Comprehensive Exam Requirements

To be admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree and begin work on a dissertation, students must first pass comprehensive exams in (1) Theory in Criminology and Criminal Justice and (2) Research Methods and Statistics. To take a comprehensive exam, students must first obtain their major professor's written or emailed approval, certifying that they are prepared. Students must also notify the graduate program administrator of their intent to take comprehensive exams. The two different exams can be taken in the same semester or in different semesters.

A doctoral student must be registered for the preliminary exam during the semester in which they complete the attempt (up to two attempts possible for each exam). Each exam attempt will be graded and noted on the student's transcript as a Pass (P) or Fail (F).

Students can take the preliminary examination for admission to candidacy only two times. A second failure on the preliminary exam makes the student ineligible to continue in the degree program. The second attempt at the preliminary exam shall occur no sooner than six full class weeks after the results of the first attempt are shared with the student. For the purpose of this policy, a "full class week" is defined as a week with five days during which classes are held at FSU. Students must be registered separately for their first and second attempt, if necessary within the same semester, and must receive either a "pass" or a "fail" grade for each attempt. The Academic Dean's office will be notified of the outcome of each preliminary exam attempt.

An exception request regarding the timing of the re-examination can be submitted for consideration to the Academic Dean's Office by either the student or the supervisory committee. Students who allege that academic regulations and/or procedures were improperly applied for the re-examination of their preliminary exam may have their grievances addressed through the general academic appeals process.

Both comprehensive exams must be attempted within four years of admission to the graduate program. Not doing so counts as a failed attempt for any exam not taken. If an exam is failed, the student must retake it by the end of the fifth year. If the student fails to meet these deadlines, he or she will be dismissed from the program.

Students are admitted to candidacy upon passing both the Theory and Methods comprehensive exams.

Students must also take and pass a dissertation Prospectus Development course under the supervision of their major professor.

This is a Directed Individual Study course (CCJ 5981r) titled Prospectus Development, graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Students may take dissertation hours at the same time as the Prospectus Development course.

Exam Administration and Grading

The exams will each be created and graded by a faculty committee. The Theory and Methods Exams will each be graded by a standing College exam committee, the Comprehensive Exam in Theory Committee and the Comprehensive Exam in Methods and Statistics Committee, respectively. These committees will typically be composed of five College faculty members, appointed annually by the dean. The Theory and Methods Exam will be offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. They are generally scheduled in early November and in late March to early April. The exam dates vary depending on dates for national professional conferences. There is generally about a two-week turn-around time between exam completion and the results announcement. The results will ordinarily be communicated orally to the student by the major professor and later in writing from the dean. The chair of each exam committee will certify the exam results in a letter or e-mail to the dean, with a copy to the graduate coordinator. Exam results are reported to the Office of the Registrar for the student’s permanent record.

Theory and Methods Exam Conditions

 

Each student will take exams in the College's graduate computer lab. Students may not bring books, notes, computers, computer files, or any other study aids into the exam room. The College will provide pens, pencils, and blank sheets of paper. Food and drinks are not permitted in the exam room. Each exam will be given over a two-day time frame lasting four hours each day. Accommodations for physical or learning disabilities that have been certified by the FSU Office of Accessibility Services will also be made if the accommodations are approved in advance by the relevant exam committee. When a student takes possession of the exam at the start of the exam period, the student is considered to have attempted to take the exam, regardless of whether the student completes the exam, hands in any answers, or remains for the full exam period. At that point, the exam can have one of only two outcomes for the student: Pass or Fail.

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