2013–2014 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

A copy of the other institution’s published course description(s) must be
attached. The student must arrange for an official transcript to be sent
by the other institution directly to the Florida Tech registrar’s office.
Doctoral Degree Requirements
Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree include
the general requirements listed here and specific program-by-program
requirements and variations as presented in later sections. In addition
to the Ph.D. degree, the university also offers the Doctor of Psychology
(Psy.D.) degree, described under College of Psychology and Liberal
Arts in the Degree Programs section.
The Ph.D. degree is awarded on the basis of clear evidence that the
recipient possesses knowledge of a broad field of learning and mastery
of a particular area of concentration within that field. The work
leading to the degree consists of advanced studies and research that
represents a significant contribution to knowledge in the subject area.
Each student must complete an approved program of study, pass a
comprehensive examination, complete an original research program,
and prepare and defend a dissertation on that research.
Credit Hour Requirements
Although the Ph.D. is awarded primarily on the basis of original
scholarly accomplishment rather than the accumulation of a specified
number of credit hours, minimum standards are enforced regarding
the number of credit hours that must be successfully completed by all
Ph.D. students subject to the limitations delineated in graduate policy.
Credit earned for courses taken in fulfillment of the requirements for
a master’s degree, either at Florida Tech or elsewhere, may be used in
meeting some of the minimum requirement for coursework, subject
to the restrictions stated above and provided the courses are directly
applicable to the field of the Ph.D. degree. A student should expect
to take a significant amount of coursework at a more advanced level,
even if graduate degrees in more than one field have been earned.
Doctoral Committee
At least 90 days before the comprehensive examination, the student
must select a major advisor with the concurrence of the individual
selected and the student’s academic unit head. The major advisor
serves as both research supervisor and chair of the doctoral committee
and need not be the same person who served as academic advisor
while the student was taking courses.
At least 60 days before the comprehensive examination, the major
advisor nominates a doctoral committee for approval by the student’s
academic unit head and the director of graduate programs. The committee
consists of at least four Florida Tech graduate faculty members,
including the major advisor. One member must be a full-time graduate
faculty member from an academic unit that is administratively different
from the student’s and major advisor’s. At least three members,
including the major advisor, must be approved for doctoral advising.
This committee serves in an advisory capacity throughout the remainder
of the doctoral program and is responsible for formally evaluating
the candidate’s progress by conducting the comprehensive examination,
reviewing and approving the dissertation proposal, conducting
the dissertation defense and approving the dissertation.
Comprehensive Examination
After the completion of all formal coursework (as determined by the
academic unit) included in the doctoral program of study, the student
is required to take a comprehensive examination administered by the
doctoral committee established for the student. The examination covers
the student’s major area of emphasis in depth but may also include
other areas considered appropriate by the doctoral committee. The
examination may be written, oral or both, according to the requirements
of each doctoral program. To pass, the student must have the
unanimous approval of the committee. A student who does not pass
the examination may, at the option of a majority of the committee,
be allowed one opportunity to retake the examination after a suitable
period of study. The examination must be passed at least one calendar
year before the degree is awarded. Scheduling the examination to
meet this requirement is the responsibility of the candidate and his or
her committee. A candidate must be enrolled at the time the examination
is taken. Otherwise, a separate examination fee must be paid.
Dissertation Proposal
Subsequent to successful completion of the comprehensive examination,
a dissertation proposal must be submitted to the doctoral committee,
who ascertains if the subject of the dissertation is of doctoral
quality and that completion of the dissertation is feasible.
Degree Candidacy
An overall grade point average of 3.2 is required for admission to
candidacy.
After a student has passed the comprehensive examination and has
had the dissertation proposal approved by the doctoral committee, the
student will be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree by submitting
the required form for approval and forwarding it to the registrar.
Residency Requirement
The residency requirement consists of the performance of research
under the direct supervision of Florida Tech faculty for at least one
calendar year; and enrollment in a Florida Tech graduate program for
a minimum of two years from the time of original registration.
A doctoral student who has been admitted to candidacy must normally
register each academic term thereafter for six or more credit hours of
dissertation throughout the remainder of his or her program. At the
discretion of the academic unit, a doctoral student can register for
three semester credit hours of dissertation where justified. In some
cases, registration for fewer credit hours is permitted in the final
semester of registration. See the online graduate policies for details.
After admission to doctoral candidacy, an interruption in registration
is permissible only if the student is not making any use of university
facilities or personnel, and with written approval by the academic
unit head and the director of graduate programs.
The student’s dissertation performance is evaluated in each term of
registration, and grades of S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory) are
assigned. These grades do not affect the student’s grade point average.
S grades corresponding to the required number of dissertation credit
hours are replaced by grades of P (Pass) upon successful completion
of the dissertation.
Dissertation Preparation and Defense
The dissertation must demonstrate critical judgment, intellectual
synthesis, creativity and skills in written communication. The general
format must follow the guidelines established by the academic unit
and the office of graduate programs. Copies of the dissertation must
be submitted to the doctoral committee at least one month before
the proposed date of the dissertation defense. The office of graduate
programs must receive written notification of the defense at least
two weeks before its scheduled date. The candidate and his or her
2013–2014 Academic Overview 43