Written qualifying examination should be taken by the end of the second semester. They are usually offered in the second half of the semester. The objective of the exam is to ensure that Ph.D. students are knowledgeable with undergraduate level mechanical engineering curriculum. Students are required to pass three sections of the exams to demonstrate a level of mastery in:  

-         Major area

-         Minor area

-         Math/numerical analysis

Major and minor areas are to be chosen from the following areas of mechanical engineering:  

-         Dynamics and control system

-         Material and mechanical design

-         Thermal sciences

-         Fluid mechanics

The exam is prepared and supervised by the graduate program committee. Students are expected to pass all three sections to be eligible for Ph.D. candidates in the program. Qualifying exam can be repeated one time only.