Doctoral Qualifying Examination
The student has two options for completing the qualifying examination in special education: a written examination or a portfolio. In consultation with the doctoral advisory committee, the written examination or portfolio presentation will be scheduled after the student has substantially completed his or her coursework.
Written examination: The written qualifying examination requires synthesis and application of knowledge acquired during the course of study for the doctoral degree in special education. Satisfactory performance in course work does not necessarily guarantee successful performance on the qualifying examination. A student may take this examination after receiving approval of the "Program for the Doctoral Degree" from the Dean of the Graduate School and completing most of the course work prescribed by the proposal.
The qualifying examination contains questions in the field of special education and questions in the minor field or related area. The special education component of the examination is 8 hours in length during which time the student will respond to two questions. The questions will represent the student's specialty area within special education and are prepared and evaluated by the student's advisory committee. The minor area component of the examination is typically 4 hours in length and is prepared by a committee member who represents the student's minor area on the advisory committee. If the student has no minor, the qualifying examination will include an additional 4 hours in the major field. If the student has a related area, the advisory committee will decide whether a question will be presented in this area. All members of the committee evaluate the minor or related area response.
The qualifying examination is judged on a pass/fail basis by the student's doctoral advisory committee according to the evaluation form presented in Attachment 4B. At the discretion of the advisory committee, the student may be asked to complete an oral examination to provide additional evidence of the ability to synthesize and apply knowledge of special education and/or the minor or related field. If a student fails, the qualifying examination can be repeated one time after a lapse of at least four months. Once the qualifying examination is passed, the student is admitted to candidacy on recommendation of the advisory committee.