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Oral Comprehensive Exam
The oral comprehensive exam is intended to test a student’s general knowledge of the subject area
that he or she has chosen for research, in order to demonstrate that he or she has obtained a foundation
for initiating work towards a dissertation. It is given by the student’s Ph.D. Supervisory Committee.
It should normally be given within the semester following the taking of all the Area courses, but must be
given and passed before the end of the sixth semester in residence.
The oral exam is expected to be about two hours in length. It covers basic topics in the student’s
area of research, except that topics directly related to the intended dissertation work are to be excluded.
More general topics including those covered earlier by the Written Comprehensive Exam may also be included,
especially if weaknesses were apparent that are deemed to be relevant to the research and dissertation
areas. The research advisor (Chair of the Supervisory Committee) will convey to the student the range of
topics that can be covered, and assist the student with preparations for the oral exam.
If you do not already have an Interactive Program of Study on file with the Graduate College, you will need
to bring a copy of that, plus the approval page to your defense so that your committee members may sign it.
You will also need to bring a
Report of Doctoral
Comprehensive Exams for them to sign as well. After you have passed your defense, please bring all
paperwork to the Graduate Coordinator.
Admission to Candidacy
What is candidacy?
Once a doctoral student has passed the required comprehensive examinations and the dissertation prospectus,
they are admitted to candidacy. Candidacy indicates that a student is ABD, “all but
dissertation.”
What do I need to do in order to be advanced to candidacy?
You must have an Interactive Program of Study (iPOS) on file. You also need to turn in a completed
Report of Doctoral
Comprehensive Exams, signed by all of your committee members in both sections, to the Graduate
Coordinator. You do not need to apply for candidacy; the Report of Doctoral Comprehensive Exams form acts
as your application.
What is an Interactive Program of Study?
A Program of Study is a list of courses you have taken and are planning to take that count towards your
degree. Directions on how to file an iPOS can be found
here. You must have
your iPOS approved by your entire committee before it will be approved at the departmental level. When you
print out your iPOS, also print out the approval page. After your entire committee has approved your iPOS,
turn both the printed out iPOS and signed approval page to the Graduate Coordinator.
Do I get paid more?
Yes! Once you have been admitted to candidacy you become an Associate instead of an Assistant. An Assistant
is paid $15,631 per academic year and an Associate is paid $17,160 per academic year.
How long do I have to wait for my pay raise to take effect?
Your pay raise will take effect the semester after you have been advanced to candidacy. For example if your
letter says your candidacy semester is Fall 2007, your pay raise will take effect on January 15,
2008.
How long does it take to be admitted to candidacy?
It usually takes 2 to 4 months to be advanced to candidacy. Once the Graduate College has entered the results and passed the
exam form to the Graduation Office of the Registrar, the Graduation Office will produce a letter of candidacy and forward it to the
Graduate College to complete the candidacy process. You will receive a letter when you have been admitted to candidacy.
Please submit a copy of this letter to Graduate Program Coordinator.
Is there anything I can do to speed up the process?
The Graduate College only meets once a month to advance students to candidacy. An application
can be held up if one of your committee members is not eligible to serve on a committee during the time the Graduate College
meets. Also, make sure your iPOS has been approved prior to submitting the Report of Doctoral Comprehensive
Exams. Finally, make sure the Report of Doctoral Comprehensive Exams has been completely filled
out.
I don’t have an iPOS on file, but I’m ready to take my orals. What should I
do?
You must have an iPOS on file before the Graduate College will evaluate your oral exam results.
You can submit both your signed iPOS approval sheet and your signed Report of Doctoral Comprehensive Exams
to the Graduate Coordinator on the same day, however this will result in an even longer wait time for
advancement to candidacy.
How do I know when I have been advanced to candidacy?
You will receive a candidacy letter produced by the Graduation Office along with an official letter of
congratulations from the Graduate College. The form letter from the Graduation Office will list any degree requirements
that still need to be completed before you graduate, including your graduation deadline semester.
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