Exercise and Sport Science
Graduate Program: Ed.D. Preliminary Examination
The preliminary (or comprehensive) examination is taken when a student has completed most of his/her coursework; it consists of written, practical, and oral sections, Then oral exam should be taken no later than one month after the written section has been completed. The exam is governed by policies of the Graduate Bulletin. Specific departmental policies include:
1 The practical exam will evaluate the student’s professional competence. Performance on this portion of the exam will be evaluated thorough selected internships. Generally, a passing grade on six hours of internship constitutes successful performance on this section of the exam. Successful completion of the practical examination is a prerequisite so sitting for the written exam.
2. The written exam consists of three sections. The exam will be tailored to the specific professional goals, program of study, and experiences of each student. Normally, one section will evaluate the student’s depth and breadth of knowledge in the professional literature, one will evaluate the student’s knowledge of a special area of professional competency related to the proposed dissertation topic and one will evaluate his/her ability to apply knowledge to practical problems in the profession. The precise structure of the exam will vary on a case by case basis. Completion of the written exam is a prerequisite for sitting for the oral exam. The exam is a take home exam, typically completed with one week. Students are responsible for submitting a completed copy to each member of the examining committee.
3. The oral exam will evaluate the student’s overall knowledge of the field, typically completed within one week but especially will focus on areas covered in the written and practical exams. Deviations from this format must be approved by the student’s advisor and the Ed.D. Oversight Committee.
4. Specific time allocation for topics and breadth/depth of areas covered by the written exam are determined by the student’s advisor, in consultation with the student’s full advisory/dissertation committee.
5. A student’s advisor, in conjunction with the advisory/dissertation committee, has the option of (a) holding an oral exam separate from and in addition to the dissertation proposal review meeting, or (b) combining the oral exam with the dissertation proposal review meeting. In either case, successful completion of the oral exam is prerequisite to consideration of the student’s dissertation proposal.
(Approved by the Ed.D. Oversight Committee 11/2004)