Purpose:
     The doctoral comprehensive exam provides the student with the opportunity to demonstrate and integrate comprehensive knowledge of chosen fields of specialization, as well as to demonstrate his/her preparedness to enter candidacy and begin the process of researching and writing the dissertation.

Timing:
     The exam must be taken within one calendar year after the completion of all requirements on the degree plan or during the final semester of course work. Students ordinarily will not be allowed to register for more than 12 hours of SPAN 8000 before taking the exam. Exams must be scheduled to take place during a period when the student is enrolled (regular semesters or summer sessions).

Choosing an Exam Committee:
     When completing the degree plan in the second semester of study, the student will designate a faculty member who has agreed to serve as the committee chairperson and will select at tentative topic for the dissertation. The rest of the committee will be composed of at least two other faculty members who specialize in the areas to be tested.

Exam Contents:
     The exam is composed of four areas:
     The dissertation area. The student and committee chair will draw up an individualized reading list representing the dissertation project, including the works of the author(s) in question, relevant critical/ theoretical sources and secondary bibliography.
     Three additional areas. 1) One from either the Peninsular group (1, 2, & 3) or the Spanish America group (4, 5, 6, & 7) described below, encompassing the historical period of the dissertation and including all genres of the period; 2) Another chosen from the group not selected for the preceding area; and 3) A minor or another area from the following list.
     The available areas are defined as:
1. Medieval & Golden Age Spanish Literature
2. 18th- & 19th-Century Peninsular Literature
3. 20th-Century Peninsular Literature
4. Colonial & 19th-Century Spanish American Literature
5. Spanish American Modernism & Early 20th Century
6. Later 20th-Century Spanish American Literature
7. Latino Literature
8. Any minor must be represented on the exam--a second language or literature, Applied Linguistics (Second & Foreign Language pedagogy; general Applied Linguistics), LAIS, Comparative Literature, Women's Studies, History, or other approved areas.

Reading Lists:
     Reading lists for these areas will be drawn up in consultation by the student and committee members. The Masters Exam reading list for the areas chosen by the student will not constitute the list for the doctoral exam, although it may be used as the basis for an expanded list in each area. The student should make sure that the exam committee chair has a final copy of each reading list well in advance of the exam dates.

Responsibilities for administering the exam:
     The committee chair:
1) Arranges dates, times, and areas of written exams with student; exams must be scheduled to take place during a period when the student is enrolled (regular semesters or summer sessions).
2) Collects questions in envelopes corresponding to the days and topics of the exams;
3) Leaves questions with the secretary who will also reserve rooms for the exam;
4) Distributes copies of answers to committee members and the student;
5) Schedules and chairs oral exam;
6) Informs the Graduate School of the exam results immediately upon completion.
     The student:
1) Agrees upon date and time of written exams with the committee chair;
2) Makes arrangements with chair about special needs;
3) Turns in exam to the secretary before 5:00 P.M.
     The committee members:
1) Submit questions;
2) Evaluate written exams;
3) Participate in oral exam.

Exam structure:
     * Electronic equipment, backpacks, purses, books, notes, etc., are not allowed in the exam room.*
     The exam consists of two parts:
     Written examination. This exam is divided in four parts. The student may write the exam on four separate days (which may or may not be consecutive) during a two-week period, taking up to eight hours each day.
     A student who fails only one section of the written exam will be required to repeat that section. If two or more sections of the written exam are failed, the entire set of comprehensive examinations must be repeated and passed. The committee chair will inform the Dean of the Graduate School of the results. The student will be allowed to repeat the exam no sooner than four months and no later than twelve months after the failed exam. A second failure of any part or of all of the written exams terminates the candidate’s study in the department.
     All written exams must be graded as passing by the committee members before the oral exam can take place.
     The oral examination must take place within two weeks after the final written exam. This exam is based on two components: 1) Discussion of the written exam; 2) Defense of the student’s dissertation proposal. (A copy of the proposal, working bibliography and proposed methodology must the submitted to all members of the committee at the time of the written examination.) All exams, written and oral, must be passed.
     Upon approving the written and oral exams and the dissertation proposal, the committee will recommend to the Graduate School that the student be admitted to candidacy.

Changes in dissertation topic:
     After the exams, any and all changes (including changes in dissertation topic, reconstitution of the committee, or change of dissertation director) will require consent of the committee and may require that the candidate be examined over other areas.

Span Grad Program Home Page
email me