Student Guide: The M.A. Comprehensive Examination
Examination Procedures
Congratulations on reaching this important step in your graduate education!
The comprehensive examination is a critical part of the GPIS MA program. You should view it not simply as a hurdle to pass over on your way to graduation, but instead as an opportunity to pull together the material you have covered during your graduate education. The process of preparing for the comprehensive exam should help you organize and reflect on the variety of things you have learned over the past few years. While to this point, each of your seminars has been a distinct learning experience, you now can think about how your interdisciplinary work in international studies fits together. Preparation for the comprehensive exam should help you become better able to integrate and utilize the knowledge you have gained in your graduate study.
Tips
TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS
This 4 ½ hour examination will be proctored on campus and you MUST be present.
- You may take breaks as needed but you may not leave the building
- Save your work often on the thumb drive you were provided with
- If any problems occur, notify the proctor immediately
- The examination is closed book and no notes or other aids are allowed
- You will be given a blue book, pen, and pencil for writing notes
- Once the exam begins the computer browsers will be locked down
- You are not permitted to use your cell phone or any other electronic device
- You sign and return the honor pledge provided
The ODU Honor Pledge will be strictly enforced:
I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a member of the academic community it is my responsibility to turn in all suspected violations of the Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned.
~Honor Pledge
On the day of the exam report to the assigned classroom and be ready to start promptly at 8:00 a.m. when the questions are distributed.
The examination consists of two parts:
- Part 1 answer ONE question for International Relations Theory and ONE question for U.S. Foreign Policy.
- Part 2 answer ONE question for Cultural Studies.
The questions are written broadly, but your essays must remain explicitly responsive to what is asked; simply referencing texts is not sufficient. Time is ample and running out of time is not an option. Ending early is also not advised. The examination will conclude at 12:30 pm and the thumb drive must be turned in to the proctor.
The examination committee consists of faculty from the major concentrations, and the designated GPIS chairperson. Form M5 must be completed and submitted prior to the examination.
Good luck!
GUIDELINES TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS
(These are the instructions that come with the exam)
- You must answer three questions.
- The questions are meant to be answered in about one and a half hours each. Allocate your time accordingly and make sure that each question has a concluding section.
- Also make sure that you:
answer the questions as they are raised and not as you wish they had been raised
illustrate your answer with appropriate empirical examples
cite relevant sources
make proper references to important interpretative debates, when appropriate
- Your answers will be reviewed in terms of:
how effectively you address each of the questions
how well you know and manage your facts
how soundly you handle and cite the literature
how well you have developed and organized your argument
the quality of your writing