Section 6: Examinations

Registration (P/F or for credit) as a regular degree-seeking ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ· student is required for all graduate students during the doctoral comprehensive exam, master’s comprehensive-final exam and thesis or dissertation defense.

Master’s Degree Examinations

Each candidate for a master’s degree is required to complete a comprehensive-final examination or thesis defense after the other requirements for the degree have been substantially completed. In some programs, non-thesis students are instead required to present an approved degree plan which meets the requirements of the field and represents an intellectually coherent graduate education as determined by the major department, and will not complete a final examination.

The examination or defense may be given near the end of the student’s last semester while the candidate is still taking required courses for the degree, provided satisfactory progress is being made in those courses.

The following rules apply to the comprehensive-final examination/thesis defense:

  1. A student must be registered on the Boulder campus as a regular degree-seeking student during the semester the examination is passed.
  2. Notice of the examination or defense must be filed by the major department in the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the examination. The examination or defense must be scheduled not later than the posted deadline for the semester in which the degree is to be conferred.
  3. The examination or defense is given by a committee composed of three Graduate Faculty members appointed by the department with approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. The chair of the committee must have a regular Graduate Faculty appointment. Other committee members must have either a regular or special Graduate Faculty appointment.
  4. The examination or defense, which may be oral, written or both, must cover the thesis (if applicable), which should be essentially complete, other work completed in courses and seminars in the major field, and all work presented for the degree.
  5. A student must have an affirmative vote from the majority of the committee members to pass. A student who fails the comprehensive-final examination/thesis defense may attempt it once more after a period of time determined by the examining committee.

Doctoral Degree Examinations

Preliminary Examination

Each department determines for itself (by examination or other means) that students who wish to study for the doctoral degree are qualified. The means by which each department makes this evaluation are specified in departmental requirements. Students who are thus evaluated are notified immediately of the results.

Comprehensive Examination

Before admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree, students must pass a comprehensive examination in the field of concentration and related fields.

The following rules apply to the doctoral comprehensive examination:

  1. Students must be registered (P/F or for credit) on the Boulder campus as regular degree-seeking students when they pass the comprehensive examination.
  2. Notice of the examination must be filed by the major department with the Graduate School at least two weeks prior to the examination.
  3. The examination is conducted by an examining board appointed by the chair of the major department and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. The board shall consist of the major advisor and additional members as necessary to a minimum of five. The chair must have a regular Graduate Faculty appointment. Other committee members must have regular or special Graduate Faculty appointments. Successful candidates must receive affirmative votes from a majority of the members of their examination board. A candidate who fails the examination may attempt it once more after a period of time determined by the examination board.
  4. The examination, which may be oral, written, or both, tests mastery of a broad field of knowledge, not merely formal course work.

Dissertation Defense

After the PhD dissertation has been accepted for defense by the student’s committee, a final examination on the dissertation and related topics is conducted.

The following rules apply to the PhD dissertation defense/non-PhD doctoral final examination:

  1. PhD students must be registered as full time, regular degree-seeking students at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ·, for a minimum of 5 dissertation hours during the semester in which they pass the final examination. DMA students must be registered, full-time for DMA dissertation credits (course # 8200-8399) or TMUS 8029 during the semester in which they pass the final examination. AuD students must be registered full time with at least 5 hours of graduate level coursework.
  2. Students must notify the Graduate School of their final oral examination at least two weeks before their scheduled examination date. The examination must be scheduled not later than the posted deadline for the semester in which the degree is to be conferred.
  3. This examination is wholly or partly oral, the oral part being open to anyone.
  4. The examination is conducted by a committee appointed by the chair of the major department and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School, which consists of at least five persons, one of whom must be from outside the student’s major department. Three of the members must be ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ· Graduate Faculty. The chair and outside member of the committee must have regular Graduate Faculty appointments. The other committee members must have either regular or special Graduate Faculty appointments. The outside member must either have a regular Graduate Faculty appointment in a different department at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú´«Ã½ÎÄ»¯×÷Æ· or hold a special Graduate Faculty appointment with approval to serve as outside member. More than one dissenting vote disqualifies the candidate in the final examination. The chair and all committee members must participate in the examination, with the mode of participation (e.g. in person, remotely) defined by the committee and approved by the department.
  5. A student who fails the examination may attempt it once more after a period of time determined by the examining committee.

Last updated July 2023