What exactly is the comprehensive exam?
At the beginning of the quarter (possibly the week before) you will be given a topic on which you are to write a critical review paper. This topic may be very broad or fairly narrow; it depends on the committee. You must pinpoint a question and answer it thoroughly within 30 pages. You will meet with the committee at least three times to discuss your paper. An extended outline will be due early in the quarter. Mid-way through the quarter a rough draft will be due. At the end of the quarter, you will turn in the paper, and if it is acceptable, you will present it to the committee in the form of a seminar. After your talk there will be brief questions from the general audience followed by extensive questioning by the committee in private. The paper, presentation, and defense are the sum total of the comprehensive examination. The comprehensive exam has been changed in recent years. If you have heard that the comprehensive takes two quarters, have no fear, this is no longer true.
