In which subject did Kalpana Chawla earn her PH. D
Answers
According to NASA Kalpana Chawla 5/04 she took 4 years to get a PhD in aerospace at Boulder from 1984 to 1988.
According to Wikipedia Kalpana Chawla she got a master’s during this period, but the reference is only the above one, which does not mention it.
The university credits her with MAero in 1986. CU-Boulder to honor alumni astronauts Onizuka, Chawla - Alumni Association
Possible explanations:
(1) It is common for students to be asked to submit a thesis of master’ s standard after a couple of years. If for any reason they are unable to complete the PhD, then they have earned the master’s. I believe a few places actually award the master’s as well.
(2) In some places the work done in a master’s degree can be included in a PhD in the same subject.
(3) Many universities have regulations giving 2 years as the minimum between registration and award of a PhD. This is only likely to be achieved if either
(a) the student and supervisor are very well prepared and have a good idea of what will make the final research report, plus the student gets on with writing promptly and efficiently
(b) mainly in the field of mathematics or mathematical physics, by a combination of luck and insight the student achieves a major proof in this time, which is clearly sufficient for the award of the doctorate