9. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
The comprehensive
examination is designed to assess students'
mastery of the general field of information
science, acquisition of both depth and breadth
in the area of specialization within the
field, and ability to use the research methods
of the
discipline.
In the oral portion of the preliminary examination
the student demonstrates the ability to respond
quickly to two topics of potential research
interest, chosen by the faculty. In the comprehensive
examination the ability to undertake a research
program is further tested, this time with an
extended study of a topic of interest to the
student. This study results in a state-of-the-art
paper and a research design which are presented
to, and discussed with the Ph.D. Committee.
9.1.Eligibility
To be admitted to the comprehensive examination
a student must have:
- completed a minimum of 42 credits of course
and seminar work including the research
methodology courses, the conceptual framework
courses,
and 18 credits of doctoral seminar and
3000-level courses;
- completed a "state-of-the-art" paper
and a written research plan (usually
an experimental design) for a problem related
to the state-of-the-art
paper, under guidance of a faculty member.
The paper and plan are to be submitted
to the Ph.D. Committee two weeks prior
to the examination
date. Copies of the paper are provided
by the student at his or her own expense;
- registered in the term in which the comprehensive
examination is taken;
- completed the
3-term residency requirement; and
- applied
to the Chair of the Ph.D. Committee to
take the comprehensive examination
at least two weeks before the exam.
9.2. Content and
Format
The comprehensive examination has a written
component and an oral component. This examination
is conducted by the Ph.D. Committee plus, at
most, two full-time graduate information science
faculty chosen by the examinee. The written
portion of this examination consists of a state-of-the-art
paper and a research plan (usually an experimental
design) for a problem related to that state-of-the-art
paper. The state-of-the-art paper and the research
plan must be submit ted to the examination
committee two weeks prior to the scheduled
oral examination date. The state-of-the-art
paper is a critical essay exploring the literature
of the selected topic; the student evaluates
and integrates the relevant literature on the
top ic, identifying potential research topics.
The research plan should demonstrate application
of research methodologies that the student
has studied to one of the problems identified
in the state-of-the-art paper. While it is
not required, in most cases the paper also
provides the background from which the student's
dissertation research begins. In some cases,
a student may wish to enlarge the state-of-the-art
paper and submit it as a dissertation proposal.
The oral component is a three-hour examination.
The exam will be directed primarily at the
state-of-the-art paper and
research plan, but may also probe the student's
understanding
of the interrelationships among the components
of information science. Goals of the examination
are to assess (1) the student's understanding
of the topic of the state-of-the-art paper
and the theoretical framework that supports
it, (2) the quality of the student's research
skills necessary to understand, integrate,
and extend knowledge gained through scholarly
inquiry, and (3) the student's understanding
of the relationships among the structural components
of the field and how research advances our
understanding of these relationships. The results
of the exam are conveyed to the student by
the examination committee, usually within an
hour after completion of the exam.
A student who fails the comprehensive examination
must retake it within one year. With two failures
of the comprehensive examination, a student
is no longer eligible to continue in the Ph.D.
program.
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