UAF Ph.D. Programs

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UAF Ph.D. Programs

• Dr. Robert A. Perkins, PE
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• University of Alaska Fairbanks

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This presentation is available from

• http//www.faculty.uaf.edu/ffrap/
• Under Presentations.

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What is a Ph. D.?

• The Doctor of Philosophy Degree is granted in
  recognition of scholarly attainment and proven
  ability. (UAF Catalog)
• It is a research degree
• Candidate must complete a thesis
• A substantial contribution to the body of
  knowledge in the area. (UAF Catalog)

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Thesis

• A thesis is not
• An engineering report, describing something, or
• An essay expressing the authors opinion,
• A thesis must
• test a hypothesis
• or several
• Chapters of the thesis must be suitable for
  peer review publications.
• ASCE Construction Engineering and Management
• http//ojps.aip.org/coo/

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Requirements

• Most detailed requirements are set by the
  students Graduate Advisory Committee.
• Always a comprehensive exam
• Defense of thesis.

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Time required

• At least three years of full-time work for
  students who have relevant M.S.
• Often longer.

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Two Programs

• Interdisciplinary Ph.D. (INDS)
• Engineering Ph.D.

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With INDS application

• Must have Graduate Study Plan
• Preliminary
• Research statement.
• Suggest Committee

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Interdisciplinary Ph.D.

• The initial department is the UAF Graduate
  School
• The UAF Graduate School Dean supervises the
  program.
• Student is assigned to a regular academic
  department
• Usually the home department of the students
  advisor.
• http//www.uaf.edu/gradsch/inds.admin.html

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INDS Admissions Committee

• The committee is a standing committee of the
  Graduate School.
• Has two engineers out of seven members
• Will look closely at GSP and Research Statement
• (and GREs)

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INDS Graduate Advisory Committee

• Will have at least one member from a different
  department
• Committee must be approved by
• Department Chair of home department
• Dean of home college
• Dean of Graduate School

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Engineering Ph.D.

• New degree approved by Board of Regents in
  December 2001.
• Recognizes six emphasis areas
• Arctic, Civil, Electrical, Engineering
  Management, Environmental, and Mechanical.
• Must have B.S. or M.S. in ABET engineering to be
  admitted
• Should have M.S. to be admitted
• Could have B.S. in ME and M.S. in physics.
• Possible to just have B.S., but this would be
  rare.

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Admissions Committee

• Six members, all engineering faculty
• One is from UAA
• Wants GSP and Research Proposal
• A home department chair that recommends the
  student.
• Process managed by an oversight committee
  which develops procedures.

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General Requirement for Engineering Ph.D. Degree

• A candidate for the Ph.D. is expected to complete
  18 credits of course work beyond the M.S. degree
  (per Engineering Ph.D.).
• Earning a minimum of 18 graduate UAF credits (per
  UAF General Requirements).
• These could be thesis credits.

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Intercampus Collaboration

• Approved by UAF Faculty Senate
• http//www.uaf.edu/gradsch/intercampus.html

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• There shall be at least four faculty members on
  the Graduate Advisory Committee for each UAF
  Ph.D. student. At least two committee members
  shall be UAF faculty. One of the UAF committee
  members must be on a tenure-track appointment in
  a Ph.D. granting department.
• The Graduate Advisory Committee and its chair and
  co-chair must be approved by the program director
  and the Graduate Dean.
• UAF rules and regulations on graduate studies
  shall apply to all UAF graduate students,
  including those concurrently enrolled at UAA or
  UAS.

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• The Graduate Advisory Committee must meet at
  least once a year to update the Graduate Study
  Plan and to review the student's progress toward
  the degree. The annual progress report must be
  signed by all committee members and submitted to
  the UAF Graduate Dean.
• A comprehensive exam committee composed of the
  student's advisory committee and an additional
  member if appointed by the Graduate Dean will
  administer the Ph.D. comprehensive exam for each
  student.
• The PhD thesis defense is to be conducted on the
  UAF campus.

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Advice

• Most Ph.D. students are supported by their
  advisor. About 20,000/year (half-time in school
  year and full-time in summer) plus tuition.
• Advisor must get that money from research
  grants.
• Sometimes get some seed grants for a year or two.
• Not practical to hold another job or work
  part-time

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Advice

• Need to focus on research topic ASAP
• Need to find an advisor in your field that has
  funding
• Focus on publishing articles before your
  thesis.
• Choose your committee carefully
• Stay in close contact with all your committee.
  Discuss any changes in direction with all your
  committee.