Exercise and Sport Science
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ESS is a founding member of the American Kinesiology Association
Graduate Program: Ph.D. Preliminary/Comprehensive Examination
Purpose
The purpose of the PhD preliminary examination is to give both students and
faculty information on the student’s progress, and understanding of their
completed coursework and associated experiences. Through preparing for and taking
the comprehensive examination, students are expected to gain a comprehensive
view of the field and to integrate and synthesize their learnings from various
courses and experiences.
Graduate School Policies
The preliminary (or comprehensive) examination is taken when a student has completed
most of his/her coursework, and is governed by the policies of the Graduate
Bulletin. As the Graduate Bulletin states, the examination consists of both
written and oral sections; the written part is scheduled and prepared by the
dissertation advisor with the assistance of the advisory committee; and the
oral exam should be taken no later than one month after the written section
is completed.
ESS Departmental Policies
The ESS written comprehensive exam questions may be closed book
(typically requiring immediate responses without prior knowledge of the specific
questions and without using external resources), or open-book/take-home
(typically allowing 1-2 days on a question using any permitted external resources).
Typically closed book questions are written in a 3-4 hour time
frame, and are written on-campus, in a space where the student will not be disturbed.
Open-book (or take-home) questions may be assigned in combination
with closed-book, or as the entire preliminary examination. Students may be
allowed up to 5 days to complete take-home exam questions.
Regardless of the exam format, ALL students are expected to demonstrate breadth of knowledge in the field, specialized knowledge for their research area, and critical inquiry/research skills.
The specific content and format of the written exam, as well as specific time
allocations, and breadth/depth of areas covered by the exam are determined by
the student's advisor, in consultation with the student's advisory/dissertation
committee. Typically the student will meet with the committee to discuss the
content and format of the comprehensive examination before the questions are
prepared.