Academic Degree Program for Doctoral Candidates of Southeast University

Academic Degree Program for Doctoral Candidates of Southeast University I. Program Goals The education of graduate students in pursuit of their doctoral degree (doctoral candidates) aims at fostering high-level qualified personnel fully developed in morality, intellect and physique by enhancing academic learning, improving comprehensive qualities, strengthening innovation capacity and further cultivating the global perspective. Specifically including: (1) Students should acquire a good knowledge of the basic principles of Marxism, adhere to the basic line of the Communist Party of China, show great devotion to the motherland, and abide by laws and regulations, possess good moral characters and rigorous academic approaches, be devoted to entrepreneurship and science, and contribute to building a modern socialist China. (2) Students should have a firm and comprehensive grasp of basic theories and profound and systematic specialized knowledge in the discipline concerned; should have the ability to undertake independent scientific research; should have made creative achievements in science or in a special technology. See graduate degree program of doctoral education for each discipline (major). Ⅱ. Program Duration The program of doctoral education is of 4 years' duration, and the combined master and PhD education 5 years'. Ⅲ. Credits and Curriculum (1) Doctoral candidates A minimum of 15 credits is required in total, including a minimum of 10 degree course credits and the rest being non-degree course credits. A total of 3 compulsory course credits is additionally required. 1. Degree courses: Chinese Marxism and the Contemporary Era 2 credits English for Doctoral Degree 3 credits Specialized courses for doctoral candidates 5 credits at least 2. Non-degree courses: Credits of electives should add up to the total credits required. 3. Compulsory courses: Lectures on Liberal Arts and Science 1 credit Academic Activities & Academic Conferences 2 credits (2) Students admitted to a combined master and PhD program A minimum of 35 credits for science and technology majors and 37 for medicine are required including a minimum of 20 degree course credits. A total of 4 compulsory course credits is additionally required. 1. Degree courses: Chinese Marxism and the Contemporary Era 2 credits English for Doctoral Degree 3 credits Specialized courses for Masters 10 credits at least Specialized courses for doctoral candidates 5 credits at least 2. Non-degree courses: Credits of electives should add up to the total credits required. 3. Compulsory courses: Lectures on Liberal Arts and Science 1 credit Academic Activities & Conferences 2 credits Notes: 1. Degree courses should be completed within one year after enrollment (students in combined master and PhD programs within one and a half years). 2. Non-degree courses should be selected among annual course catalogue based on students' knowledge structure and the needs of thesis writing. 3. Doctoral candidates should attend at least eight lectures on Liberal Arts and Science before the interim assessment. Each doctoral candidate must attend at least one lecture on Scientific Ethics and Academic Disciplines, Laws, and Mental Health. Doctoral candidates from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and abroad should attend at least three lectures before the interim assessment. One credit will be granted after passing the assessment. 4. Academic Activities & Conferences: Doctoral candidates should actively participate in at least eight academic activities within the scope of the discipline and write four academic reports (at least one in foreign languages). Students admitted to a combined master and PhD program should actively participate in at least ten academic activities within the scope of the discipline and write five academic reports (at least one in foreign languages). Each doctoral candidate major in science, engineering, medicine, economics, management, etc. should participate in at least one overseas academic activity and at least two significant academic conferences in their respective research field with the presentation of academic reports. Written materials related to academic activities and conferences attended should be signed and approved by the supervisor. Submitting the written materials signed by the supervisor to the academic secretary of the school (department, institute) before applying for thesis defense constitutes 2 credits. 5. Select at least one non-degree course in a different first-level discipline. IV. Program Requirements (1) Personal Program Proposal Doctoral candidates should develop a personal program proposal under the guidance of the supervisor within two weeks after the registration according to the requirements of the discipline (major) and their own preferences. See the doctoral program (the combined master and PhD program) for each discipline (major). (2) Dissertation proposal The dissertation proposal of doctoral candidates should be completed in the fourth semester (students in combined master and PhD program the sixth). Application for defense should be submitted in at least one year after the proposal is approved. See Principles and Requirements on Topic Selection and Thesis Proposal for Graduate Students of Southeast University. (3) Interim Assessment For doctoral candidates, the interim assessment should be completed before the end of the fourth semester (students in combined master and PhD programs the sixth). The interim assessment evaluates the progress of course studies, the completion of thesis proposal and the potential for innovative research. Students are suggested to proceed with the doctorate program, be transferred to other research fields or to be disqualified from the program based on their performance in interim assessments. Measures shall be implemented in accordance with Regulations on Interim Assessment and Screening for Doctoral Candidates of Southeast University. (4) Dissertation (Graduate Thesis) Doctoral candidates should submit their dissertation or graduate thesis before graduation. The dissertation (graduate thesis) is a summary of the systematic and thorough academic research conducted independently by the doctoral candidate under the guidance of the supervisor, which is supposed to confirm that the candidate has made creative academic achievements in his or her research field, has had a firm and comprehensive grasp of basic theories and profound and systematic specialized knowledge in the discipline concerned, and has acquired the ability to undertake independent scientific research. For standards and specifications of the dissertation (graduate thesis), refer to the Regulations on Thesis Format for Graduate Students of Southeast University. The word "degree" on the cover, header and in the statement of originality needs to be altered into "graduate". (5) Required Achievements Applicants for doctoral degree must meet the requirements in the Evaluation Standards for Doctoral Candidates of Southeast University (2018 Edition). V. Dissertation Defense, Graduate Thesis Defense and Degree Application The approval of a doctoral candidate’s application for dissertation defense or graduate thesis defense shall be executed in accordance with Implementing Regulations on Separation of Graduation and Degree Conferral for Doctoral Candidates of Southeast University (Trial Version) (GS [2018] No.7). (1) Dissertation Defense A doctoral candidate’s application for dissertation defense shall be executed in accordance with Provisional Rules of Degree Conferral for Master's and Doctoral Degrees of Southeast University. (2) Graduate Thesis Defense If a doctoral candidate applies for graduate thesis defense, the school (department, institute) shall send the graduate thesis for expert review conducted by three professors with at least one from outside. Graduate thesis defense shall be conducted on condition that all the applications have been approved by experts, and all the relevant materials have been approved by the deputy dean, sent by the secretary to the Degree Office of Graduate School for review and have been granted. The formation of the Thesis Defense Committee and the related procedures of the graduate thesis defense are the same as those of the dissertation defense. (3) Degree Applications Qualified doctoral candidates who have passed the doctoral dissertation defense need to submit their degree applications within two years from the date of defense. Unqualified candidates who have passed the defense need fulfill the requirements of degree conferral and submit their applications within two years from the date of defense. If a candidate’s in-school time has reached or exceeded maximum duration of study, they need to apply for their degree within two years from the date of termination of maximum study duration. The candidates themselves should bear the responsibility if they cannot gain the degree for failure to submit their degree information due to exceedance of in-school time.