General Guidelines
- The format for the comprehensive examination will be an oral examination.
- The oral comprehensive examination is to be completed as soon as possible after completing all required courses for the student’s focus area, no later than the summer prior to entering the 4th year of the program, and no later than eight months prior to scheduling of the dissertation defense. It is expected that the oral comprehensive examination will be taken during the summer term of the 2nd year in the graduate program.
- The oral comprehensive examination committee for each student will be chaired by a faculty member in the School of Pharmacy who is a member of the graduate faculty. Composition of the committee will be determined by the academic advisor and the student’s doctoral committee, and will include at least two members from the student’s selected focus area. The chair will be decided by the faculty who comprise the committee, and will a member of the student’s selected focus area. The student’s academic advisor may NOT be a member of the committee, but may be present as an observer during the exam. Composition of the committee will be consistent with University guidelines for dissertation committees (i.e., at least four faculty members with the majority being graduate faculty). The committee may include faculty members from outside the School of Pharmacy.
- The oral comprehensive examination committee members will have a meeting prior to the comprehensive examination to discuss lines of questioning and to address core competencies (relative to each focus area).
