Comprehensive Examination | Procedure for the Written Comprehensive Examination | 
Procedure for the Oral Comprehensive Examination |

In the non-thesis track, the graduate advisory committee helps the student plan a program of courses, supervises the student’s efforts in Research Problems in Communication (COMM 5930) or in the Graduate Internship in Communication (COMM 5481), and helps schedule and proctor written and oral comprehensive examinations.

Problem in Lieu of Thesis

A student enrolling in COMM 5930 should do so under the section number of her or his major professor. To successfully complete the course, the student must present, in writing, a formal report or essay based upon the work completed in the course. The student’s graduate advisory committee must approve the completed project.

Generally, a student will complete COMM 5930 during a single semester. If the problem is completed to the satisfaction of the student’s graduate advisory committee during the semester, the major professor assigns a grade ("A," " B," "C," etc.). If the student makes satisfactory progress, but does not complete the research problem during the semester, the student is assigned a grade of "I." If the student does not make satisfactory progress, the student is assigned a grade of "W," and the student must enroll in COMM 5930 in a subsequent semester. Unlike a thesis, continuous enrollment is not required.

Graduate Internship in Communication Studies

The graduate student assumes responsibility for finding an internship position.  When the student has secured a position, she or he must find a faculty member who is willing to supervise the internship.  The professor will grant permission only after the graduate student has submitted a proposal wherein s/he identifies a communication-related topic that s/he will research over the course of the semester through traditional research as well as through data collection on the job.  If approved by the supervising faculty member the student may enroll in COMM 5481. 

Upon approval, the student develops a prospectus for the study and has it approved by the supervising faculty member.  The intern is required to document work experiences and/or collect data that relate to the topic under investigation throughout the semester. 

At the end of the semester, the student must submit a 15-20 page research paper based on his or her prospectus and funded by the data collected on the job.  The student’s work supervisor also provides an evaluation on a form supplied by the supervising faculty member.  All items outlined above are due at the end of the semester in which the student is enrolled.  

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination is a test of the student’s understanding of the ideas that are central to the field of communication. It is designed to determine the extent to which the student has mastered the theories and skills necessary for the degree and is a test of the student’s ability to describe, explain, analyze, and evaluate concepts in communication. Students are expected to demonstrate a broad knowledge of the communication discipline. The examination includes both a written and an oral component.

While the comprehensive examination certainly will address concepts covered in courses the student has taken over the course of graduate study, the examination is by no means limited to the content of those courses. Graduate students should begin preparation for the comprehensive examination approximately six months prior to the scheduled examination date. To prepare, the student should consult the members of her/his graduate advisory committee for suggestions on how to prepare for the examination.

During the last long semester in which the student is taking courses, s/he will be required to take comprehensive examinations. Students planning to graduate in the summer should take the comprehensive examination during the spring semester. Each long semester, the Director of Graduate Studies will announce the week when comprehensive examinations are scheduled. This date, which falls early in the semester, is selected to allow individuals adequate time to complete the comprehensive examination process (including any rewrites) in time for graduation.

In preparation for taking the comprehensive examination, the student should apply for graduation with the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. The Graduate School will evaluate the student’s degree plan and transcript prior to transmitting a form for reporting the results of comprehensive examinations.

The student assumes responsibility for scheduling the oral examination prior to the Graduate School deadline. The candidate should schedule the oral comprehensive examination at least one week prior to that deadline to allow for an additional oral examination should that prove necessary.

Procedure for the Written Comprehensive Examination

1. The written portion of the comprehensive examination will last for eight (8) hours. The student writes four (4) hours for the major professor and two (2) hours for each of the other members of the graduate advisory committee. Students generally write for four hours on two days during the week scheduled for comprehensive examinations.  Specific days for writing are scheduled in consultation with the major professor.

2. The major professor assumes responsibility for requesting comprehensive examination questions from the graduate advisory committee, proctoring the examination, and distributing the students answers.

3. Graduate students taking the comprehensive examination are required to present a typed copy of their answers. Students are encouraged to use word processors or typewriters.  Those who prefer to handwrite the comprehensive examination shall photocopy their handwritten answers and present a copy to the major professor. The student is required to present a typed copy of those answers within seventy-two (72) hours for grading.  Under no circumstances should students embellish, edit, or otherwise revise their handwritten answers.

4. Upon completion of the written examination, the questions submitted by a professor are returned along with the student’s response for evaluation. The grade (pass or no-pass) on the written portion will be based on the student’s ability to describe, explain, analyze and evaluate communication concepts, as well as her/his written communication skills.

5. If a student successfully completes all portions of the written examination, s/he may schedule the oral portion of the examination. If, however, a student is deficient in any part(s) of the written examination, s/he will have as many as two opportunities to rewrite the deficient part(s). If rewriting is necessary, the student’s graduate advisory committee will decide when the student will rewrite. Should the student fail to complete successfully the written portion after two rewrites, the student will not be permitted further opportunities to rewrite until additional coursework (to be determined by the student’s graduate advisory committee) is taken. If, after taking additional course work and retaking the deficient part(s) of the written examination, the student’s answers are still deficient, no subsequent rewrites will be permitted. No student will be permitted to participate in the oral component of the comprehensive examination until all parts of the written examination have been completed successfully.

Procedure for the Oral Comprehensive Examination

1. Upon successful completion of the written component of the comprehensive
examination, the student must consult with the major professor, the other graduate advisory committee members, and the department chair, to select a date and time for the oral examination. The student is required to consult each committee member and the department chair regarding the date and time for the meeting. When the date and time have been established (the meeting will require approximately one hour), the student is responsible for contacting the department secretary to reserve a conference room for the meeting.

2. On the day of the oral examination, the student should bring a personal copy of her/his answers to the written comprehensive examination for reference purposes. The major professor will chair the oral examination.

3. The major professor will chair the oral examination. The student will be asked to leave at the beginning of the oral comprehensive examination in order for the graduate advisory committee to discuss procedures and potential concerns. The oral examination begins with a brief presentation by the student (the content to be determined by the major professor) and is followed by questions from the graduate advisory committee and from any other faculty members in attendance. When the questioning ceases, the student and all other persons not on the student’s graduate advisory committee will be excused from the room, whereupon the committee decides whether the student’s performance is satisfactory, taking into consideration the combined written and oral components of the comprehensive examination. Upon reaching a decision, the committee calls the student back into the conference to report the committee’s decision.

4. After the student completes the oral portion of the comprehensive examination successfully, the major professor assumes responsibility for transmitting the results of the comprehensive examination to the Graduate School.

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Last updated: September 04, 2006.