Comprehensive Exam Option
Comprehensive exams are required of all students selecting the non-thesis option. The exams are intended to help students review and synthesize the course curriculum and to offer an assessment of the student's knowledge and strengths in the field.
The exams consist of:
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Three written tests lasting 2 hours each in: |
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theory |
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research methods |
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student's area of specialization |
Exams are given the Saturday before finals during Fall and Spring semesters, and the Saturday before the beginning of Fall semester classes. Theory exams are given from 8-10 AM, research methods from 10:45 -12:45, and specialization from 2-4 PM.
Student must:
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notify the Graduate Coordinator by mid-term of the semester in which the exam will be taken (June 15 for the summer administration) | ||
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study questions will be available to students at least by that time | ||
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exams are generally taken at end of student's last semester of classes (but may be taken prior to a summer internship) | ||
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students must complete at least 30 credits before taking the exam |
Three faculty will be designated by the Sociology Graduate Committee to conduct a "blind" review of each question. Students will receive either a pass, follow-up oral, or fail on each exam depending on whether the evaluation criteria have been met at a minimum of a "B" level. See the Sociology Graduate Handbook for a description of the evaluation criteria. In the case of a follow-up oral, faculty readers ask the student questions to further clarify some aspects of the student's essay in order to determine whether all criteria have been met. A follow-up oral may result in a student receiving either a pass or a fail for that particular exam.
Those who receive a pass on all three exams will be eligible for graduation when they have
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completed the 36 hours required credits with a minimum 3.0 GPA | ||
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met all other university and departmental requirements |
In the event of a fail on any section(s), the student will be asked to retake that section(s) at a later regularly scheduled exam date.
This webpage does not replace the Sociology Graduate Student Handbook and is intended to provide only an outline concerning the comprehensive exam option. For further reference see the "Comprehensive Exams Procedure" in the Handbook.
Click the Announcement link for the date of the next comprehensive exam.
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