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 at
least B in each course may be substituted for one of the area examinations. Knowledge of the content of a graduatelevel
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 academic year of Ph.D. work. A student will be allowed to repeat an examination only once. |