PhD Seminars
PhD Seminar Guidelines
Students enrolled in the BPK PhD program are required to give two seminars during their degree. One of the required seminars is an ‘exit seminar’ given to the Department prior to defending their thesis. BPK PhD students are to enroll in BPK 897 (using the BPK 897 Enrollment Form) twice, once for each of their two seminars.
Purpose:
- To provide an opportunity for students to develop their communication and presentation skills.
- To provide a forum for students to inform members of the BPK Department about the student's research.
Topics:
- Two seminar topics to be approved by the student's senior supervisor and the BPK Graduate Program Chair.
- The topic of the exit seminar is to be directly related to the student's thesis research.
First PhD Seminar
The first PhD seminar may be presented to the BPK Department during a regularly scheduled Departmental Seminar time slot. A Departmental Seminar shall typically be 30-40 minutes in duration, followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.
Alternately, the Graduate Program Committee encourages students to participate in appropriate scientific meetings and conferences. As such, approval of formal conference oral presentations will typically be granted for the first PhD seminar. Approval will not be granted for poster presentations.
BPK PhD students are requested to enroll in BPK 897 in advance of delivering their first PhD seminar. For instance, if they are delivering a conference presentation in February, they should enroll in BPK 897 in that Spring semester. If necessary, students may enroll in BPK 897 in the semester immediately after their first PhD seminar.
Exit Seminar
The exit seminar is typically scheduled a few weeks to a month before the thesis defense and is presented to the BPK Department during a regularly scheduled Departmental Seminar time slot. The exit seminar shall typically be 30-40 minutes in duration, followed by an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.
BPK PhD students must enroll in BPK 897 in advance of delivering their exit seminar. For instance, if their exit seminar is in December, they should enroll in BPK 897 that Fall semester.
Last revised: May 2025