Policies & Procedures

Assessment of Comprehensive Knowledge (Doctoral Students Only)

See the Graduate Studies Calendar and Course Catalogue for expected completion times of the Assessment of Comprehensive Knowledge.

The student’s comprehensive knowledge will be assessed both within their specific area of research and more broadly in their field of study. This assessment will involve both written and oral components. Each program area may formulate their own guidelines which are submitted for review by the relevant Graduate Program Committee and approved by Graduate Council. Approved program area guidelines are available on the School of Graduate Studies website.

Assessments of comprehensive knowledge have the following components:

Table 9: Components of an assessment of comprehensive knowledge

Component

Description

Written Component
  • Tests the student’s knowledge in their field of study
  • May involve either of
    • One or more examinations developed by the Comprehensive Examination Committee and administered by the Chair of that committee; or
    • Coursework specified by the Department or program area designed to round out a student's background.

Oral Component
  • Oral examination consisting of questioning and discussion designed to test the student’s depth of knowledge in both their program research area, and in the general subject area.
  • Developed by the Comprehensive Examination Committee and administered by the Chair of that committee.
  • A maximum of two (2) hours long.

During a written component of a comprehensive examination (whether in person or take-home), questions about the examination, including but not limited to questions about the topics or specific requirements of the examination, can only be asked by the student via the Chair of the examination committee.

The Chair of the Comprehensive Examination Committee reports the examination results using the Comprehensive Examination Assessment form within one business day.

This section applies to the evaluation of either a written comprehensive exam or of the oral component. A coursework component of a comprehensive knowledge assessment will be subject to the normal rules for assessing courses.

The written and oral components are completed separately and graded as Pass/Fail. The written component is completed and assessed first. A student who passes the written component continues to the oral component. A student who fails the written component is given one (1) opportunity to repeat the examination. A student who fails the oral component is given one (1) opportunity to repeat the examination.

A student who fails any portion of the comprehensive examination must wait a minimum of two (2) weeks before repeating it and up to a maximum of four (4) months from the date of the failed comprehensive examination to successfully complete it. A student who fails either portion of the comprehensive examination (written or oral component) for the second time may complete a masters-level degree—subject to approval by the relevant Graduate Program Committee and the Dean of Graduate Studies—or may be required to withdraw from the Doctor of Philosophy program. A student in the Doctor of Philosophy (Education) program who fails either portion of the comprehensive examination (written or oral) for the second time is required to withdraw from the program.

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy (Education) program should successfully complete the comprehensive examination prior to the Thesis Proposal Defence.