For Non-Thesis Option

Students must successfully pass a comprehensive examination. The examination will consist of written essays graded by the graduate faculty of the department. Students who have completed 27 credit hours and ALL core courses within the program of study are eligible to take the comprehensive examination. The student must apply to take the examination by the end of the third week of the fall or spring semester in which the examination is to be administered. Students failing any part of the comprehensive examination will be permitted to reschedule the examination no sooner than one (1) semester later. Examinations are not administered during the summer. In the event of a second failure of any exam area(s), the student will be required to repeat coursework supporting those failed areas prior to a final examination attempt. Any third attempt at the comprehensive examination will be final; students failing the third attempt will be dismissed from the program.