MA Exams: Advice on Procedures

MA Exam (Non-thesis Option)

Student selects a chair for the master's non-thesis exam committee
In consultation with that chair, student selects two other graduate faculty members for the committee
Student must notify the Graduate Director in writing of his/her selection of a faculty member as the chair of the committee
Unless special arrangements are made, two of the committee members should be Political Science Department faculty

The chair of the student's committee composes the MA exam, including two of his/her own questions as well as two questions from each of the other committee members
The exam will be compiled one week before exam date
Student selects the date for the written exam keeping in mind space availability of conference room and deadlines for notification to College/Graduate School to ensure graduation
Student must notify the Graduate Coordinator two weeks before the written exam that the exam is to take place
The Graduate Coordinator will verify that the student has taken (or is currently enrolled in) all required coursework
The Graduate Coordinator will submit forms to notify the College/Graduate School of the exam

The Graduate Coordinator administers the exam in-class
Student answers one question from each professor on the committee, for a total of three
A maximum of four hours is allowed for the written exam
Exams will be written by hand, unless student requests we make available a computer on which the answers may be typed

Committee members have at least one week to grade the exam
A pass/fail decision is made by majority rule of the committee members
Pass/fail votes may be collected during a meeting of the committee or through a mail ballot
If the committee indicates a failing grade, a meeting will be held to discuss the advice that should be given to the student
The chair of the committee must notify the Graduate Coordinator in writing of the outcome of the exam as soon as the student is notified

The oral exam should be scheduled within two weeks of passing the written exams
The chair should schedule the oral exam in consultation with the two other faculty members, the student, and the Graduate Coordinator
The Graduate Coordinator submits forms to notify the College/Graduate School that a comprehensive oral exam is scheduled
The committee will decide by majority rule if the result of the oral exam is a pass or fail
The chair must notify the Graduate Coordinator in writing of the outcome of the oral exam, and sign the required forms

The exam may take place at any time selected by the student and chair
Student must file an Application for Degree before the deadline set by the University and
Complete the oral exam before the deadlines set by the University

March 10: Notify the Graduate Coordinator that a written exam is scheduled
March 17: Committee chair compiles six exam questions
March 24: Written exam administered to student
March 30: Student and Graduate Coordinator notified of passing result on written exam
March 30: Student/Chair/Graduate Coordinator schedule oral exam
March 30: Student submits Application for Degree before April 1 deadline
April 14: Oral exam
April 14: Notify Graduate Director/Graduate Coordinator of exam result.

(Special thanks to Professor Sharon O'Brien for formalizing this list.)

Student selects a chair for the master's thesis exam committee
In consultation with that chair, student selects two other graduate faculty members for the committee
Student must notify the Graduate Director in writing of his/her selection of a faculty member as chair of the committee
Unless special arrangements are made, two of the committee members should be Political Science Department faculty

When the final draft of the thesis is considered sufficient to the chair of the committee, the Graduate Coordinator must be given two weeks' notice that an oral exam is to be held
The Graduate Coordinator will submit forms notifying the College/Graduate School that an oral exam is scheduled
The committee will decide by majority rule whether the exam is a pass or fail
The chair must inform the Graduate Coordinator in writing of the outcome of the oral exam and sign the required forms

The exam may take place at any time agreed upon by the student and the chair
Student must file Application for Degree before the deadline set by the University and
Complete the oral exam before the deadline set by the University