All candidates must apply for the comprehensive exam in the first month of the semester before they wish to take comprehensive exams. 54601 Candidates for comprehensive exams must have all requirements or are in the process of completing coursework prior to taking comprehensive exams. Late applications will not be processed until the next semester. Exams are typically essay-type questions requiring the candidate to recall information to develop an argument or solve a problem. Emphasis is placed on citing references.
Candidates are responsible for ALL material presented in their plan of study.
Each question is rated from 1-5 by a panel of experts. A rating of 3 is passing. A total average of 3 or higher is required to pass comprehensive exams. The chair and associate dean are notified and a letter is sent to each candidate within a month of the exam date. In the event a student fails the exam, the candidate will be allowed to retake the exams on the next scheduled date.