English Department Graduate Written Comprehensive Examination
The written comprehensive exam is a significant milestone in the student’s academic career. It is not intended to
review or address the material of a particular class but to address a wide field of study, and a diverse set of
perspectives. Consequently, students are asked to select those areas of study on which they wish to be examined, and
to work with two different faculty members in taking their comprehensive exams.
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The exam is taken in three parts
The exam may be taken while working on the thesis. However, according to Graduate Studies
Requirements, the oral defense of the thesis cannot be scheduled until the written comprehensive
examination has been passed.
It is the student’s responsibility to arrange the comprehensive exam. Students should work closely with
their advisors in selecting areas of examination and faculty examiners.
The written comprehensive examinations will cover three distinct areas of English or American language and
literature. Students should select from three areas of study from the following list:
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British Literature
American Literature
World Literature
Literature by Genre
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Literature by Period
Linguistics/English Language
Literary Criticism
Composition/Rhetoric and Pedagogy
For each area, the student should also choose a graduate faculty member with expertise in that area to act as an
examiner. Select at least two faculty covering three fields. Selected faculty will work with the student to develop the
exam question or questions for that area, and to set the date, time, and procedures for that section of the exam.
Common procedures include open-book timed writing (3-4 hours), or a take home paper.
The student receives a score of
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Pass with honors
Pass
No Pass
A letter or email stating the student’s performance on the comprehensive exam, will be sent to the student and
the Graduate Director.
If a student does not pass an area of the exam, the faculty will determine what steps the student will need to take
in order to pass the exam.