The PhD Program
General Requirements
The Ph.D. program is intended to prepare the student for a research career in industry, academia or national laboratories. A dissertation, presenting significant new information, is the primary requirement of the degree. Other requirements for the Ph.D. degree include:
- A minimum of one academic year in residency. Residency is defined as one continuous academic year of full-time graduate work (9 credits per semester).
- A certification by the candidate’s Guidance Committee that the candidate is qualified to pursue the Ph.D. degree.
- Successful completion of a preliminary comprehensive examination.
- An approved dissertation proposal.
- Completion of an approved course curriculum
- A Ph.D. dissertation.
- A final oral examination.
Additional University requirements are listed in the Graduate School Handbook.
Students considering a doctoral degree are strongly encouraged to obtain an M.S. degree in Mechanical or Industrial Engineering before attempting to establish candidacy in the Ph.D. program. Although this is not a requirement, experience indicates that previous research experience provides better preparation for Ph.D. dissertation work.
Graduate School Enrollment (Full-Time) Status
Full-time status as a graduate student is defined by the Graduate School Policy as:
- a graduate student is enrolled for nine (9) or more credits.
- candidates working full-time (20 hr/wk) GRA/GTA on contract (as certified by the GPD).
- candidates in continuous enrollment working full-time on their doctoral dissertation research, regardless of their funding status.
- a candidate defending their thesis/dissertation in their final semester.
Graduate School Residency Requirement
“A doctoral candidate must spend the equivalent of at least one continuous academic year of full- time graduate work (nine credits per semester) in residence at the University. The residency year must be either in a Fall/Spring or Spring/Fall sequence. During this year, the student must spend some part of each week physically on campus.”
PhD Qualifying Exam
The MIE Ph.D. Qualifying (Preliminary Comprehensive) Exam
Each Student enrolled in the Ph.D. program must pass a qualifying exam prior to their fourth semester as a Ph.D. student. The purpose of the qualifying exam is to ensure that the student is qualified in both knowledge and critical thinking skills to pursue a Ph.D. in their field of study.
Format and Scope
See below for descriptions of possible formats of the qualifying exam. The format is established by the candidate’s examining committee and the GPD to test general knowledge and critical thinking skills in their field of study.
Outcomes
The three possible outcomes of the exam are:
- Pass: The committee confirms the student holds the skills requisite of doctoral studies.
- Conditional Pass: The student qualifies if they address areas of weakness found in the exam.
- Fail: The committee finds multiple areas of weakness; doctoral studies are not recommended.
Remediation plans may include coursework, independent study projects, and subsequent focused examination. A Conditional Pass converts to Pass upon completion of the remediation plan within the specified time. Otherwise, a Conditional Pass is converted to Fail. Students who fail their first exam attempt may petition the Graduate Program Committee to retake the exam.
Exam Timing
| Entry Pathway | Exam Deadline |
| Direct Entry into the PhD Program | Within two calendar years of program entry |
| Entry with a UMASS MS Degree | Within one and a half calendar years of program entry |
| Entry with a non-UMASS MS Degree | Within one and a half calendar years of program entry |
| Part-Time Students | After 18 credits or in two years, whichever occurs first |
| Transferred Students | May petition to waive or defer the exam |
Exam Format
The MIE doctoral qualifying exam MUST contain a written component to satisfy candidacy at the Graduate School.
Written Component Options (Select One) | Timing |
| Questions in major interest area (take-home) A detailed exam in your primary field of study taken at your own pace. | 1 week |
| Questions in major interest area (live) An abridged, technical exam taken in a conventional manner. | 3 hours |
| Critical review (report) of two peer-reviewed journal articles Analyze articles adjacent to field for strength/weakness & importance. | 2 weeks |
The MIE doctoral qualifying exam MUST contain an oral component to satisfy candidacy at the Graduate School.
Oral Component Options (Select One) | Timing |
| Open-ended questions Committee asks broad, exploratory questions about your field | 1 hour |
| Rounds of technical questions Committee asks a series of questions to test general MIE knowledge. | 1 hour |
| Oral presentation (journal critical review) Present critical review of articles, followed by committee discussion | 30 mins + Q/A |
Curricular Components for PhD Degree
The minimum course requirement for the Ph.D. degree is enrollment in 18 credits of MIE 899 (Doctoral Dissertation). Ph.D. students must also formulate a complete and coherent program of coursework approved by the student’s Dissertation Committee and the GPD.
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Approved programs must include at least 9 course credits beyond the requirements of M.S. Degree. All of the required courses must be at the 600 level. Students who do not hold a Masters degree will take a total of 30 credits which include the 9 PhD course credits. Students must also enroll in the 1-credit 689 Graduate Seminar. Independent studies do not count towards 600-level course requirements for doctoral students.
Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
Approved programs must include courses which have covered the material equivalent to that covered in the seven required courses for the M.S. degree in I.E.O.R. Normally, students receiving a master’s degree in IE will have completed all required courses. To get program approval, all PhD students must draft a program proposal in consultation with the faculty advisor, who will get approval by the IE graduate program director. Syllabi and grades received for the courses taken must be provided. Independent studies do not count towards 600-level course requirements for doctoral students.
PhD Dissertation and Timeline in MIE >>
Other Requirements and Procedures applicable to all PhD students
- New Ph.D. students without a GRA or research advisor will be assigned the GPD as a Temporary Advisor until a Dissertation Committee Chairperson has been determined. Students are urged to immediately explore dissertation research topics with the faculty.
- All ME doctoral students must register for the Graduate Seminar Course (689) and attend the Departmental Seminar Series and M.S./Ph.D. defenses regularly.
- Fellowship and Assistantship holders are expected to commit to their studies full-time and not hold other part-time jobs or be enrolled in another degree program. Students not supported by the Department are required to notify the Department of any part-time employment.
- A final copy of the dissertation must be given to the Department for the internal records.
- Students must send defense date details to Mr. Nauman Tazeem with at least 7 days notice so a public announcement is sent to the Department community. Any delays in this announcement will postpone the defense, as a strict 7 days notice is required.
PhD Dissertation and Timeline in MIE
MIE Ph.D. Dissertation
Dissertation Committee: After passing the Qualifying Exam, the candidate and advisor select the graduate faculty committee for the dissertation defense. These names and departmental info are sent to Nauman Tazeem to submit to the Dean of the Graduate School for approval. The dissertation committee comprises:
- at least two MIE faculty members
- at least one “outside member” who is not in the MIE Department
- more than 3 members are encouraged for optimal support and insights.
| Dissertation Proposal | Dissertation Defense |
| • Written Proposal: A written proposal is submitted to the dissertation committee. | • Dissertation Date: Scheduling of the Final Doctoral Oral Examination form must be sent to Nauman Tazeem 30 days prior to defense |
| • Oral Presentation: The candidate presents their proposal before the committee. – The committee must unanimously approve the proposal. – The committee must all sign the proposal. – The signed proposal is submitted to Nauman Tazeem. – A request for formal appointment of the dissertation committee follows the proposal. | • Dissertation Draft: The committee must receive the draft 14 days prior to the defense. |
| • These actions must take place seven (7 months) prior to the final oral examination. | • Oral Defense Notification: Notice must be provided 7 days prior to the defense. |
| • Oral Defense: the defense must be held before the entire committee. – only a unanimous vote results in a pass – one negative vote results in the degree held in abeyance. – two negative votes results in a fail. |
See the Graduate School Handbook. for detailed regulations on preparation and submission of the dissertation copies, payments of fees, etc.
Ph.D. Timeline
The following is the suggested timeline.
- First Semester: Select Permanent Advisor
- First Semester: Prepare Program of Study
- End of First Year: Register for Dissertation Credits
- End of First Year: Select Dissertation Committee
- End of Second Year: Take Comprehensive Exam
- AT LEAST Seven Months Prior to Defense: Dissertation Proposal (2 years after the start for students without MSc, 1.5 years after the start for students with MSc)
- Notify Graduate Program Office of Defense Date
- Seven days before the defense, students must send Nauman Tazeem defense details and abstract.