In consultation with the student, the Supervisory Committee determines the nature of and expectations for completing and passing the comprehensive exam. The comprehensive examination is an intense professional development experience that requires the student to devote sufficient time and energy to its completion. A variety of examination formats are possible. The examination format should give the student an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to synthesize, reflect, evaluate and apply their previous coursework and research experiences to solve problems posted in the examination.
Although no specific format is suggested, several examples of parts of the examination serve to illustrate the variety of options available, including:
- Respond in writing to a series of 4-8 questions to test the depth and breadth of your knowledge in your academic areas. Typically, the responses to the questions are sent to the supervisory committee at least two weeks before the scheduled oral exam. At the exam, the student defends/discusses their answers posted by the supervisory committee.
- Conducting and writing a meta-analysis of a topic in the student general areas of interest (and not directly related to their dissertation). The written format is in the form of a research publication to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. The student submits their written paper to the committee at least two weeks before the scheduled oral exam. At the exam, the student gives a presentation about the paper and defends/discusses their research methods and findings in response to questions posed by the supervisory committee.
- Writing and defending a research proposal in the student’s general areas of interest (and not directly related to their dissertation). The written format is in the form of a research proposal, such as format expected by NIH, USDA, or other research entity. The student submits their written proposal to the committee at least two weeks before the scheduled oral exam. At this exam, the student gives a presentation about their proposal and defends/discusses in response to questions posed by the supervisory committee.
If a research proposal is expected for comprehensive exam, here is a suggested format:
The Supervisory Committee Chair (faculty advisor) should be involved in the planning and development of the research project but should not edit or rewrite the written research proposal. This document should be an accurate representation of the student's writing and reasoning abilities. Students are encouraged to consult with their peers for feedback before submitting to the supervisory committee.