Preliminary Exam

The purpose of the Preliminary examination is for you to demonstrate your ability to synthesize content knowledge from across the curriculum, including inquiry methodology and instructional systems content knowledge, and to propose your intended area of research for your dissertation.

Preliminary exams are scheduled during the early part of the Fall and Spring semesters. If you have completed, or have nearly completed, all required coursework in your program of study, you may enroll in EDF8964 (for 0 credits) to take the examination. In addition, you must comply with University requirements regarding GPA.

The exam consists of three parts. The first part consists of three closed-book exams taken in a designated location. You will be allowed to work on a computer without internet access and you may bring a dictionary along with any materials that are specified as being part of the exam. These closed book exams will cover the following areas:

1. Instructional Systems core exam question(s) (4 hrs closed book)
2. Research/Inquiry exam questions (4 hrs closed book)
3. Minor area (questions from student’s minor advisor) (2 hrs closed book)

The first two closed-book exams will be reviewed by an instructional systems faculty examination committee and the results will be sent to your major professor. The third, minor area, exam will be reviewed by the minor area representative on your committee and the results communicated to your major professor.

The second part of the exam consists of a preliminary concept (“pre-concept”) paper, which is a short research proposal. Within one week of completing the three closed book portions of the exam, you are required to submit a paper (8 pages maximum) in the form of a research proposal to the members of your doctoral advisory committee describing your current plan for your dissertation study. The pre-concept paper must contain an introduction, a literature review, and a method section outlining initial plans for conducting the proposed study. Your committee members will review the paper with respect to its clarity, internal consistency, meaningfulness, feasibility, and relevance to your interests and to this major area of study. This paper is to be based on your current thoughts and speculations about what you will do and is not expected to be conclusive or fully developed proposal.

The third part of the exam consists of a meeting with your doctoral advisory committee members. It should be scheduled to meet one week after submitting your concept paper or as soon thereafter as possible. They will review the results of the closed-book exams and examine you on your pre-concept paper. This will be an oral exam in which the goal of the committee is to determine whether you have a well-articulated and feasible plan for beginning your dissertation research, even though it is expected that you might make changes in the details or general thrust of your research prior to writing and defending your prospectus. Another goal of this meeting is for your committee to offer you feedback and guidance for your work during the remainder of your program. A goal of this meeting is for your committee members to have a good understanding of your aims, the appropriateness of your research direction, and their agreement that they support your goals and plans.

With respect to assessment, each of the four parts of the exam will receive one of four possible grades: (a) pass with honors; (b) pass; (c) not yet pass; (d) not pass. If you receive a not yet pass on one or more of the exams you will be allowed a specified amount of time, normally one week, to revise and resubmit them. If you receive a not pass on any part of the exam, you must retake that part of the exam the next semester that the exam is offered or else receive a failing grade on the exam. You will be provided feedback for each section you do not pass. After retaking one or more parts of the exam, you will receive either a pass or fail. You must pass all four parts of the exam to receive a passing grade. In other words, a failing grade on one or more parts of the exam will result in a failing grade on the preliminary exam. Students who fail the exam will be terminated from the IS doctoral program. The Program Examination Committee provides results on the two Instructional Systems questions and the minor area representative on the minor area question. The doctoral advisory committee provides results on the pre-concept paper and your defense of it at the meeting with your committee. The final decision regarding the examination is made by your doctoral advisory committee which considers the closed-book exam results, the quality of the concept paper, and the outcome of the oral examination.

When you pass the examination, the completed form indicating passage of the examination constitutes advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree. There is a minimum of six months required between the Preliminary Examination and graduation.