GRADUATE GUIDE
Procedures for Doctoral Qualifying Exams (4-field exam procedures)
Written
- The written portion of the doctoral qualifying exam is three days. The schedule may be flexible, depending on the student's preference (for example MWF or three days in a row).
- There are two major fields, four hours each; and two minor fields, two hours each. It is the responsibility of the committee chair to notify the committee members to give the questions to the Administrative Assistant two weeks ahead of time, as well as indicating whether they are major or minor fields.
- The student may take the exams in the testing room. The conference room may be used if desired, but in that case it is the responsibility of the committee chair (not the student or the Administrative Assistant) to reserve the room. The student will be on his/her honor to observe the time limitations. The testing room will have a clock for this purpose. The finished exams are then given to the Administrative Assistant.
- The Administrative Assistant will then see that the exam is copied and distributed to the committee members, along with the appropriate form(s).
After receiving preliminary feedback from committee members, the chair of the examination committee may call a meeting to determine whether or not the student should proceed to the oral portion of the examination. This meeting will take place prior to a formal vote on the examination.
Oral
- Oral exams are usually one week after the written exams. The AMU is available for this purpose at no extra charge. The conference room may be used, but it is not necessary that all oral exams be held in the department conference room.
- It is the responsibility of the committee chair (not the student or the Administrative Assistant) to reserve the room.
- If the conference room is used, it is also the responsibility of the committee chair to see that the office is securely locked after the exams if the time is past 4:30 when the office closes.
- Copies of the forms should be made for the student's file before the forms are sent to the Graduate School.
NOTE : Students are responsible for asking professors to serve on their committees (the request and the professors' agreement should be confirmed in writing), for coordinating their own and their professors' schedules, for setting dates for the written and oral examinations, and for ensuring that all members of the committee are aware of their responsibilities and of any changes in the dates of the examination or in the makeup of the committee.
