Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Comprehensive Exams

A student must pass two comprehensive examinations before advancing to candidacy.

First, after completing the doctoral core coursework, the student prepares a Core Comprehensive Paper. The paper builds on the core curriculum and addresses an issue of importance to the field. The paper is usually 30-35 pages. The student defends the paper in an oral examination conducted by a committee of three faculty members, one of whom is the student's advisor. More details are available in the Doctoral Core Exam Policy (PDF).

Second, after passing the Core Comprehensive Examination and completing a substantial amount of the specialization coursework, the student demonstrates proficiency through a Dissertation Pre-Proposal Specialty Comprehensive Exam.

Through this paper the student shows clear progress towards the development of a dissertation proposal by addressing a particular problem or issue within their specialty area.

The specialty examination follows procedures similar to those for the core examination, though the committee make-up is different.

The Comprehensive Examination Guidelines (PDF) for the specialization examination were reviewed by the Doctoral Program Council during the 2006-07 academic year.

A hard copy of the exam policy guidelines may be obtained from the doctoral program secretary.

Office of Graduate Studies: Link to Human Subjects Review

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