In order to be advanced to candidacy, students must have met
the departmental requirements and obtained a faculty research supervisor.
At the time of application for advancement to candidacy, a doctoral
committee responsible for the remainder of the student's graduate program
is nominated by the student and appointed by the Dean of Graduate
Studies & Research. The committee conducts the Ph.D. qualifying examination
during which students must demonstrate the ability to engage in thesis
research. Usually this involves the presentation of a plan for the thesis
research project. The committee may ask questions directly or indirectly
related to the project and questions on general physics which it determines
to be relevant. Upon successful completion of this examination, students
are advanced to candidacy and are awarded the Candidate of Philosophy
(C.Phil.) degree.