In advance of portfolio completion, the student will provide the following to the Supervisory Committee:
- Cover letter explaining the rationale for the attached Field and Focus Reading Lists.
- Annotated bibliographies noting a Field Reading List of 15-20 items reflecting a general knowledge of the field area central to the student's work and a Focus Reading List of 15-20 items of critical works particular to the student's developing research focus.
After approval by the committee members of the Field and Focus Reading Lists, a portfolio completion date is set along with a capstone oral date.
Portfolio will consist of:
- Cover letter describing the major ideas, themes, and issues represented in the portfolio and an overall view of its contents.
- 20-30 page integrative essay with thesis bringing together readings from the Field List.
- 20-30 page integrative essay with thesis bringing together readings from the Focus List.
- Current curriculum vitae
- Philosophy of Teaching Statement
- Course syllabus developed for current or proposed use
- Recent Conference presentations, reports, and/or publications
Capstone Oral will consist of:
- Minimum of one question related to the field essay from each committee member.
- Minimum of one question related to the focus essay from each committee member.
- Minimum of one question related to the additional components of the portfolio from each committee member.
- General Discussion.
- Portfolio and oral will be evaluated on a "pass," "no pass," or "revise and resubmit" basis.
Student's preparation for examinations may come through course work and individual study. Comprehensives are not a repetition of course examinations and do not seek to measure outcomes of individual courses; comprehensives are a thorough evaluation of the student's understanding of the field. They should be designed to demonstrate that the student can synthesize course work and critically evaluate knowledge in the field. In preparing for comprehensives, a student may approach any member of the Supervisory Committee for reading lists. (Exams will not be limited to the reading list, but the reading list is seen as a help to the student in preparation.)