The final step in becoming a Ph.D. candidate is passing the Ph.D. Candidacy Examination. It is taken only after satisfying the ACM Core Course Requirement and passing the ACM Core Course Qualifying Examinations. Students must have these requirements validated by the ACM Director and Associate Chair for Graduate Studies before scheduling the Candidacy Examination. See the Department's Academic Program Specialist for details. ACM graduate students are expected to take the Candidacy Examination in their third year. The Candidacy Examination and the Core Course Qualifying Examinations together constitute what is referred to by the University as the Preliminary Examination for Admission to Candidacy.
The examination is conducted by the student's Candidacy Examination Committee. Its purpose is to determine if the student is qualified to begin research at the Ph.D. level.
Students must schedule their Candidacy Examination at least two weeks in advance.
A Candidacy Examination Statement must be given to the Candidacy Examination Committee at least one week before the examination. This statement must include a research plan, a comprehensive introduction to the research area and supporting technical material with sufficient detail and rigor to demonstrate research and writing abilities necessary for an ACM Ph.D. candidate.
Students are required to deliver a technical presentation introducing their chosen area of research followed by a question and answer session lead by their Candidacy Examination Committee. The presentation must be clear, well-organized, and demonstrate a strong understanding of the background and recent research developments relevant to their chosen topic. During this oral portion of the Candidacy Examination, students are expected to respond to questions from their Candidacy Examination Committee and members of the general audience demonstrating a comprhensive understanding of the subjects covered in the core, mandatory and elective courses taken in their first and second years of study in ACM.
There are 3 possible results for the Candidacy Examination based on the evaluation of the oral portion and the Candidacy Examination Statement:
- Pass: The student becomes a candidate.
- Incomplete/Retake: The Supervisory Committee specifies conditions that must be met to its satisfaction before passing. This may entail reconvening for additional oral or written examination.
- Fail: The student does not become a candidate. Note that a student that fails may make a second attempt, possibly with a different dissertation advisor and supervisory committee (see Timely Progress Information).
