Program Policies & Procedures

Procedures Relating to Dissertation Prospectus

Procedures Relating to Dissertation Prospectus. In the semester immediately following the successful completion of comprehensive examinations (or when next offered), a student shall enroll and successfully complete POLS 901 in which the student will write and defend a dissertation prospectus. Among other things, the prospectus shall identify the research question and hypotheses, the topic's relevance, how it is addressed in the literature, and the methodology to be employed. Evaluation shall be based on the clarity and thoroughness of the written and oral defense, and the potential of the dissertation to make a contribution to the field.

Content and Procedures Relating to Comprehensive Examinations

Content

• Masters Comprehensive Examinations. Students shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examining committees thorough knowledge of the two areas of specialization in which they are examined and the ability to develop cogent and coherent arguments. Core seminars are the starting point in preparation for comprehensive examinations. Comprehensive examinations shall not, however, be limited to the content of core seminars. Students should inquire with faculty in the respective fields and who write the examinations regarding the content to be covered in comprehensive examinations.
  
• Ph.D. Comprehensive Examinations. Students shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the examining committees thorough knowledge of the two areas of specialization in which they are examined, the ability to use knowledge to generate and evaluate research ideas in these areas, and their ability to think critically and analytically. Comprehensive examinations in each area of specialization shall consist of two parts: 1 ) A general component which covers the entire area of specialization, and 2) A specialized component which covers a subfield within the area or content specified by the examining committee in areas where there are no subfields. Criteria of evaluation shall include appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and originality. Core seminars are the starting point in preparation for comprehensive examinations. Comprehensive examinations shall not, however, be limited to the content of core seminars. Students should inquire with faculty in the respective fields and who write examinations regarding the content to be covered in the comprehensive examinations.

Masters comprehensive examinations shall be written, in-class, closed-book examinations administered on two designated days (8:30 to 4:30 p.m.) during a two week examination period. Ph.D. comprehensive examinations shall be open-book, take-home examinations administered over two time periods (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the following day) during the two week examination period, with each time period covering an area of specialization. No examination shall extend over a weekend.

Examining Committees

When a student is entitled to take comprehensive examinations, the student's advisor or supervisory committee chairperson shall so indicate to the chairperson of the Graduate Committee. The Graduate Chair shall appoint a committee of three examiners for each area of specialization in which the student is to be examined. The examining committee shall determine the content of the examination, and each member of the committee shall evaluate the examination as stipulated in Section VI.A. Each member's evaluation shall be communicated in writing to the Graduate Chair. In cases of disagreement, the evaluation of the majority shall prevail. The group of examiners shall be made known to the student well in advance of his/her exams to assist the student's preparation. Where there are only two faculty members with field-specific expertise, the Graduate Chair may appoint an examining committee consisting of two examiners. Should the two examiners be divided in their evaluation, the following shall occur: (1) the examiners shall meet to review their decision with the purpose of resolving their differences and arriving at either a Pass or No Pass decision; (2) if following review the examiners remain divided, their shall be an oral examination consistent with procedures outlined in the graduate manual; (3) if the examiners are divided on the oral examination, a grade of No Pass shall be assigned by the Graduate Chair.

Grading Examinations

Each examination shall be given a composite grade of Pass or No Pass which is controlling. Additionally, each question of each examination shall be graded Pass or No Pass. Masters comprehensive examinations may be evaluated "Pass but not recommended for Ph.D. work." Written comments from each member of the examining committee covering strengths and weaknesses of the examination shall be provided each student.

Oral Examination

A student may be required to take an oral examination if recommended by the examining committee and approved by the Graduate Committee. The examining committee shall submit its recommendation to the Graduate Committee in writing along with the reason for the recommendation. Generally, an oral exam will be approved only when it can help clarify a student's performance on the written examination. If approved by the Graduate Committee, the examining committee shall set the time and place for and conduct the oral examination. The grade for the oral examination shall be Pass or No Pass and communicated in writing to the Graduate Chair.

Retaking a Failed Comprehensive Exam

Permission to re-take a failed comprehensive examination must be granted by the Graduate Committee. Retakes shall occur no later than one year after the failed examination.

Time Schedule for Comprehensive Examinations

• Comprehensive examinations are administered during approximately the 3rd and 4th weeks of Fall semester, and the 11th and 12th weeks of Spring semester.
  
• Comprehensive examinations may not be taken prior to the semester in which program requirements are completed.Ph.D. students must complete all course requirements, excluding the research tool and POLS 901, before comprehensive examinations.
  
• All courses, excluding thesis credit, dissertation credit, and research tool, in which a student has received an incomplete must be completed and graded by July 1 in order to take comprehensives examinations in the Fall, and by February 1 in order to take comprehensive examinations in the Spring.
  
• Students who formally indicate their intention to take comprehensive examinations and withdraw after July 1 for the Fall examinations and after February 1 for the Spring examinations, must petition the Graduate Committee for permission to withdraw. Withdrawing after the above dates without permission of the Graduate Committee will be treated as a failing grade on comprehensive examinations.
  

Re-certification

In cases where a student does not finish the M.A. thesis within ten months of taking comprehensive examinations, a letter attesting to the student's currency and competence in the field from the thesis advisor shall be submitted to Graduate Studies with the application to graduate. In cases where a student does not finish the Ph.D. dissertation within three years of taking comprehensive examinations, a letter attesting to the student's currency and competence in the field from the chair of the supervisory committee shall be submitted to Graduate Studies with the application to graduate.


The Research Tool Requirement for the Ph.D.
Each student will complete the research tool requirement consisting of nine hours of course work which shall be part of the course requirements for the Ph.D. Political Science 800 and 801 may not be used toward this requirement.

The supervisory committee will establish, with the approval of the Graduate Committee, tools appropriate to the research interests of the student. Such tools include but are not limited to computer science, epistemology, foreign language, game theory, logic, mathematics, research design, research methods, and statistics.

Six of the nine hours must be completed in either quantitative research methods or epistemology as defined by the supervisory committee and approved by the Graduate Committee.

Six hours may be waived by demonstrating proficiency in an area. Proficiency may be established by previous course work, examination, or both. Specific proficiency standards will be recommended by the supervisory committee and approved by the Graduate Committee.

Students submitting foreign language as a research tool shall establish proficiency by passing an examination. Where language proficiency can not be demonstrated by such an examination, the supervisory committee will recommend and the Graduate Committee approve other means for establishing proficiency.

A collateral field can substitute for six hours of the research tool requirement. The field must bear a strong relationship to the student's research interest, but not overlap major, minor or supporting courses. Proficiency is established by completing at least 15 semester hours of course work in a single department while enrolled in the graduate program.

Courses submitted for the tool requirement must be completed with a grade of C or better.

The research tool requirement must be completed by the end of the semester in which Ph.D. comprehensive examinations are taken.

If research tool proficiency has been established more than three years prior to the date of comprehensive examinations, proficiency must be re-established to the satisfaction of the supervisory committee and Graduate Committee before comprehensive examinations are taken.