Graduate Handbook (2005-2006)
Comprehensive Examinations
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In order to ensure that the skills and basic knowledge have been
acquired to carry out the research necessary for the dissertation, the
student must demonstrate competence in the four areas chosen from the
list A-M in the Ph.D. Courses section. Competence will be
demonstrated by comprehensive examinations which shall consist of
written examinations over each of these four areas; passing an
appropriate graduate-level sequence of at least two courses with a
grade of al least B in each course may be substituted for one of the
area examinations. Knowledge of the content of a graduate-level
sequence of two courses from each of the four areas, such as the
typical course sequence listed under each area, should be adequate
preparation for the comprehensive examination. Content syllabi for
each of the examination areas will also be available.
Comprehensive examinations will normally be scheduled at the beginning of the spring semester and once during the summer. To show satisfactory progress in his/her graduate studies, a student is normally expected to complete his/her comprehensive examinations by the end of the third full year of academic Ph.D. work. A student will be allowed to repeat an examination only once. |