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Qualifying examinations Students are required to take comprehensive examinations twice during their degree program. The first, a written exam, is taken upon completion of the core requirements and the second, an oral exam, upon completion of the concentration requirements. After completing all of the core courses in the Ph.D. program, each student takes a comprehensive qualifying examination on the core. The examination is designed to evaluate the mastery students have achieved over the body of knowledge represented by the core. It is intended to measure the ability of students to organize, integrate and creatively apply the knowledge in the field to important problems. Although organized around the courses in the core, the examination is not restricted to material covered in those courses. It is expected that doctoral students will read well beyond the confines of individual courses. In order to continue in the program, students must attempt the qualifying examination no later than the next regular semester following the completion of core course requirements, and they must pass the exam by the end of the second regular semester after completing the core course requirements. A student may attempt the examination twice. Examinations are offered twice per year. A student also must take a comprehensive examination in the concentration. Each student, under the direction of their concentration area advisor, will prepare a reading list on the concentration or on a significant portion thereof. The student will then take an oral examination on this material (the reading list). A student may attempt the examination twice. Exams are scheduled at the convenience of the student and advisor. Each student must pass this second examination before defending a dissertation proposal.
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