(Last updated: July, 2006)
The comprehensive exam will consist of four questions, one from each of the areas listed in the reading list for the comprehensive exam. The questions will be randomly selected from a list provided to the student four months in advance, along with reading lists for each area. The study list consists of 4 or more questions from each of the 4 content areas. Both the reading lists and the pool of questions are available from the Psy 588 course web page, linked from the program director's home page (http://condor.depaul.edu/~dallbrit).
The comprehensive exam is administered as follows: Students will be given the four randomly selected questions on Monday of Comps week. Their answers will be due to the comprehensive exam administrator no later than noon Wednesday of that same week. Students may not consult anyone nor discuss their answers with anyone during the exam period.
Students should note that proper citations and a References list are required for each question, and that their sources may include things that were not on the reading list (such as information and readings from courses).
The Comprehensive Exam is administered twice each year: during the second week of classes in the Fall, and in the Spring. Applications must be filed approximately six weeks in advance in order to take the exam (see the graduate administrative assistant in the Psychology Office for details).
As of June, 2006, Experimental PhD students also have the option of completing an alternative project for fulfillment of the comprehensive exam requirement. For more information on this option, see the Comps Alternative Project Application.