After obtaining a masters degree at UCF, does one need to apply for the PhD program?
Yes, the status change is not automatically done in the system. One has to submit an application for the PhD program when he or she finishes the MS degree and if he or she wishes to start taking courses in the doctoral program.
While pursuing a masters degree at UCF, can one get into the certificate program at the same time? What does it take to get the certificate?
Anyone pursuing a Masters program and wishing to simultaneously get into the certificate program may do so by submitting an separate application for a non-degree seeking, post-baccalaureate status. One should mark the box where “for certification only” is indicated. To get the certificate one should submit a completion form to the department when they take the last course for that particular program.
What are the requirements for graduation?
For all: An intent to graduate and a survey should be submitted at the end of the previous semester that the student plans to graduate or at the beginning of the term that he or she is graduating. Deadlines are usually indicated in the annual calendar generated by the IEMS office or the UCF calendar on the website. Once the intents are submitted to the IEMS graduate office, the Program of Study is updated and matched with the SASS audits. If there are any discrepancies or problems such as substitutions, transfers, incomplete grades or failing grades that need to be resolved, the office will notify the student. It is best to also check with the office to see if all requirements have been met. On occasions a student’s number or address has been changed or disconnected and emails bounce back so we have no way of contact. For caps, gowns, invitations, please contact the bookstore.
For thesis and doctoral students:
Certain deadlines have to be met by all thesis and doctoral students when it comes to their scheduled defense. The students are responsible for the following:
- Schedule of oral defense (date, time and place) with their advisors and committee members. Student is responsible for notifying his or her advisor and committee members about the scheduled defense.
- Room reservations – Notify Mrs. Joy Tatlonghari ahead of time, via email. Any audio visual equipments needed should also be mentioned in advance.
- One page abstracts done in the right format and including all information for announcement and distribution. Send to Mrs. Joy Tatlonghari via email after approval from the advisor.
- Obtaining final signatures of the committee on the program of study, thesis/disseration approval forms, and their own signatures wherever indicated.
- Bound copies of thesis/dissertation. Draft and final copies are reviewed and approved by the student’s advisor. They are submitted to the thesis/dissertation editor by the specified deadlines. Two original bound copies of the final thesis or dissertation, printed in 100% cotton thesis paper go to the Library including the approval sheets that have original signatures in black ink from the advisor, committee members, department chair, dean of the college, assistant dean of Graduate Affairs and Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Affairs. Payments for bound copies ordered are made thru the cashier’s office.
For non-thesis students:
The IEMS office generates the schedule and the memorandum notifying the students for the oral comprehensive examination. A case study and some guidelines are given to the students two weeks prior to the oral presentation. A faculty committee of two attends the presentation and evaluates the students on their performance. Final signatures are also obtained at this time wherever indicated. Students who are taking a capstone course in Engineering Management and Interactive Simulation fulfill this requirement during their scheduled oral presentation in class and thus are not required to have the oral with the case study. This only applies to those who took the capstone course within the last three semesters before their scheduled term of graduation.
How can one obtain a Program of Study?
A Program of study template is now available at the IEMS website. All IEMS graduate students should have an approved program of study on file. It should be signed and approved by their advisor or the Graduate Program Coordinator during their first semester at UCF.
What does an International Student need to do when he or she arrives at UCF?
Report to the International Student’s Office at Barbara Ying Center after arriving in the U.S. They should bring all their original immigration documents with them, including passport, Visa, I-20 or IAP-66 and I-94 card. At the Barbara Ying Center each student should get an endorsement of Employment Authorization on the I-20 and a prepared Employment Eligibility Letter. With this in hand the student can complete an application for a Social Security Number and go to the Social Security Administration office. Students should have a local address so their card can be mailed to them without delay. When the student receives the Social Security Card they should go to UCF’s registrar’s office and update their student record with the new SS#.
Attend the scheduled orientations by the College of Engineering and the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems.
Submit their U.S. address and telephone number with the Records office and the IEMS Department.
What types of assistantships and fellowships are available to the students at UCF?
The Provost’s Graduate Fellowship combines a university fellowship with an assistantship as well as full tuition waiver. The combined support provides needed assistance to new graduate students while having them work for part of their support.
The Assistantship Enhancement Award provides extra funds to the student to increase the normal assistantship stipend for new graduate students.
The Merit Fellowship provides a varying number of fellowships of $5,000 towards the support of excellent graduate students.
For more information, check out the UCF financial aid website at: http://www.finaid.org
What are the existing student chapters of professional societies that students can join and benefit from?
Institute of Industrial Engineers Student Chapter (IIE)
Web address: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~iie/
Email address: iie@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
American Society of Quality (ASQ)
Web address: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~asqc/
Email address: asqc@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
Web address: http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~sme/
Email address: sme@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Who is entitled to tuition fee waiver and how do I apply for it?
Any student who had been hired and given a contract with the Chair, Assistant Chair, a faculty member or someone with authority to hire graduate research assistants or graduate teaching assistants, in any departments at UCF is entitled for partial tuition fee waivers. A form which is available from the department or the IEMS website needs to be submitted by the specific deadline. Tuition is paid partially by the department and the student pays the difference between the total fees and the money allocated for tuition waivers.
Where do I go to settle my accounts and my holds?
Check Office of Student Accounts to settle any holds. Payments are made through the Cashier’s Office.
How long does it take for one to get a masters degree? a PhD?
Depending on the student’s course load it usually takes about 2 years to 2-1/2 for the MS and an additional 2-3 years for the PhD. (There is a 5 year limit on courses taken while pursuing an MS degree and 7 year limit on courses taken while pursuing the PhD.)
Can someone who does not have a masters degree pursue a PhD?
Yes, there is a direct entry into the Ph.D. program for especially talented students.
Where do we go for caps & gowns, invitations & tickets for graduation?
The UCF bookstore. Information should also be available at the Graduate Studies web-site.
If a MS/PhD student has completed all coursework and has nothing left except the defense of their thesis or dissertation and is not on any type of fellowship, how many hours will he be required to register for?
In order to finish the thesis/dissertation and graduate, the student must be enrolled in at least 1 hour of thesis, or 3 hours of dissertation in the term of graduation, because Thesis/Dissertation must be taken continuously until graduation. Students who maintain a full-time status (ex: International students, supported students, employed students – TA, RA, GA) can only register for less than 9 hours (Fall and Spring, 6 hrs. Summer) in the term of graduation. Students on a fellowship or grant must maintain full-time status.
If an international student graduates from MS or PhD and wants to take more courses, can he apply as a non-degree seeking and take courses in another department or the same department he graduated from?
No. International students must be accepted to a program in order to obtain an I-20. Recently, ISS has expanded this to include Certificate programs, but it does not include Non-Degree or Post-Bac admission.
Is there any tuition waiver entitlement for a non-degree seeking student?
No. Only full-time Regular or Conditional admitted students to a degree program are eligible for waiver. They will have to be working for a faculty, Chair or Dean of any college at UCF and have a contract with the department once he or she is hired. |
