PREFACE

This document explains the requirements and guidelines of the Astronomy Department faculty for students wishing to pursue masters (M.Sc.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) degrees in astronomy at the University of Florida. Exceptions to the requirements will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For additional information, see the UF Graduate Catalog and our page of Graduate Astronomy Courses. (Our graduate course listing page supercedes the Graduate Catalog.)

CONTENTS

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Graded Lecture Courses Research Project Comprehensive Written Exams Oral Candidacy Exam	Master of Science (M.Sc.) Graded Lecture Courses Research Project Oral Exam Thesis
Appendix 1: Summary of Requirements

Ph.D. STUDENTS

During the first three years of the Graduate Program, Ph.D. students will be required to take:

1. 10 graded lecture courses
   
2. 1 research project
   
3. a comprehensive written exam
   
4. an oral candidacy exam
   

Each of these requirements is considered a milestone in the path to obtain a Ph.D. degree. Students must pass successfully each of these milestones. Failure to do so may result in the student being denied continuation in the Ph.D. program.

In addition, students will be required to take:

5. 1 non-graded course:  Frontiers + Journal Club + Colloquium
   

   All students are expected to attend the Colloquium and to attend and participate in the Journal Club. In the Spring semester of their first year, all students must formally register for the Colloquium (AST 6920, 1 cr), Frontiers of Astronomy seminar (AST 6935, 1 cr), and the Journal Club (AST 6936, 1 cr).
   
   

I. GRADED LECTURE COURSES

• Students are required to take 6 core and 4 elective courses.
  
  
• Students are expected to take at least 2 elective courses offered by the Department. In addition, up to 2 elective courses in other departments of Natural and Computing Sciences can also be taken. This should be considered as a departmental guideline for students on their choice of elective courses. The final choice of elective courses will require the approval of the Graduate Advisor in advance of registration.
  
  
  
• Schedule
  
  

  First Semester:	2 core + 1 elective
  Second Semester:	1 core + 1 elective
  Third Semester:	2 core + 1 elective
  Fourth Semester:	1 core + 1 elective

  
  
• The grading system adopted for each course (mid-term + final written exams, class assignments, oral presentations, etc.) will be decided by the faculty member teaching that course.
  
  
• The CLAS policy requires students to obtain at least a "B" average in their courses to continue in the Graduate Program.
  
  
• In addition, the Department requires students to obtain at least a "B" average in the core courses to continue in the Ph.D. Program.

II. RESEARCH PROJECT

• The Research Project will be graded. It can be considered as AST 6905 which can be taken for 3 credits per semester.
  
  
• Students are required to provide a written paper at the end of the project describing the results. The paper will be similar to a Conference Proceeding or Journal Letter in scope, length, and writing style. This paper will be graded by a Research Committee. A "B" or higher grade is required for students to continue in the Ph.D. program.
  
  
• In addition, students are required to make a short (20-30 minutes) oral presentation of their projects in front of the Department. This will help not only the students to practice towards their oral candidacy and dissertation exams but will also provide an opportunity for all faculty members to participate/comment on their research activities

• The Research Committee consists of three faculty members, one of which is the student's project supervisor.
  
  
• It is recommended that the Research Committee meet with the student four times during the duration of the research project. The student should provide the following information at each meeting:
  
  
  

  First Meeting:	Written abstract and outline of intended research (<1 page)
  Second Meeting:	Oral progress report
  Third Meeting:	Written progress report (2-3 pages)
  Fourth Meeting:	Written "Journal style" paper (>5-10 pages)

  
  
  
• Recommended Schedule
  
  

  Second Semester:	Selection of: Project topic, Supervisor, and Research Committee
  First Summer:	Research Project (S/U or AST 6905) First meeting: end of summer
  Mid-third Semester:	Second meeting
  Fourth Semester:	Research Project (AST 6905) Third meeting: beginning of semester Fourth meeting and grades: on or around April 1 Oral presentation: some time in mid-to-late April depending on the comitee schedule

  
  
  

III. COMPREHENSIVE WRITTEN EXAM

The CLAS requires a written exam for Ph.D. students.


• Date: approximately two weeks after the end of finals in the 4th semester.
  
  
• Content: the subjects taught in the 6 core courses.
  
  
• Questions: there will be 12 questions, i.e., 2 questions per core course for the students to choose one.
  
  
• Examples of the exam, including both questions and answers, will be made available to the students.
  
  
• Duration: the exam will be designed to be completed in 3 hours.
  The students should be given 4 hours to finish.
  
  
• Examining committee: 6 faculty members teaching the core courses.
  
  
• Grading: The Examining Committee will set the level that is considered adequate to pass the exam each year.
  
  
• Should students fail the exam, they may petition to retake it. This may be granted by the Examining Committee based on a variety of factors, including the students' performance on the exam, in classes, and in their research.
  

IV. ORAL CANDIDACY EXAM

            The CLAS requires an oral exam for Ph.D. students to advance to candidacy.

• The candidacy exam will be conducted by the Thesis Committee of each student. The Thesis Committee consists of the Thesis Supervisor and four faculty members chosen by the student.
  
  
• The Oral Candidacy exam will have two parts:
  
  
  1. An oral presentation (~45 minutes) describing the thesis project.
     
     
  2. A round of questions (~45 minutes) by the Thesis Committee.
     

  These questions will be mainly aimed at ensuring that the proposed thesis project has a solid scientific foundation to successfully yield a Ph.D. degree, and that the student has an adequate knowledge of the literature in that field of research.

• In addition, students are required to provide a written summary (10 pages maximum) of the thesis project to their Thesis Committee at least one week prior to their exam. This written summary will be useful not only as a record for the Thesis Committee, but also as the basis of the NASA GSRP proposal application for the students.
  
  
• Recommended Schedule:
  
  
  

  Second Summer:	Selection of: Thesis Project, Supervisor, and Thesis Committee.
  Fifth Semester:	Research
  Sixth Semester:	Research
  Beginning of Seventh Semester:	Oral Candidacy Exam

  
  
  

M.Sc. STUDENTS

The University requires all graduate students to declare their desire to obtain a M.Sc. degree before the end of the third semester. The CLAS policy does not require M.Sc. students to take a Comprehensive Written Exam.

• During the 2 years duration of the Graduate Program, M.Sc. students will be required to take:
  
  
  1. 10 graded lecture courses
  2. 1 research project
  3. an oral exam
  
  
• As in the Ph.D. case, each of these requirements is considered a milestone in the path to obtain a M.Sc. degree. Students must pass successfully each of these milestones. Failure to do so may result in the student being denied their M.Sc. degree.
  
  
• Students pursuing a M.Sc. degree by thesis should declare it before the end of the third semester. In addition to the three requirements above, these students are required to present:
  
  
  4. a thesis.

I. GRADED LECTURE COURSES

Same conditions as in the Ph.D. program apply except:


• Students are not required to have at least a "B" average in core courses.

II. RESEARCH PROJECT

Same conditions as in the Ph.D. program apply except:


• Students are required to obtain at least a "C" in their written paper.
  
  
• The oral presentation becomes part of their oral exam.
  

III. ORAL EXAM

• Date: one week after the end of the fourth semester.
  
  
• It will consist of two parts:
  
  
  1. A short (20-30 minutes) oral presentation of their projects in front of the Department.
     
     
  2. A short (30-45 minutes) round of questions by the Research Committee. These questions will be mainly—but not exclusively—focused on fundamental concepts related to the research project.

IV. THESIS

• Students are required to present the thesis to their Research Committee following the instructions given by the Graduate School.
  
  
• Date: One week after the end of the fourth semester.

APPENDIX I: SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS FOR PH.D. AND M.SC. DEGREES

Requirement	Ph.D.	M.Sc.
Core Courses (Aver.)	>=B	N/A
All Courses (Aver.)	>=B	>=B
Research Project	>=B	>=C
Written Exam	>=B	N/A
Oral Exam	Pass	Pass
Dissertation	Pass	N/A

See our Graduate Courses listing for more information on astronomy graduate courses.

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