Department of Anthropology
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Diagnostic Examination
Each student must take a one-day, comprehensive diagnostic examination which synthesizes the core subject matter. This examination will be taken during the second half of the first year in residence when the required core courses have been basically completed. Otherwise, the student must take the diagnostic no later than the third semester of residence.
Any student who is in doubt as to when he/she should take the diagnostic examination should consult with his/her advisory committee concerning this. Each student who is to take the diagnostic examination during a given semester must sign up for this examination in the anthropology office during the early part of the same semester so that the examining committee will have advance notice for the preparation and scheduling of the examination.
The examination's main purpose is to diagnose the student's strengths and weaknesses in the core areas. Retakes of the examination will seldom be necessary, but areas of strength and deficiency will be pointed out. A poor performance will not necessarily prevent a student from completing the MS degree, depending upon steps taken to improve the deficiencies, but a student whose performance is inadequate may be advised not to consider continuing for the PhD degree.
Following the diagnostic examination, the student's advisory committee will schedule a conference with the student to discuss strengths and weaknesses and how the latter may be remedied (such as by further coursework and more extensive reading).
Any student who is in doubt as to when he/she should take the diagnostic examination should consult with his/her advisory committee concerning this. Each student who is to take the diagnostic examination during a given semester must sign up for this examination in the anthropology office during the early part of the same semester so that the examining committee will have advance notice for the preparation and scheduling of the examination.
The examination's main purpose is to diagnose the student's strengths and weaknesses in the core areas. Retakes of the examination will seldom be necessary, but areas of strength and deficiency will be pointed out. A poor performance will not necessarily prevent a student from completing the MS degree, depending upon steps taken to improve the deficiencies, but a student whose performance is inadequate may be advised not to consider continuing for the PhD degree.
Following the diagnostic examination, the student's advisory committee will schedule a conference with the student to discuss strengths and weaknesses and how the latter may be remedied (such as by further coursework and more extensive reading).