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English competency
All PhD in Genetics candidates are required to demonstrate high level competency in English oral and written communication.
The Graduate School requires the program to formally attest to a student's English competency before the comprehensive exam can be scheduled. In order to meet this objective, graduate programs are expected to have mechanisms to evaluate and improve the English competency of both international and domestic students.
All students (domestic and international) will be evaluated for their writing competence as part of their Candidacy Exam. If the performance is not acceptable, the student will be directed to additional English Composition courses (i.e. ENGL 105, Hershey [PSU Harrisburg Campus]). The Doctoral Committee will re-evaluate the student.
To assess speaking competence, all students will be evaluated in formal-prepared situations based on their presentations in Colloquium. Upon request, the seminar chair will provide the Program Committee or Doctoral Committee with a written evaluation of the student's performance, strengths, and weaknesses based partly on audience evaluation and on the evaluation of Genetics faculty. The Examining Committee will make an additional evaluation during the oral portion of the Candidacy exam. If the student and advisor feel that the evaluation of oral competence during the candidacy will be unduly stressful, a separate portion of the exam can be designated for oral evaluation. If the student does not demonstrate acceptable competence based on the above evaluations, the student's advisor will be responsible for providing mechanisms for improving these skills. Possible scenarios include: frequent verbal critiques of assigned professional papers, presentations in laboratory meetings and additional presentations in Colloquium. Members of the student's Doctoral Committee are asked to help evaluate and attest to progress of the student. Students can enroll in SPCOM 100 at the Penn State Harrisburg Campus.
The student's advisor will notify the Program Chair in writing when the student has met the English competency requirement. The Program Chair will then notify the Graduate School.