Preliminary Examination

The preliminary examination tests your understanding of undergraduate and first-year graduate course material. Its purpose is to assesses your academic competence to pursue the PhD degree. The examination is oral and is scheduled for approximately two hours. Preparation for the exam gives you an opportunity to consolidate your knowledge and understanding of undergraduate and first-year graduate engineering and mathematics.

You must take the preliminary examination as soon as possible and definitely by the end of your second academic year of residence at UCI. The preliminary exam is normally taken during the fall quarter of your second academic year of residence at UCI.

To take the preliminary examination you must submit a PhD Preliminary Exam Form to your Faculty Advisor at least 4 weeks prior to the preliminary examination date. The completed form contains the following:

• A list of 6 graduate UCI courses that encompass the graduate level information to be covered on the examination (if you have transferred from another institution, you must still identify equivalent UCI courses).
• Your overall GPA and your GPA in non-research courses. An attached transcript is required
• Your proposal for a Preliminary Examination Committee. This committee must have four (4) members including your Faculty Advisor. All committee members must be tenure-track professors and voting members of the UCI Academic Senate.  Three (3) members of the committee must be UCI MAE faculty. It is your responsibility to contact the proposed committee members and make sure they are willing to be on your committee and are available at the proposed examination time.

After approving your form, your Faculty Advisor will pass it on to the Graduate Advisor and the Department Chair to approve your Preliminary Examination Committee and the body of knowledge represented by your preliminary examination request. The Department Chair will assign one of the committee members other than your Faculty Advisor to chair your Preliminary Examination. After your request is approved, it is your responsibility to arrange the date, time, and location of the exam with the Preliminary Examination Committee. It is a good practice to remind the committee members of the exam one week prior to the exam and one day prior to the exam.

If you do not pass the preliminary exam, the committee may give you a second opportunity to pass the exam. Your second attempt must be made within one year of the first. No additional opportunities will be offered to pass the exam.