Preliminary and Qualifying Examinations
The doctoral program requires a preliminary examination to be taken no later than the end of the fifth semester. The function of this examination is to determine whether the student has a workable and appropriate research plan that, if fulfilled, will produce an acceptable dissertation. It also determines whether the student has sufficient background to undertake the proposed research. Contact the BCB Program Coordinator at bcb@uidaho.edu when you are ready to schedule the exam.
The preliminary examination comprises of three parts:
- A written thesis proposal prepared in the format of a federal research grant, submitted to the committee and BCB Director at least two weeks prior to the oral examination.
- A public, oral presentation of the research proposal (approximately one hour), directly followed by a non-public oral examination.
- A non-public oral examination in which committee members and the BCB Director will ask questions about the proposed research, as well as background and core coursework. This takes approximately two hours.
Failing the Preliminary Exam
If a student does not schedule the preliminary exam by the end of the fifth semester deadline, then it is an automatic first failed exam, unless a petition is submitted to the BCB Governing Board and approved. Students who fail their preliminary exam will be given one additional opportunity to pass. The second attempt should be taken no sooner than 90 days after the failed exam but no later than six months after the first exam.