(Approved 8/2/96; Revised 3/22/99)
The Department of Environmental Health Sciences offers doctoral degrees (Doctoral of
Philosophy - PhD and Doctor of Public Health - DrPH) in the programs of Environmental Health, Occupational Health and Toxicology. The PhD requirements are described in the Horace H.
Rackham School of Graduate Studies Student Handbook. The DrPH requirements are
described in the School of Public Health “Requirements for the Doctor of Public Health Degree”.
Procedures for fulfilling these requirements are determined by the faculty in each program. The performance of the programs is monitored by the department through reporting of student progress at faculty meetings and departmental reviews. This document summarizes the procedures for meeting the degree requirements that are common to all programs. It is not intended as a replacement for the official bulletins of the University of Michigan. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that all of the Rackham (PhD) or Public Health (DrPH) School degree requirements are met.
All Departmental doctoral programs entail:
1. Pre-candidacy
a. Admission to the program b. Required course work c. Qualifying Examination d. Identification of mentor e. Preliminary Examination 2. Candidacy
a. Dissertation committee b. Dissertation research c. Data Review Meeting d. Defense of dissertation I. PRE-CANDIDACY
Pre-candidacy begins with admission to the program and concludes with admission to candidacy. The goal of pre-candidacy is to gain the background and skills necessary for doctoral research in a program. It includes required courses, a qualifying examination and preliminary examination.
A. Admission to Doctoral Program
In order to be admitted to the doctoral program in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, the student must meet departmental and program admission requirements and demonstrate capacity to undertake work for a doctoral degree.
B. Required Coursework
Environmental Health Sciences Required coursework is specified by each program to provide students with expertise in their designated program and skills necessary to conduct doctoral research in that program. These requirements may be altered by the program according to the individual student needs and course availability. Students should consult with their program advisor for applicable core requirements. A list of required coursework should be submitted to the departmental office for
placement in the student file.
The department requires that students maintain a GPA of 6.0 or better. If a doctoral student fails to maintain a 6.0 grade point average, he/she will be given one term of probation. If a student fails to improve the overall GPA to 6.0 by the end of the probationary term, he/she will automatically will be terminated as a doctoral student.
The student must satisfy all requirements as indicated by the Rackham Graduate School (PhD) or the School of Public Health (DrPH).
C. Qualifying Examination
A Qualifying Examination is required by all programs. The Qualifying
Examination is a review of the pre-candidate student’s overall performance and potential for doctoral work in their program. It is based on:
1. A written examination, which (a) integrates prior student experience and (b) is administered by three or more faculty, at least two of which are from the student’s program.
An oral defense of the written qualifying examination may be requested by the faculty.
2. Evaluation of didactic courses. A GPA of 6.0 is required which includes no more than 6 credit hours of research.
3. Independent studies and research.
4. Reports, papers, references or any other supportive
documentation determining the potential for the doctoral study.
Based upon the above information, the program faculty or designated program committee vote to recommend the following:
1. Continuation of the student in the program.
2. Modification of the student’s program.
3. Termination of the student’s program.
The program into which the student is admitted will administer the Qualifying Examination. It should be taken no later than at the end of the first term after completion of the requirement for the masters degree in the department; or no later than at the end of the second term in residence for students with a relevant masters degree from another university. An applicant holding only a
baccalaureate degree and wishing to proceed directly to a doctoral degree, is required to meet core program requirements and pass the Qualifying
Examination after completion of four terms.
The program will notify the student as to the date of the Qualifying Examination and format at least one term prior to the student taking the examination. All programs require submission of the following materials in advance of the examination:
Environmental Health Sciences 1. A letter from the advisor evaluating the students preparation
(submitted to departmental office).
2. A professional curriculum vitae submitted by the student to the departmental office. This should include work and research experience.
3. Current transcript (provided by departmental office).
The above material will be forwarded by the departmental office to the program faculty or designated program committee.
The results of the Qualifying Examination and recommendation will be submitted in writing to the departmental chair within a reasonable time of the examination.
The student will then be notified by the departmental office of the results. A copy of the recommendation will be placed in the student’s file. The results of the examination will be presented at the EHS faculty meeting.
Advisory Information Relating to the Qualifying Examination When should the student be informed of the results?
The exam should be graded and students notified in writing of the results within a reasonable time of the completion of the entire exam.
What is accomplished by the exam?
The student is allowed to continue as a pre-doctoral student upon passing the exam and becomes eligible to develop his/her doctoral thesis
proposal in preparation for the Preliminary Examination. Based upon the Qualifying Examination results, the department is assured that every doctoral student possesses a suitable base of knowledge and skills needed for their doctoral work.
Who administers the exam?
The program faculty or designated program committee will administer the exam. Format and content is reviewed by the program faculty or
designated program committee prior to administration. The program will also set examination dates and define an acceptable pass for the
examination.
What are the possible alternatives for the student?
1. The student will pass the examination.
2. If student does not pass the examination on his/her first try, but comes sufficiently close, then the program faculty may
conditionally pass the student. Upon approval of the program faculty, the resulting decision may become permanent by either:
a. Taking prescribed course work and obtaining a grade of
“B+” or better. (This alternative is only applicable when it is evident to the program faculty that a lack of knowledge in a particular area resulted in the student’s failure to pass.) or
b. The student may retake the exam at a later date. (This alternative is applicable when the student comes close to
Environmental Health Sciences passing as judged by the program faculty, but was not indicated to be a lack of knowledge in any specific area.).
A student may only take them examination twice.
3. The student fails and may not continue in the doctoral program.
Failure is determined by the program faculty. In such cases, no second chance is possible and extenuating circumstances may not be considered.
D. Identification of Mentor
Each student has a mentor who will be responsible for supervising the doctoral research and guiding the student through the preliminary exam and final defense.
The primary mentor shall be a member of the program faculty. The mentor will submit to the departmental chair his/her acceptance as mentor.
Identification of the student’s mentor will be part of the Qualifying Examination.
E. Preliminary Examination
This examination is designed to evaluate the student’s ability to conduct independent research in a given area. It is envisioned to be an exhaustive examination of the student’s research capabilities as well as his/her
preparedness to undertake the proposed research. Under normal circumstances, the maximum time to pass this examination and achieve candidacy is four years from the date of first enrollment in the degree program.
1. Eligibility
A student may become eligible for Preliminary Examination upon successful completion of the following:
a. Passing the Qualifying Examination.
b. Selection of a Preliminary Examination Committee. The committee will consist of four or more members approved by the program faculty (Attachment 1). A minimum of two members must be from the department faculty and one member from the faculty of a doctoral degree granting program at the University.
3. Approval of research proposal by the program faculty (Attachment 1).
4. Completion of essentially all course work.
2. Content
The Preliminary Examination shall test the student’s preparedness and ability to do his/her proposed research.
All programs require the following in regard to the Preliminary Examination:
a. Completion of required course work
b. Satisfactory completion of Qualifying Examination c. Identification and approval of mentor
Environmental Health Sciences d. Preparation of thesis proposal
e. Examination committee f. Oral Preliminary Examination
Notification of the preliminary examination and dissertation topic must be sent to all departmental faculty, department student services office and posted at least two weeks prior to the examination date.
Upon passing this examination, the doctoral student becomes eligible for candidacy. If this examination is not passed, the student may, upon the discretion of the examination committee, be allowed to re-take the examination. Failure of the examination a second time by the student results in automatic termination of his/her doctoral program. The student should be notified of results within 48 hours after exam completion.
The evaluation of the Preliminary Examination is signed by all members of the Preliminary Examination committee and forwarded to the
departmental office for processing (Attachment 2).
3. Provision for change in research direction
The program may require a student to retake the Preliminary Examination based on changes in research direction.
II. CANDIDACY
Candidacy is a statement of prior accomplishments, not of status in a program.
Candidates work directly with the Rackham Graduate School or School of Public Health to fulfill the remaining degree requirements. After achieving candidacy, and with the advice of his/her mentor, the student creates the dissertation committee.
A. Dissertation Committee
A Dissertation Committee is nominated by the chair of the candidate’s department to either the Rackham Graduate School or the School of Public Health.
1. The Dissertation Committee is charged with the supervision of the
candidate’s dissertation activities. The entire committee is intended to be a resource upon which the candidate may draw.
2. The Dissertation Committee consists of four or more members. Two must be from the department, one (the cognate) must be from outside the department. Three of the members including the cognate must be Rackham graduate faculty members (see Rackham Student Handbook or SPH Requirements for DrPH).
3. The student should choose the doctoral thesis committee in conjunction with his/her mentor and justify the selections to the program faculty, which upon approval, will forward the names to the departmental chair
(Attachment 3).
4. The committee is recommended by the department chair and approved by either The Rackham Graduate School (PhD) or School of Public Health (DrPH).
It is the student’s responsibility to keep members of the Dissertation Committee informed of his/her research progress.
B. Dissertation Research
Environmental Health Sciences 1. Students are expected to submit a Dissertation Research Proposal to
their Dissertation Committee for approval. This proposal and approval may be coincident with the Preliminary Examination.
2. Students are expected to register for EHS 995 for any term they draw on University resources which includes faculty.
3. Students should submit a progress report to their committee at least once a year.
4. Students are expected to give at least one departmental seminar describing research and pertinent findings.
5. Students are expected to write a dissertation and prepare at least one paper suitable for publication based upon their research. The student should be the first author of the paper.
C. Data Review Meeting
1. At least one month, prior to scheduling the defense of the dissertation, a data review meeting should be held with members of the dissertation committee. The defense should not be
scheduled prior to this meeting.
2. Preferably all, but a minimum of three committee members (including cognate), should attend this meeting. If there are committee members off-campus who cannot attend, alternative means of communicating with those members should be arranged for in order to obtain their input.
3. The purpose of the data meeting is for the committee to critically assess the following:
a. the quality and quantity of research performed by the student.
b. the extent to which the research has met the goals set forth in the research proposal submitted as part of the student's Preliminary Exam (note: legitimate changes in research goals are allowable) c. the progress the student has made toward an advanced
understanding of the methodology, importance and implications of the research.
4. The student should give a formal presentation to the committee that summarizes the work performed and includes methodological details, key results and their implications, and conclusions and recommendations.
5. The committee will deliberate immediately following the presentation and the committee chair will inform the student whether he/she can proceed to schedule the dissertation defense.
6. Official notification will be provided to the Department Chair by the dissertation committee chair of the student's being approved for the dissertation defense.
D. Defense of Dissertation
1. The defense must be held under a full term of Candidacy enrollment.
2. Notification of the final defense by must sent to all department faculty, department student services office and posted at least two weeks prior to defense date.
Environmental Health Sciences 3. All members of the dissertation committee must read the dissertation and
submit written evaluations to the appropriate office no later than two working days prior to the defense.
4. The student’s dissertation defense should be before an open meeting with the doctoral committee.
5. At least four members of the doctoral committee (including the cognate) must be present at the oral defense and they must certify that the student has passed.
6. The chair (and co-chair) of the committee will approve the final dissertation once all corrections have been completed.
7. Meet all requirements established by either the Rackham Graduate School (PhD) or School of Public Health (DrPH).
8. The dissertation abstract must be submitted to the department for placement in student file and distribution to departmental faculty.
ATTACHMENT 1
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES Preliminary Examination Committee
(PhD and DrPH)
_____ Original _____ Revised Date of Examination: ___________________
Time: ___________________
Qualifying Exam Passed: _________ Place: ___________________
Name: _______________________________ I.D. No: __________________
Address:
___________________________________________________________________________________
Program: ______________________________ Degree Sought: _________________
Proposal Title: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Summary of Proposed Research (attach copy and provide a disk/electronic version):
Name Rank Department/Unit
Chair/Co-Chair _________________________ ______________ ________________
Chair/Co-Chair _________________________ ______________ ________________
Cognate _________________________ ______________ ________________
Member _________________________ ______________ ________________
Member _________________________ ______________ ________________
Member _________________________ ______________ ________________
Approved By:
Department of Environmental Health Sciences 2003-2004
__________________ _________ _____________________ __________
Program Director Date Department Chair Date
ATTACHMENT 2
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES Preliminary Examination Recommendation
(PhD and DrPH)
Name: _______________________________ I.D. No.: __________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
Program: ______________________________ Degree:
___________________
Preliminary Exam Date: __________________
Proposal Title: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
The above student ___ PASSED ___ CONDITIONALLY PASSED ___ DID NOT PASS the preliminary exam on the above date. Explain ‘conditionally passed’ or ‘did not pass’.
The undersigned faculty participated in the examination.
____________________ _____________ ___________________________ ______
Chair/Co-Chair Dept/Unit Signature Date
____________________ _____________ ___________________________ ______
Chair/Co-Chair Dept/Unit Signature Date
____________________ _____________ ____________________________ ______
Cognate Dept/Unit Signature Date
_____________________ _____________ ____________________________ ______
Member Dept/Unit Signature Date
____________________ _____________ ____________________________ ______
Department of Environmental Health Sciences 2003-2004
Member Dept/Unit Signature Date
____________________ _____________ ____________________________ ______
Member Dept/Unit Signature Date
Department of Environmental Health Sciences 2003-2004
ATTACHMENT 3
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES Dissertation Committee
(PhD and DrPH)
_____ Original _____ Revised Qualifying Exam Passed: _________
Advanced to Candidacy: _________
Name: _______________________________ I.D. No: ___________________
Address:
_____________________________________________________________________________
Program: ______________________________ Degree Sought: ___________
Dissertation Title: ____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Summary of Proposed Research (attach copy and provide a disk/electronic version):
Name Rank Department/Unit
Chair/Co-Chair _________________________ ______________ ________________
Chair/Co-Chair _________________________ ______________ ________________
Cognate _________________________ ______________ ________________
Member _________________________ ______________ ________________
Member _________________________ ______________ ________________
Member _________________________ ______________ ________________
Approved By:
__________________ _________ _____________________ __________
Department of Environmental Health Sciences 2003-2004
Program Director Date Department Chair Date
Department of Environmental Health Sciences 2003-2004