Doctoral Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination is a diagnostic and screening instrument that formally assesses the student's background preparation in special education and the student's suitability for doctoral studies. It is typically completed during the student's first semester of enrollment in doctoral classes.
The preliminary examination in special education requires a written examination and a research paper. The written examination consists of a four-hour session in which one question relevant to special education is answered by the student. The research paper, on a topic assigned by the committee, is completed within two weeks following the examination.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to allow students with disabilities to take the preliminary examination. Students with disabilities must register with the Dean of Student's Office, Access Tech, to document the presence of a disability and reasonable accommodations for the disability. The student should discuss individual needs with the chair of the advisory committee to arrange needed accommodations.
A committee of at least two members of the special education faculty, selected by the advisor and student, will prepare the examination questions, assign the topic for the research paper, and evaluate both components of the examination using the evaluation forms in Attachments 4A and 4B. The preliminary examination is evaluated on a pass/fail basis. If the examination is failed, the student has an opportunity to retake or remediate the preliminary examination at the discretion of the advisory committee. After the student passes the preliminary examination, a meeting with the advisory committee is called to develop a doctoral proposal (plan of study).