The Comprehensive Examination
The first major milestone is called the Comprehensive (“Comp” or “Comps”) Exam.
For graduate students entering the doctoral program after Fall 2021, the following comprehensive exam policies and procedures apply:
The graduate courses 200B, 279 and 203 are designed to help prepare the student for the comprehensive exam both in terms of the subject material and expectations pertaining to depth of understanding. The instructors of this course will share their materials with the Comprehensive Exam Committee, so that the committee knows what material can fairly be included on the Comps Exam.
Students will review the materials from these classes (e.g. lectures, assignments and readings) and any additional recommended readings from the Comprehensive Exam Committee to prepare for the exam.
This exam is completed during the Spring quarter of one’s first year in the doctoral program over 3 days. Students can choose the days that work best for their schedules within a given timeframe (typically week 6).
The goals of the comprehensive (“comp”) exam and its associated study process are to bring all students up to a basic level of understanding of foundational concepts in our field (breadth, content) and facility with the practices of analytical and critical thinking that can be applied to any specific concept in our field (depth, practice).
The Comprehensive Exam Committee is selected by the EEB Department Chair for their representation of all disciplines encompassed by EEB and their breadth of expertise. In consultation with the instructors of 200B, 279 and 203, the committee will construct the exam questions.
The format and guideline for the exam will be given well in advance of Spring quarter and the chair of the comps committee will hold a Q&A to answer any questions around the format, timing and grading of the exam. During the exam the student may communicate with the committee about questions or problems. Directions for contacting committee members will be included in the body of the exam.
Successful outcomes of the exam will be listed as pass or conditional pass. In the case of a conditional pass, the committee will assign appropriate additional work to make up for deficiencies noted during the exam. This may include the requirement to enroll in (and pass) or to TA a course.
Sometimes student do not meet the qualifying bar on their first attempt of the exam. They will be allowed to take the exam a second time after a period of additional study.
A student who does not qualify after the second attempt may submit a request to GAC for consideration to transfer to the master’s program (only with the approval of their advisor and the comprehensive exam committee). This would still involve completing a master’s dissertation and completing all of our master’s program requirements.
If a student wishes to delay the exam to a later term, the request, including justification from both the student and sponsor, must be made in writing to EEB-GAC.
