The primary objective of the PhD qualifying examination is to evaluate the student's ability to think independently, creatively, and critically, and to evaluate the student's mastery of breadth and depth in a range of subject areas in and related to horticulture and agronomy, including the ability to synthesize broad concepts and detailed information. This level of knowledge must be sufficient to demonstrate competency for professional work. The exam begins with the presentation of a written research proposal (8 pg maximum) and questioning related to the objectives and methodology, and often times will also include questioning related to the areas of the QE that the student's project addresses. Under no circumstances is the outcome of the qualifying examination to be determined strictly by the quality of the candidate's dissertation research or research proposal. The qualifying examination is not a proposal defense.

Membership of the Qualifying Examination committee is a shared responsibility of the Guidance Committee, the student, and the Chair of the GGHA. The QE Committee will consist of a Chair, who will be responsible for keeping the exam on track and asking questions in general horticulture and agronomy or areas he/she feels were inadequately covered, plus four members who will represent the four areas that the student will be examined on, one of which should be a cropping system. These four areas should have been determined during the first quarter meeting with the Guidance Committee and should be listed on the Guidance Committee Report.

The Guidance Committee and the student work together to select potential QE Committee members, as well as alternates for each member. This information should be included on the student's Guidance Committee Report during the fifth quarter meeting, and should be forwarded to Lisa Brown no later than 60 days prior to the anticipated date of examination; the student should also indicate which month he/she plans to take the QE. Lisa will then notify the GGHA Chair, who will e-mail the potential committee members, asking if they are willing to serve on the committee.

The student will be notified once the committee members have accepted and have been approved by Graduate Studies. The student will meet with each member of the examination committee to discuss expectations for the exam. The student should complete the research proposal with input from his/her major professor and provide it to the QE committee no later than two weeks prior to the exam.

It is also the student's responsibility to find an examination date and time suitable for everyone, reserve a room, and send notice of the exam's location, date, and time to Lisa Brown (lfbrown@ucdavis.edu), with a cc to the GGHA Chair, Andy Walker (awalker@ucdavis.edu). The GGHA Chair will send formal notification to the members of the QE Committee.

Graduate Studies has a webpage with helpful tips on preparing for your qualifying exam at http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/students/qualifying_exam.html.