial work and the time period allowed to complete the work. In the case of unsatisfactory progress, the student will not be allowed to continue toward the PhD degree.
Over the course of the next year, the PhD student takes additional courses required for the PhD degree, chooses and begins researching a PhD Thesis topic, forms a PhD Thesis Committee, and presents a PhD Proposal.
The decision on admission into PhD Candidacy is made by the Graduate Committee upon completion of the PhD Thesis Proposal. This decision is based on:
In the subsequent years, the PhD candidate completes the PhD Course Plan, performs research, and writes and defends a PhD Dissertation.
Students entering with previous graduate work
follow different programs depending on the nature of this study.
Their program will be developed in conjunction with the Graduate
Committee and area faculty, but at a minimum will consist of a First
Year Project, formulation of a Course Plan, and identification of a
Thesis Advisor for the following year. The First Year Project will
encourage timely completion of the PhD degree (in most cases, the
project will lay the groundwork for the PhD research). Requirements
for PhD qualification and candidacy are the same as for other
students.
Back to PhD Program Information
August 20, 2003