Comprehensive Exam Option
The comprehensive exam option exists for those students who:
- Would like a terminal degree;
- Would like the degree for a job that does not require research/program development or evaluation; or
- Cannot do the thesis option for some reason.
Requirement Summary
Students who choose the exam option will be required to take 6 additional hours of Sociology graduate seminar electives and successfully complete comprehensive exams in 3 areas: 1) theory; 2) methods; and 3) a substantive area chosen by the students.
| Graduate Seminar | Hours |
| SOC 500 – Professionalization Seminar | 3 |
| SOC 501 – Survey of Theory | 3 |
| SOC 515 – Research Methods and Study Design in Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 518 – Advanced Data Analysis | 3 |
| SOC 592 – Research Practicum | 3 |
| Graduate electives | 15 |
| Total Program | 30 hours |
For this option, students choose a 3-person committee to grade both a written and oral exam. The department will give students a reading list in the areas of theory and methods. They will all collaborate to develop a reading list in a subject area of the students’ choosing. After completing the reading list, students will have two weeks to complete a written exam, and then, within thirty days, they will present their exam to their committee.
Purpose
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to demonstrate thorough knowledge of central sociological concepts, theories, and ideas. To illustrate this knowledge, students will not simply summarize readings and articles. Rather, students will piece together information in a sophisticated way to show their mastery in 3 broad sociological areas. Mastery will allow the student to teach, consult, write grants, or develop research upon graduation. Committees will thus expect students to:
- Make sense of and apply sociological terms;
- Identify main theories and thinkers who have helped define the sociological field;
- Show knowledge of major theoretical/methodological ideas in the subject area; and
- Integrate concepts, theories, and methods in a thoughtful and provocative manner.
Process
Students who are in good standing and have completed all their courses may sign up for the Comprehensive Exam. If students wish to take classes at the same time as completing the comprehensive exams, they must seek written permission from the graduate program director and the chair of their committee.
The comprehensive exam covers 3 areas: 1) sociological theory; 2) sociological methods; and 3) a substantive area of students’ choosing (in consultation with the students’ exam committees).
Reading lists for the theory and methods exams are available from the student’s committee. The student and the committee will determine the substantive-area reading list.
For students to access the library and other University resources, they must enroll for UNIV 500 – Continuing Enrollment.
Students will choose a 3-person committee related to the student’s subject area. Their committee will help develop the reading lists with the students. The committee will have a chair from the Sociology program, chosen by the student. This committee must also have at least two other graduate faculty, at least one of whom must be from the Sociology program.
We require that students get written approval from their committee for all reading lists at least two months prior to taking the exams. Upon receiving approval of the reading lists, the student and committee members will agree in writing upon an exam start date. Once again, the exam start date must be at least two months from the time the student and committee agree upon reading lists in all test areas.
Once students feel ready to take the exam, the student contacts the committee chair. The committee chair will then provide students with the exams developed by the committee.
Students will have 2 weeks to complete the exams.
Grading and Remediation
The comprehensive examination option requires eligible students to complete written and oral examinations satisfactorily within one testing period.
Examinations will be organized in 3 parts: 1) theory; 2) methods; and 3) a substantive area. Students’ committees will independently grade each part of the exam, according to the mutually exclusive categories of “Pass,” “Conditional Pass,” and “Fail,” with “Pass” representing satisfactory completion.
Students who fail any test area must begin the exam process over. They will have one opportunity to remediate grades of “Fail” received on any part of examinations by re-forming committees (which may be composed of the same 3 members) and once again obtaining approval of readings lists. Repeated examinations will be graded according to the process outlined above with the exception that a second grade of “Fail” on any part of the examinations will not be open to further remediation.
A grade of “Conditional Pass” on any part of the examinations will require students to revise the given part of the examination according to specific written critique provided by the committee within a two-week period. Revisions the committee deems satisfactory will then be awarded a grade of “Pass,” while revisions the committee deems unsatisfactory will be awarded a grade of “Fail.” If this grade represents a first failing grade on any part of the examinations, students may pursue remediation as provided above. Yet, if this grade represents a second failing grade on any part of the examination, no further opportunity for remediation will be offered.
The satisfactory completion by students of all 3 parts of the examinations will be a prerequisite for students’ scheduling of their oral examination. Students’ oral examination must take place within 30 days of that their receipt of satisfactory grades on all 3 parts of the written examination. Any students who does not schedule and complete their oral examination within 30 days must restart the comprehensive examination process by re-forming a committee and obtaining approval of reading lists for each part of the examinations.
Oral examinations will be graded as an integrated whole by students’ committees according to the categories “Pass,” “Conditional Pass,” and “Fail.” Students earning a grade of “Pass” will have completed the program and qualified for the receipt of their Master’s Degree. Meanwhile, students earning a grade of “Fail” on the oral exam will be given one opportunity for remediation by starting the process over, reforming committees, obtaining approval for reading lists, and preparing to take new written examinations. Those students who receive a grade of “Conditional Pass” will be provided with specific written critique by their committee and reschedule a second oral exam that must be taken within 30 days of this receipt and that will be graded as either “Pass” or “Fail.” A grade of “Pass” on the second exam will mark program completion and qualification for the Master’s Degree. Any student receiving a “Fail” as on their second attempted oral examination after receiving a “Conditional Pass” on their first attempt will be given one opportunity for remediation by returning to the beginning of the process. Finally, a student receiving a second grade of “Fail” on an oral examination will be offered no further remediation.
