Doctoral students, with the exception of students in the Graduate School of Social Work, are required to complete comprehensive examinations. Doctoral students in the Graduate School of Social Work are required to orally defend a publishable paper. Student eligibility for taking the doctoral comprehensive or the publishable paper project is determined by the department. Students should consult with their department about the nature of this examination and the time of administration.
Departments use the following grading scale to record comprehensive examinations: pass with distinction (PwD), pass (P), and fail (F); one of these three grades will be recorded on the student's transcript. A student who fails the doctoral comprehensive examination may take it once again not sooner than the following semester and at a time designated by the department. In case of a second failure, no further attempt is allowed.
During the semester in which students take the comprehensive examinations, unless they are registered for other courses register and pay for Doctoral Comprehensives (998 or 959).