MS Examinations

The Q Exam has the following objectives:

1. To identify strengths and weaknesses in the student's background for the purpose of selecting a program of courses and other educational experiences best suited for the individual student.
2. To evaluate the student's qualifications and potential for academic achievement in the program.

These qualifications include:

1. Competency in basic and applied sciences
2. Ability to formulate, organize and express ideas
3. Ability to critically evaluate the food science literature
4. Ability to speculate intelligently
5. Skills in written and oral communications
6. Proficiency in the English language
7. Commitment to a career in the field of food science and technology

The Q exam is a field required examination; it is not a requirement of the Graduate School.

Students are expected to pass the qualifying examination prior to the beginning of the second semester of their MS program.

At least one week prior to the exam submit the Schedule of Q Exam form to the Graduate Field Office AND provide all committee members with the following:

1. A copy of the paper you are critiquing
2. A 300-word summary of the paper
3. A copy of your bachelor's degree and Cornell transcripts
4. A reminder memo with date, time and location of the exam

Examiners will include all members of the student's Special Committee. In addition, all members of the Graduate Faculty of the Field of Food Science and Technology are invited to attend as non-voting examiners. The exam may be exclusively oral or both oral and written, at the discretion of the Special Committee, and will include questions pertaining to fundamental concepts and principles pertinent to the student's major and minor fields.

The oral examination will also include a critical evaluation by the student of a paper from relevant research literature with the agreement of the committee chair.
As of September 2014, the paper selected cannot be authored or co-authored by the student’s committee chair or minor members.

Prior to the exam, the student should choose a paper from the literature, critically read the paper and pertinent background materials, and prepare a concise summary of the paper and a short oral presentation.

The summary should include:

• Justification and objective(s) of the research
• How the research was conducted
• Major results
• The conclusions (200-300 words; this cannot just be a rephrasing of the abstract)

The copies and summary of the paper should be given to the examiners at least 1 week prior to the exam.

During the exam, the student will give a ten- minute "seminar" on the paper and then respond to questions related to the paper. Questions may include but are not limited to the following:

• Why did you choose the paper?
• What is the significance of the paper for the field of Food Science and Technology?
• Describe/explain key concepts/principles pertinent to the topic of the paper.
• What was the main question or objective addressed by the paper?
• Describe the research design. Was it adequate for answering the question addressed?
• Describe the methods used. Were they adequate?
• Summarize results and conclusions. Are the conclusions supported by the data?
• Describe flaws/pitfalls in the paper.
• Had you been directing the research described in the paper, what would you have done differently?
• What future research on this topic would you recommend?