Smith PhD Program Overview

Written Comprehensive Exam

The PhD Program of the Robert H. Smith School of Business requires students to pass one comprehensive examination in the area of concentration. Students must take care that all course work in the major area of concentration is completed prior to taking the comprehensive examination.

Failure and Termination
A failed written comprehensive exam can be repeated. However, a student must pass the comprehensive exam on the second try in order to remain in the program.

Scheduling and Notification
The written examinations are scheduled once a year, in June. The PhD Program Office schedules the date and time of the examination and arranges for the rooms. The office notifies the faculty and candidates of the examination schedule at least two months in advance of the examination period. Exams held other than in June need to be administered by the individual departments.

It is the responsibility of each candidate to notify the PhD Program Office in writing of his/her intention to take an examination at least two months in advance.

Withdrawal
Students must receive the joint permission of the program director and the area advisor to withdraw from the examination after a written request to take it has been submitted and approved.

Examination Information
Each area has the responsibility for preparing and maintaining information relevant to the content and coverage of its examinations. Students are strongly advised to consult with the area advisor, members of the PhD committee, and relevant faculty well in advance of the examination date.

Conduct of Examination
The PhD Program Office will be responsible for proctoring and collecting the examinations and, following the completion of all examinations, will transmit the examination papers to the area committee for grading. Upon the return of grades to the PhD Program Office, candidates will be notified of the results.

The written comprehensive examination is ordinarily no longer than eight hours with appropriate breaks provided.

Grading and Feedback
Official notification of the outcome of examinations will be provided to each student by the PhD Program Office. The grading categories are High Pass, Pass, Low Pass, Conditional Pass, and Fail. Students receiving a Pass or High Pass on their first attempt are exempted from the oral comprehensive examination.

When a student receives a "Conditional Pass," the condition(s) imposed may include rewriting individual questions, completing an additional course or courses, writing a research paper, or other options. Please note that a failure on any of the conditional tasks will convert the "Conditional Pass" to a "Fail" grade for the total examination. "Conditional Pass" grades are only granted on the first try.

Any failed examination may be repeated. However, the student must pass the examination on the second try in order to remain in the Program. Please note that a "Conditional Pass" grade is not acceptable for a repeated examination.

Area examination advisors will meet, on request, with each student individually to provide feedback on the examination. Advisors will be prepared to provide the student with:

• The consensus judgment of the graders on a question by question basis of the student's performance on each question, including some indication of what was wrong with a student's answer for questions graded "Low Pass" or "Fail". A grader by grader breakdown of the grades is not required.
• A general description of how the final grade determination of the entire examination was arrived at from the student's question by question performance.

Appeals
A student may appeal any aspect of the examining procedure and grade. Such an appeal should begin with an exploration of the matter with the relevant area examination advisors and with the program director. If the matter is not resolved at this level, a formal appeal must be made in writing to the program director and the chair of the student's department. Intention to file such an appeal should be given as quickly as possible and in no case later than 30 days from the occurrence of the event on which the appeal is based. (N.B. This means that if the appeal is based on the conduct of the examination, notice of intent to appeal should be given immediately, without waiting for grades to be received.)