Graduate Programs

Graduate comprehensive examinations
    NOTE:Application for graduation must be done at least one term prior to completion of final course work.

Important dates for graduate students
Comprehensive exams will be held during the times listed below:

Exam location: Academic Programs Support Center (APSC) Room 101, computer lab.

Parking:
Free on-street public parking is located nearby.

If you have a valid WOU parking permit, you may park in any commuter lot during test times. To purchase a 2-day WOU parking permit ($4), please contact Campus Parking Services in Administration Building Room 102A. We recommend that you make arrangements in advance: e-mail rharman10@wou.edu or call 503-838-8267.

Time:
First session - Thursday 8:15 to 11:30 a.m.
Second session - Thursday 12:15 to 4:30 p.m. OR Friday 8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

More information: Phone 503-838-8597 or e-mail graduateoffice@wou.edu

About written comprehensive examinations
Comprehensive examinations are administered during your last quarter of study or after all courses have been completed for a particular degree. The seven-hour exam is designed to be taken in two morning sessions or on one full day. Dates for comprehensive examinations are established for the university for each term and individual test dates are not allowed. Most exams include a general education component that takes three hours and a subject matter/specialty component that usually requires four hours to complete. The readers/evaluators will not know who wrote any particular answer since all candidates are identified by code numbers picked at random by the Graduate Office.

Written comprehensive examinations are graded as follows: With Distinction, Pass, Unsatisfactory, or Fail. If you receive a failing grade you must retake that section of your examination. If you receive Unsatisfactory, a committee of three faculty will schedule you for a one-hour oral review. The oral will focus on the section(s) evaluated as unsatisfactory. Every attempt is made to have at least one member from your program on the oral committee. A team of professors usually writes the general knowledge/general education component. Your answers are graded by a team of readers. Your advisor and/or professors who usually teach courses listed on the student's Plan of Study often write the subject matter or specialty area questions. These questions are based on the courses you took as part of your degree. Faculty who wrote the questions in the subject matter or specialty area usually read and rate the responses.

Sample comprehensive examinations | Return to Graduate Programs home page