Qualifying Exams

Doctoral students in Media, Culture, and Communication are required to pass two qualifying exams. Each of these take-home exams is composed of two parts; each part requires a response of 10 - 15 pages in length to be completed within a 48-hour period. If a student fails an exam, s/he will have one opportunity to re-take it.

General Theories (First Year)

Students take this exam after the end of their second semester in the program and must pass the exam by the end of June.

• The exam consists of two parts and covers the readings studied in Doctoral Core Seminars I and II.
• The exam will be administered and graded by the faculty teaching Doctoral Core Seminars I and II.
• Both parts of the exam are taken during the same week, and students have 48 hours to complete each part.

Dissertation Specialization (Third Year)

This exam covers two separate areas of specialization and is a gateway and a pre-requisite to the dissertation proposal review.

• By the start of the second semester of the second year of study, students identify two advisors who administer this exam. Normally, these advisors serve on the student's dissertation committee. One advisor must be from within the department (and ideally, serves as the chair of the dissertation committee).
• Students develop a bibliography and a timeline for completing the exam on their own initiative but in consultation and subject to approval of their advisors. The exam questions will come out of this bibliography.
• Both parts of the written exam are taken during the same week, and students have 48 hours to complete each part. Questions are given one at a time.
• One week after both parts of the exam are completed, students have an oral defense in which both advisors are present. In addition to the specialization topics, the dissertation proposal will be addressed.
  
• The exam should be taken near the beginning of Fall semester of the third year of study with a deadline of November 1.