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Qualifying Exam Requirements

Revised May 2026

The PhD qualifying exam serves as a critical milestone in assessing a student's readiness for doctoral research. This policy outlines a two-part qualifying exam format that evaluates both foundational coursework knowledge and research capability. The structure ensures that students possess the necessary theoretical background while demonstrating their ability to conduct independent research.

Part 1: Coursework Requirement

To fulfill the coursework component of the qualifying exam, students must meet the following requirements:

  1. Completion of required courses: 
    1. Complete four core courses (508, 513, 524, 549) and three seminar courses (591, 592, 593)
      1. IND E 508: Stochastic Processes in Engineering (3)
      2. IND E 513: Linear Optimization Models (3)
      3. IND E 524: Robust Design & Quality Engineering (3)
      4. IND E 549: Human Factors in Engineering Design (3)
      5. IND E 591 Seminar- Autumn (1)
      6. IND E 592 Seminar- Winter (1)
      7. IND E 593 Seminar- Spring (1)
    2. Complete two non-core courses from the following list (maintained by the GPC and graduate committee): 
      1. IND E 535 Engineering Simulation (3)
      2. IND E 599 Integer Programming (3)
      3. IND E 521 Statistical Quality Engineering (3)
      4. IND E 526 Reliability in Product Design and Testing (3)
      5. IND E 528 Predictive Analytics for Systems Engineers (3)
      6. IND E 519 Healthcare Modeling and Decision Making (3)
      7. IND E 548 Human Performance Modeling (3)
  2. GPA requirement: Students must maintain a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 in these courses to demonstrate a strong grasp of foundational concepts. In exceptional cases, students may petition for flexibility in GPA requirements if they have substantial research achievements.
  3. Timeline: All required coursework must be completed before taking the qualifying exam.

Part 2: Research Component

To demonstrate research potential, students will need to work with a faculty member (faculty advisor), undertake a research project under the guidance of their advisor, and present their findings to a qualifying exam committee. This component includes the following steps:

  1. Research project and committee formation: 
    1. By the end of the first quarter, the student will need to find a faculty member to serve as their (temporary) faculty advisor. The student will collaborate with their advisor to define a research problem, which can be course-related or relevant to their intended dissertation topic. If you do not have an assigned advisor, please fill out this form as part of your request PhD Advisor request form.pdf. Send the completed form to the isemengr@uw.edu.
  2. The student must form a qualifying exam committee composed of at least three faculty members from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, including their primary advisor. The committee must include at least one faculty member from the student’s research area of focus and at least one from outside their area. The committee should be formed ideally at the time of advisor selection, but no later than the end of spring quarter of the first year, to guide the research project development.
  3. Presentation, oral exam, and written report:
    1. No later than the end of spring quarter of the second year, they will present their outcomes of research project to their qualifying exam committee.
    2. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session (oral exam), during which the committee will assess the student's technical depth, research skills, and ability to communicate ideas clearly.
    3. The student must submit a concise written report summarizing their research findings, including research objectives, literature review, methodology, results, and future directions, two weeks before their presentation. The report should not exceed 15 pages, not including references. 
  4. Evaluation Criteria:
    • Thorough literature review and understanding of related work
    • Depth of understanding of the project topic
    • Mastery of research methodologies, techniques, and models within their domain
    • Quality and clarity of both the presentation and written report
    • Professionalism in conduct and communication
    • Demonstrated potential for future research

Outcome and Decision Process

  • Students will receive a Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail decision based on their performance in both components.
  • A Conditional Pass may require additional coursework, revisions to the research project, or supplementary research work as determined by the committee.
  • A student who receives a Fail will be allowed one opportunity to retake the qualifying exam within six months.
  • Students who fail the exam twice may be recommended for termination from the PhD program.

Timeline Summary

  • End of first quarter: Find their (temporary) faculty advisor and initiation of research project.
  • No later than the end of spring quarter of the first year: Formation of the qualifying exam committee. 
  • No later than the end of spring quarter of the second year: 1) Completion of coursework requirement; 2) Submission of written report and presentation of research project; 3) Qualifying exam results announced; student selects permanent research advisor.