Comprehensive examinations
Before working on their thesis proposal, students must pass three comprehensive field examinations – one in each of the three fields that constitute a student’s program of study.
Each member of a student’s advisory committee ("advisor") is responsible for setting and grading one comprehensive exam ("comp"). However, results of written comps are sent to all of the student's advisors and all advisors attend studio comps. Together with the pre-comps meeting, this process helps the student and committee build toward the thesis proposal. Preparation for comps could constitute a part of directed study courses a student takes in their three fields of study.
The Director of the Humanities program monitors the setting of the comps to ensure that appropriate and equitable standards are followed.
Types of comprehensive exams:
Research-based comprehensive exams: All students must complete two research-based comprehensive exams. These 72-hour take-home exams are based on a bibliography developed by the student in consultation with the adviser. The bibliography can include both monographs and articles and is on average comprised of 25 to 30 items, but the number of texts may vary depending on standards and current practices of the field; the adviser has an important role in ensuring that the biibliography is sufficiently comprehensive for the field. The typical preparation time for a comprehensive examination is three months. Expected page lengths for exams are 20 to 30 pages (5000 to 7500 words). See guidelines below for further details on take-home comps.
Studio comprehensive exam: For students in the research-creation stream, the third exam is a studio-based. See guidelines below for further details.
Publishable research essay: For students who are not in the research-creation stream, the third comp can be another research-based exam, or it can take take the form of a publishable research essay. We consider a publishable essay one that displays a true engagement with key literature(s) and advances an argument that could make a scholarly contribution if revised appropriately. In this case, the assessment of the adviser overseeing the comp functions as an initial round of peer-review. For this type of comp, the supevisor notifies us of the comp using our online form and then sends in the essay and pass/fail result
Pre-comps meeting:
It is highly recommended that the student schedule and convene a meeting with all members of their advisory committee prior to their comps, to discuss the areas to be covered in the three comps in the broader context of the student’s overall program of study and dissertation project. The best practice is for the student to prepare a document to be circulated to the advisors at least a week prior to the meeting that briefly outlines the dissertation project and that suggests possible areas and key readings to be covered in each comp. This document serves as a point of departure for feedback and initial discussion of the scope and focus of the material to be covered in each comp. Following the pre-comps meeting, the student should arrange individual meetings with each advisor to finalize a bibliography for each of the three comps.
Note: If a student fails any of their comprehensive field examinations, they may take the failed examination again only once. The student can retake the exam after a period of at least three months from the date of the original examination but no later than one year after the date of the original examination.
- The student and advisor agree on a date and time for the exam.
- At least a week prior to the exam date, the advisor uses our online form to submit the date of the comp and the bibliography and exam question(s) for approval. This form is sent to our Graduate Program Director and the Graduate Program Assistant.
- The Graduate Program Director emails a confirmation to the advisor, cc-ing the Graduate Program Assistant.
- At the agreed upon date and time, the advisor emails the student the question/s with instructions, with copies to the Graduate Program Director and Graduate Progrm Assistant.
- At the end of the 72-hour period, the student emails the advisor the exam essay, and cc-s: the two other members of the student’s advisory committee and the Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Assistant.
- The advisor reads and grades the exam (Pass/Fail), emails the result to the Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Assistant and works with them to complete a Comprehensive Exam Grade Sheet. Normally, a grade is submitted within a two-week timeframe from the receipt of the student's exam response.
Humanities students in the research-creation stream do one studio-based comprehensive exam and two regular research-based comps in their other two fields. The advisor in the creative field oversees the studio comp. However, an important purpose of the studio comp is to familiarize all committee members with the student's creative work and for the committee as a whole to discuss the way the research and creation components build toward the thesis proposal.
- The student sets a date for the studio comp in consultation with their studio advisor that takes into consideration the availability of the other two advisors.
- At least a week prior to the comp and in consultation with the studio advisor, the student emails their advisory committee members a written artist statement and, when applicable, a list identifying the artistic work they will present. Depending on the nature of the studio project, the studio advisor may ask the student to submit other types of relevant documentation.These materials are cc-ed to the Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Assistant.
- At least a week prior to the comp (at minimum), the studio advisor uses our online form to submit the date and bibliography for the comp.
- The Graduate Program Director emails a confirmation to the advisor, cc-ing the Graduate Program Assistant.
- The comprehensive exam takes the form of a presentation by the student of their creative work, accompanied by a reflection on issues relevant to the student’s creative practice and its connection to the scholarly investigation that forms part of the research-creationl project. This is followed by a discussion and question period. In some circumstances an exhibition of works might be used as a supplement to this presentation.
- The Pass or Fail evaluation of the student's work is decided by the student's studio advisor in consultation with the other two committee members present at the exam.
- The advisor emails the result (Pass/Fail) to the Graduate Program Director and Graduate Program Assistant and works with them to complete a Comprehensive Exam Grade Sheet. Normally, a grade is submitted within a two-week timeframe from the receipt of the student's exam response.
Comprehensive Examinations (HUMA 891, 892, 893). Upon completion of the required coursework (6 courses / 18 credits), students take three comprehensive field examinations before proceeding to the thesis proposal stage. Each examination is set and marked by the student’s advisor in that field. For students pursuing a research-creation project, one of the comprehensive examinations is a studio examination attended by all three advisors and chaired by the program director.
HUMA 891 Comprehensive Examination Major Field (3 credits)
HUMA 892 Comprehensive Examination Minor Field I (3 credits)
HUMA 893 Comprehensive Examination Minor Field II (3 credits)
The three take-home comprehensive field examinations are normally written following the completion of the 8 courses / 24 (minimum) course credits. In the case of students pursuing a research-creation project, one of the examinations will be a studio examination (see ‘Guidelines for Studio comprehensive exam’ below). The three comprehensive field examinations are designated:
- HUMA 885A Comprehensive Examination Major Field (3 credits)
- HUMA 885B Comprehensive Examination Minor Field I (3 credits)
- HUMA 885C Comprehensive Examination Minor Field II (3 credits)