2011–2012 UNIVERSITY CATALOG - Florida Institute of Technology

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 that 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 adviser with the concurrence of the individual
selected and the student’s academic unit head. The major adviser
serves as both research supervisor and chair of the doctoral committee
and need not be the same person who served as academic
adviser while the student was taking courses.
At least 60 days before the comprehensive examination, the major
adviser nominates a doctoral committee for approval by the student’s
academic unit head and the graduate programs administrator.
The committee consists of at least four Florida Tech graduate
faculty members, including the major adviser. One member must
be a full-time graduate faculty member from an academic unit that
is administratively different from the student’s and major adviser’s.
At least three members, including the major adviser, 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 committee chair are responsible for scheduling the examination
and notifying the graduate programs office.
The doctoral committee administers the dissertation defense.
The candidate is questioned on the subject of the dissertation and
any additional topics related to the candidate’s ability to organize
and conduct research. The dissertation must have the unanimous
approval of the committee and must also be approved by the academic
unit head. Requirements for the degree are not completed
until the dissertation is accepted by the graduate programs office. A
completed UMI Publishing Agreement form and Survey of Earned
Doctorates form (both available from the graduate programs office)
and an additional title page and abstract must accompany the
required dissertation copies.
Academic Overview 45