The Comprehensive Exams

Doctoral students take the comprehensive examinations ("prelims") upon completion of coursework, and upon passing the exams they "advance to candidacy" and commence writing a dissertation.

Comprehensive examinations are administered once during the fall term and once during the spring term of each academic year. Students must take the exams during one of these scheduled periods, which will be prior to October 1 for Fall semester and March 1 for Spring semester. The exact dates are announced before the first day of each semester. Students must notify the DGS and all members of their Ph.D. Advisory Committees in writing the semester before they wish to sit for the comprehensive examination.

The questions and grading for the sub-field examination are the responsibility of the student's advisor and a second reader in each field. Students may take the exams at one time or divide them between two successive semesters.

Exams in a primary field may take up to two days (no more than eight hours on each day), at the discretion of the first and second reader. The exam in the secondary field consists of the presentation of evidence of teaching competence, which may take the form of the design and oral defense of a class syllabus. Students take the examination in offices of the Department and without the aid of books, notes, or any other kind of reference material except in cases of serious disability.

Written examinations are graded Pass with Distinction, Pass, Conditional Pass, or Fail. Once the student has passed all exams and met all conditions, an oral exam is held within two weeks of the last written examination. The oral examination committee consists of members of t he student's PhD. Advisory Committee. Upon completion of the oral examination, the comprehensive examination is graded Pass with Distinction, Pass, or Fail.

A student who does not pass the examinations may be permitted to retake them at a later date or be dropped from the degree program of the department, at the discretion of the advisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies committee.