Qualifying EXAM

A student's doctoral study in Phase II culminates with the completion of a qualifying examination.  These questions should reflect fundamental issues that have been addressed in a student's doctoral study and/or issues that synthesize a student's doctoral study and provide a basis for further research.  Through these questions, a student is expected to demonstrate mastery of his/her defined domain of study and demonstrate readiness to undertake the final phase of doctoral study, the doctoral dissertation.

The qualifying papers should begin after the student has completed all course work.  A student should devote the major portion of one semester, but no more than two semesters, to complete the qualifying paper. 

The Doctoral Study Committee meets to approve the qualifying paper, and then sends a memo to the director of the doctoral study program recommending the student for Phase III of the program.

A copy of the approved Qualifying Exam must be submitted to the Doctoral Program Office.

The director of the Ph.D. program sends a letter notifying the student that he or she will move to Phase III of doctoral study.

Guidelines for Qualifying Paper

1.  Developing Questions 
A student develops, with the assistance of the Doctoral Study Committee, no fewer than three (3) nor more than six (6) questions to form the basis of the qualifying paper. 

2.  Selecting the Questions
The Doctoral Study Committee selects at least three questions from the original pool of questions as the qualifying examination.

3.  Writing Time
The student writes the examination.  Typically the student takes one semester, but no more than two semesters, to complete the examination paper. 

Program Office Note: A survey of 37 recent graduates revealed that the time between the end of the last course and the date the qualifying papers were accepted ranged from 0 months to 54 months.  The average time was 18 months.  Fifty percent completed the qualifying papers within 14 months of the end of the final course. 

4.  Evaluation
It is the responsibility of the Doctoral Study Committee to evaluate the qualifying paper.  The student and the Doctoral Study Committee should jointly determine the evaluation process.  It could involve a question by question evaluation or a single stage evaluation of all responses. 

5.   Voting
At the conclusion of the process, the committee is required to take a formal vote as to whether the student has demonstrated written/oral mastery of the domain of educational studies that has been the focus of the student's doctoral study. 

6.  Memorandum of Recommendation
Once the paper is accepted, the Doctoral Study Committee sends a memorandum to the Director of the Ph.D. Program verifying that the student has completed the examination paper and all other requirements necessary for Phase II (course work, residency requirement, sociocultural perspective standard, etc.). 

7.  Qualifying Papers Submitted to Program Office
The student submits a copy of the approved Qualifying Examination paper(s) to the Program Office.

8.  Doctoral Study Committee Designated for Phase III
The student also submits the names of the proposed Dissertation Committee, noting changes, if any, from the Doctoral Study Committee.

9.  Requesting an Extension
A student who has not completed the qualifying paper within the four (4) year limit for completion of study for Phase I and Phase II, must petition the Advanced Graduate Council for an extension to complete the qualifying paper.  The student’s Doctoral Study Committee should support a recommendation for extension.