Comprehensive Examination

A written comprehensive exam must be completed toward the end of the completion coursework (usually the last semester).  The examination will cover content of all work in the program. Candidates transferring coursework from other institutions for this program will be responsible for the same knowledge as those whose work has been taken entirely at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Candidates must be registered for coursework (which includes enrollment in reading or independent study courses) during the semester in which they take the comprehensive exam (this may be enrollment as a Candidate for Degree). A one-day, four-hour comprehensive examination is scheduled for MA candidates. The comprehensive examination is given three times per calendar year.* A student who fails the comprehensive examination may request to be re-examined once after three or more months, the re-examination date to be determined by the examining committee. Under no circumstances may the examination be repeated sooner than three months after a failure. The comprehensive examination may be repeated only once.

If a student does poorly on a specific area of the examination, the faculty committee may request that the student prepare for a supplemental exam covering the area(s) of deficiency. Results of the comprehensive exam are not reported to the Graduate School until the supplemental exam is completed and the committee reaches a final pass/fail decision.

Master’s comprehensive exams or the thesis defense must be scheduled with the Graduate School at least two weeks before the exam is held. The chair of the examining committee must hold a regular (not special) appointment to the graduate faculty; the other committee members must be members of the graduate faculty.