Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

MIME PhD Qualifying exam

Format of the MIME PhD Qualifying exam

The MIME PhD aulaifier includes earning a grade of A- in three classes in either of the two focus areas, Materials, Design and Manufacturing or Thermal-Fluid. These three classes must be taken by all students, with or without a prior MS degree who are seeking a PhD degree in MIME at the University of Toledo. Below are the different areas and the equivalent classes that students must take and obtain a satisfacotry grade (A-). These classes are currently offered at least once a year. 

Materals, Design and Manufacturing (MDM) Focus Area:

Students must complete the mathematics course (MIME 6000/8000 Advanced Engineering Mathematics I) and two of the following courses:

• MIME 6720/8720 Design of Experiments
• MIME 6200/8200 Dynamics & Vibration
• MIME5300 Deformable Body Mechanics
• MIME 5060 Manufacturing Engineering

Thermal-Fluid Focus Area:

Students must complete the mathematics course (MIME 6000/8000 Advanced Engineering Mathematics I) and two of the following courses:

• MIME 6460/8460 Heat Transfer
• MIME 6440/8440 CFD, or MIME 6470/8470 Advanced CFD, or MIME 6450/8450 Experimental Fluid Mechanics

Steps to complete Qualifying exam

1. Select a PhD Advisor by the end of your first academic semester
2. Form a PhD committee by the end of your second semester. Complete the proper forms.
3. After your second semester, your committee members will check and verify whether you have fulfilled grade requirements in the selected courses . Proper signatures to be obtained.
4. If the grade requirement is not fulfilled, your committee can decide what courses you must take before the beginning of your third semester.
5. Present to your committee by the end of your third or fourth semester about your research topic including research questions, literature review, and preliminary data if available.
   1. The committee can probe fundamental understanding related to your research. This is different than research progress and can focus on fundamentals in your area of study. Committee members will decide whether you are on the right track in research and if you have fundamental understanding related to your research area. If the committee members deem appropriate, they can suggest  classes related to your research area and classes to improve fundamental understanding. This can include an independents study with a research advisor. The Graduate Presentation Assessment form will be used to assess the students.
   2. A Student will be considered a PhD Candidate after this step.
6. Research Proposal presentation: You should present your research progress to your committee during a fromal proposal defense. Committee members will us the Graduate Presentation Assessment form for evaluation.
7. You can schedule their dissertation defense a semester following your successful proposal defense. Committee members will use the Graduate Presentation Assessment form for evaluation. 

Changing Advisor

If students change their PhD advisor after fullfilling their qualifying exam requirements, the student must select a new advisor and form a new committee and can resume from step 5. The new advisor and the student will decide about taking new classess and the committee might suggest that the student should take some other calsses as well.

If students change their advisor any time before fulfilling the qualifying exam, the student must find a new advisor and work with him/her to start from step 2.