University of Saint Joseph Department
of Biochemistry Comprehensive
Examination Overview
Introduction:
The comprehensive examination evaluates a student's ability to integrate knowledge of
Biochemistry, show critical and independent thinking skills, and demonstrate mastery of the
field. The results of the examination evidence independent thinking, appropriate organization,
high-level writing competency, critical analysis, and accuracy of documentation.
The overall comprehensive exam consists of essay questions from six courses the student
completed during their program. The essay questions from each course will be offered
separately and are called individual exams. Each individual exam will provide the student with
two essay questions to review before asking the student to only respond to one of the
questions.
The student must pass five out of six individual exams in order to pass the overall
comprehensive exam. Each student will be granted one hour to respond to the essay question
in each individual exam. Any student who does not pass five out of six individual exams would
have to re-take and pass the failed individual exams to receive their degree.
Format:
The comprehensive exam is offered to students through the student's personal computer via
the Securexam Remote Proctor system. The student is given a two-day period to complete all
six sections of the comprehensive exam. The comprehensive exam can be taken at any point
during the academic year; however, there are restrictions when the comprehensive exam must
be graded by in order to have a degree conferred in May, August, or December (see Grading).
To become eligible to take the comprehensive exam, a student must be matriculated, have a
planned program of study signed by an advisor, and have completed at least 24 graduate-level
credits taken with the University of Saint Joseph. Transfer credits, thesis credits, or credits for
any grade below a C do not count towards the 24 credits. A student must also have completed
these four required courses in the program: CHEM 500 Thermodynamics, CHEM 525
Biochemistry I, CHEM 530 Biochemistry II, and BIOL 525 Genetics.
Application:
The application form for the comprehensive exam is available on the Graduate tab and Student
tab of MyUSJ. A student must also submit a tracking form, remote proctor agreement form, an
updated planned program of study (if changes occurred after the original was filed), and a check
for $250 to have their application processed. A student must submit these materials to the
Office of Graduate Admissions by email, fax, or direct mail no later than 30 days before the
proposed exam date.
In the event the student is required to take a second comprehensive exam in order to pass, the
student would have to submit an updated application, tracking form, and a check for $200 to
have their application processed.
:
When the student applies for the comprehensive exam, the student must submit a $250 check
to cover both the deposit for the Securexam Remote Proctor and the user fee. The deposit
($200) will be credited back to the student once the Securexam Remote Proctor is safely
returned to the University of Saint Joseph. Any student who does not submit the check will not
have their application approved therefore preventing the student from taking the
comprehensive exam.
Any student who wishes to forego leasing the product through the University of Saint Joseph
has the option of purchasing the Securexam Remote Proctor directly from Software Secure at a
cost of $150 plus additional per-use fees. Direct purchases can be made by calling Software
Secure at 617.340.6381.
Minimum Computer Requirements:
The Securexam Remote Proctor should work with most new computers. In the event the
computer does not pass the Prerequisite Checks scan, please contact Software Secure at
http://clientportal.softwaresecure.com/support/ or 617.340.6381. Below are the minimum
specifications for the operating system, memory, locale, hard drive, screen resolution, and
Internet connection.
1) OS: XP (32 bit), Vista (32/64 bit), Windows 7 (32/64 bit), Mac OSX V10.5 & V10.6
2) Memory: 512MB RAM (XP), 1GB RAM (Vista, Windows 7, Mac)
3) Locale: English
4) Hard drive: 20GB of free space
5) Screen Resolution: 1024 x 768
6) Internet connection: High speed (DSL, Cable, or LAN)
Testing Rules:
The online testing environment should mimic an "in class" testing environment and must
conform to the following rules. In the event that an individual exam provides contradictory
instructions, those rules take precedent the online testing rules provided below.
1) Physical Exam Setting
• A quiet, secure, well lit room
• No other people in the room
• No communicating with other people by any means (including electronically)
• No leaving the room
• Clean desk or table
• No print materials or electronic devices present on the surface/desk
• No writing visible on desks or walls
• No music playing
• No other computers running in the exam room
2) Remote Proctor Location
• Within an arm's reach of the student
• Positioned on the opposite side of the mouse (if a mouse is being used)
• Parallel position to the computer (not behind the screen)
• Nothing covering the base or prism of the device
3) Written Responses
• Size 3 Times New Roman font
• 8-10 paragraphs of information per individual exam response
Failure to comply with items in this policy may result in disciplinary action which possible
sanctions including the individual exam not be graded or dismissal from the program.
Exam Process:
Two weeks prior to the proposed exam date: the University of Saint Joseph will ship the
Securexam Remote Proctor hardware unit to the address listed on the tracking form. Along with
the hardware unit, there will be instructions on how to download the Securexam Remote Proctor
software and how to access the Blackboard shell where the student's comprehensive exam tab
will be listed.
One week prior to the proposed exam date:
1) Login to Blackboard
2) Open the course shell
3) Open the tab with your student ID number
4) Open the practice exam, complete the Software Secure verification process, and review the
exam format
Proposed exam date (two-day window for eight one-hour exams):
You may space out the exam as needed over the two-day period. Remember during the exam,
you may NOT leave the room or communicate with anyone (see Testing Rules). Therefore,
arrangements should have been made in advance to make these rules possible.
1) Login to Blackboard
2) Open the course shell
3) Open the tab with your student ID number
4) Select your first individual exam and complete the Software Secure verification process
a) Answer one of the two essay questions
b) Answer completely and in an organized manner (see Camp Exam Questions and
Responses)
c) Check over your answer
d) SUBMIT your answer
e) Take a break or choose your next exam (repeat step 4)
5) All exams must be completed and submitted within the two-day period
6) Return the Securexam Remote Proctor to Saint Joseph College to receive your deposit credit
Camp Exam Questions:
Each department faculty member contributes to a pool of exam questions. These questions
draw on the content of courses taken during the plan of study. The questions are query and
case-based.
Case-study questions present a contextualized, real life or life-like problem or opportunity you
are asked to address. Responses to case-studies often require both a practical solution to the
specific situation and a justification of your solution based on principles and/or theory. They
require you to bring diverse skills and knowledge to bear on the specific situation presented.
Case-study questions might include drafting a treatment protocol for a disease or other
condition; evaluating the conditions of an environmental or habitat situation and producing a
recommendation; or developing an experimental procedure to evaluate a cell line or organism.
Queries, like cases, ask you to synthesize a broad range of knowledge, but without the need to
relate it to a specific real or fictional situation. You might be asked to take a position on an issue
having to do with disease transmission, treatment protocol and the like, and justify your ideas
with appropriate theory, principles, and practices from the literature in our field and from your
own and others' experiences. Some questions may be more direct, inquiring about particular
elements of a molecular, cellular, or organismal process. See the instructor's study guide for each
course as to what to expect.
Be prepared for questions which require both macro-level and micro-level solutions.
Responses:
As a student completes their responses, be aware that grading is dependent on how well the
student is able to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the questions. In addition, responses should
reflect a high degree of professionalism. Therefore, you must be able to write coherently and
logically as poorly written answers will impair your resulting score. Attention to grammar and
spelling becomes important and will contribute as a major element of grading criteria. An essay
deemed unintelligible because it does not present clear thoughts due to lack of organization or
spelling and grammar mistakes can constitute failure.
Students are expected to meet the minimum requirement of eight to ten paragraphs of
information in their response.
Grading:
Grading may take up to six weeks so it is recommended that anyone seeking a May/August
conferral take the comprehensive exam by April 1 and anyone seeking a December
conferral take the comprehensive exam by November 1.
The grading of each individual comprehensive exam is assigned to the instructor who taught the
course to that student. In the event that the instructor is not available, another instructor who is
currently teaching or has taught the course in the past will be substituted. The individual exam
will each be graded on a pass/fail basis. An instructor also has the opportunity to ask for a
second opinion in the event that the instructor feels the response is borderline.
Failed Exam Policy:
In the event a student does not pass five out of six individual exams, the student fails the overall
comprehensive exam and must re-take and pass the failed individual exams to remain eligible to
receive their degree. In the event a student does not pass the first attempt at the
comprehensive exam, the Biochemistry department will review their student file to determine
whether the student must re-take any coursework before approval will be given for their second
attempt. In the event the department decides the student must re-take the courses, the student
would not receive additional credits towards their program and the grade for the second attempt
would replace the grade the student earned the first time the class was taken.
a) If the student cumulatively passed five individual exams between the two attempts, the
student passes the overall comprehensive exam. The student would remain eligible to receive
a Masters’ degree in Biochemistry.
b) If the student has not cumulatively passed five individual exams between the two attempts,
the student fails the overall comprehensive exam and would be dismissed from the program
without a degree.
Shipping:
The Securexam Remote Proctor will be shipped to the address provided on the tracking form
two weeks prior to the test date; thus, giving the student enough time to download the
software and become familiar with both the Securexam Remote Proctor as well as the
Blackboard shell where the student's tab will be. All costs associated with shipping the
Securexam Remote Proctor to the student will be paid by the University of Saint Joseph.
The Securexam Remote Proctor must be returned to the University of Saint Joseph in good
condition within ten days of the test date listed on the tracking form. Failure to return the
Securexam Remote Proctor or the return of a damaged Securexam Remote Proctor will result in
the student losing their deposit and their comprehensive exam not be reviewed. All costs
associated with shipping the Securexam Remote Proctor back to the University of Saint Joseph
come to the expense of the student.
Preparation for the Comprehensive Exam:
To begin preparing, students are recommended to complete the following list:
1) Review all course textbooks, articles, lecture notes, exercises, quizzes and exams.
2) Browse, skim, and read journals relevant to the field.
3) Work with other students in a study group or literature review group to help you gain insights
on the many issues and current trends surrounding the field; email addresses are available from
any Biochemistry course materials.
4) Create and solve your own comp questions. Find a real problem in an instructional setting
the messier and more multi-faceted the problem, the better.
5) Review the study guide provided by the instructor for not only the content of the question
but the formats that the instructor uses. The study guide is the instructor's way of providing
support for the student prior to the examination.
High Level Strategy:
The student should write out some basic information about the problem then take the problem
apart. The student should consider whether aspects of the problem involve assessment,
procedure, evaluation, or goals. The student should also consider what answer is being sought
in the problem whether it be an evaluation, experimental protocol, treatment procedure,
interpretation of data, or reflection of the content. Lastly, what models, theories, approaches,
philosophies, techniques, or heuristics can be pulled out which seem applicable to the problem.
If the student can practice these activities with three or four problems and generate an outline
of their responses, the student will be well prepared.
Writing Strategies for Taking an Essay Test:
It is suggested that the student plan out a writing strategy. By preparing for this ahead of time,
timed practice questions can be an attempted before the start of the comprehensive exam. It is
also suggested that the student give themselves enough time to organize their thoughts prior to
writing their response and enough time to proofread their response after completing their
response.
Warm up beforehand. We all perform better after we get into a rhythm, so take a few minutes
to write down any thoughts or ideas that may arise before responding to the questions on the
test. This few minutes of prewriting will give you direction and focus in your writing and calm
any apprehension. This period of warm-up can be fitted into your writing strategy and actually
improve the clarity and flow of your answers.
Start writing, write in your own language, and write only one draft. A quick introduction with a
few sentences that directly answer the question posed is an effective way to get started on each
section. However, try to avoid lengthy introductions and get to the meat of the question. Also, it
takes time to translate writing into someone else's style, so write with focus and clarity but in
your own language. Since time is limited, it is also essential that the student only write one draft.
Take intermittent breaks. Continuous writing can be exhausting. It may be a good idea to
schedule short breaks between each section of the comprehensive exam. Feel free to rest,
stretch, and have something to eat when not physically testing. It might also be a good idea to
keep some snacks handy (if allowed) during the test to keep your energy level high without
having to leave the computer.
Follow directions slavishly. Because test questions tend to be lots of small, specific tasks, one
solution is to itemize and number the instructions at the outset before rereading them halfway
through the essay. Please refer back to the question multiple times because even if a response
is well-crafted and brilliant, if it does not address the question it does not receive a passing
grade.
Structure to help the instructor read and grade the response quickly. Structure rigidly,
conservatively, and blatantly. Outlining is strongly recommended. Have a thesis for each
question and state it up front. Let the instructor see when you are doing each assigned task like
defining, contrasting, or giving reasons.
Proofread for meaning and mechanics. If the writing strategy has been planned out in advance,
there should still be time remaining to proofread your exam. This will help the student look for
garbled meaning, misspelled words, and general punctuation errors. Although the instructors
grading your exam may not fail the student because of grammatical errors, an essay that is
peppered with mistakes can be a distraction from the message that the student is trying convey.