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Examination Information
Please see the Comparative Literature Graduate Manual.
The Plan of Study
The student, in consultation with the Chair of Comparative Literature, begins preparation for the drafting of a Plan of Study. This process includes the choosing of a committee - for the M.A., an M.A. Advisory Committee; the Ph.D., a Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee - and a major professor who will chair that committee. At the M.A. level, the committee will typically be composed of the major professor plus two other committee members; at the Ph.D. level, the major professor plus three others. It is the student's responsibility to approach each of these professors in order to ascertain their willingness to participate on the committee.
The student, in consultation with the major professor, drafts a proposed Plan of Study. This must be submitted using the Electronic Plan of Study guidelines provided by the Graduate School. This must be submitted to the Chair of Comparative Literature no later than the 10th week of the student's second semester in the M.A. or Ph.D. program. The Chair of Comparative Literature will either approve this plan or suggest revisions.
Preparation for Written Examinations
Written examinations are typically administered in the 10th week of the student's fourth semester in the M.A. or Ph.D. program. The major professor, as Chair of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee, must present the Chair of Comparative Literature with the complete text of a proposed written examination by no later than Monday of the 8th week of the semester in which the examination is to be administered. The Chair of Comparative Literature will either approve this proposed examination or suggest revisions.
Examination questions are typically composed by the major professor and the other members of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee, according to the general guidelines. Occasionally some examination questions are contributed by faculty other than those on the student's committee; in such instances the contributing faculty should also be asked to read and grade the student's answers to the questions these faculty have composed.
The major professor, as Chair of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee, must arrange for a room in which to administer the examination. Reservations for a conference room or a computer should be made early - no later than six weeks before the date of the examination - in order to assure availability.
On the days of the Examination
The major professor, as Chair of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee, meets the student at the appointed place, sees that he or she has adequate paper, and furnishes questions appropriate to that day only.
At least once during the examination, the major professor should check up on the student to see if she needs any help. Are the questions clear? Does he need more paper or pencils? Is the computer functioning properly?
Students are also grateful if some solicitousness is shown for their comfort - a cup of coffee or the like.
At the end of the session, the major professor collects the student's test papers (including the examination sheet) or the computer disk, and turns these over to the Graduate Secretary of the Comparative Literature Program, who will see that copies are distributed to the Chair and members of the M.A. Advisory or Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee for grading.
Grading Procedures
Each member of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee will receive a photocopy of the student's examination papers and an evaluation sheet from the Graduate Secretary of Comparative Literature. These should be filled out and returned to the Graduate Secretary of Comparative Literature, at the Graduate Studies Office (BRNG 1289).
The grading scale is as follows: HP (High Pass, work clearly distinguished by excellence); P (Pass, entirely satisfactory and solid work); LP (Low Pass, acceptable but undistinguished work); or F (Failure, unacceptable work requiring that the examination be taken again).
Grading should be completed with all feasible dispatch. The period between the administration of a written examination and the aware of a grade can be very stressful for the student, so it is important to keep this as short as possible. In no case should the entire grading process exceed 14 days beyond the first day of the examination itself.
The Chair of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee will
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read and evaluate the examination as a whole;
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collect and complete evaluation forms from the Graduate Office;
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based on the reports of all readers, suggest a final grade for each section of the examination; and
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suggest a cumulative grade for the written examination.
The Chair of Comparative Literature will then, after conferring with the Chair of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee, award official grades to each section and an official cumulative grade to the entire examination.
The Chair of Comparative Literature will notify the student, the members of the M.A. Advisory or the Ph.D. Preliminary Examination Committee, and the members of the Steering Committee of the Comparative Literature Program, of the student's official cumulative grade for the entire examination. Revised in committee November 30, 1994.