Qualifying Examinations
All doctoral students are required to complete a series of qualifying examinations as they approach the completion of their coursework. Students wishing to take the qualifying exams in a given semester need to complete the application for qualifying exams one month before the exam date. Examinations will be conducted on the 6th and 7th weekends of a given semester and on the 1st and 2nd weekend of August for summer exams. Please see authors for qualifying examination questions for a schedule of which faculty member will be writing the first day question each semester.
Questions will be distributed at 8:30 a.m. on the Friday of the exam weekend. Students may obtain the question later in the day, but may not request it before 8:30 a.m. Upon picking up the exam, students will be asked to sign a pledge promising that answers will be their own work (see "completion" below). Answers must be returned by 4:30 p.m. on the Monday following the Friday distribution.
The first day question is intended to be broad in scope so students can demonstrate their ability to integrate knowledge from many sources and bring this to bear of the question (breadth). Students are expected to talk to their advisors about second day questions. The question(s) is intended to see how "expert" a student is in areas they consider to be their strength (depth). Second day questions will have to address some aspect of inquiry. For example, the research component might ask for a brief research protocol. It might ask students to focus on substantive issues that justify studying a topic. It might ask the student to describe the research approaches that have been useful in studying a topic and a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches.
Students must complete their qualifying exams (major and second week) in the same semester the "Application for Doctoral Exams Form" is submitted. If the student cannot complete an exam, the entire series (major and second week) must be taken again in another testing period. Emergencies will be handled by the program chair on a case by case basis.
A minor area qualifying examination is also required for all education majors who are minoring in another education program area. Students whose minor is outside of education may or may not have to take a minor examination, depending on the policy of the minor department.
Documents Related to Qualifying Exams: