Students are given two questions in each period or area in the major field from which to choose one. Where possible, questions are prepared by different professors in the period and always carry the name of the professor who has drafted them. Half of the questions must be answered in English, the other half in the language of the major field. The examination in each language is supervised by a committee named by the Director of Graduate Studies according to the procedures established in section VI of Academic Policies and Procedures. Depending on the language or area, the examination takes two to four days with a day in-between.
Students write one question in the morning and one question in the afternoon.
There is a limit of three hours for each question. Students who receive one U may repeat the period or area question after an interval of at least one month. Students who receive more than one U will repeat the failed period or area questions at the next scheduled exam period. Students may not petition to take Writtens at times other than those assigned for ail graduate students. The M.A. thesis may be an expansion of a term paper or a new research paper on any topic that you and your advisor have agreed upon.