Academic Senate

WRITTEN AND ORAL QUALIFYING EXAMINATIONS, ORAL QUALIFYING EXAM COMMITTEE, AND ADVANCEMENT TO CANDIDACY.

Upon the student's satisfactory completion of all preliminary requirements set by the graduate program and the Graduate Council, an Oral Qualifying Exam Committee shall be nominated to the Graduate Council for appointment. This committee consists of not fewer than five members. The Chair and the majority of committee members must be Academic Senate members and part of the student's graduate program. Being a part of a graduate program includes, but is not limited to, cooperating faculty and participants in interdepartmental graduate programs. At least one committee member must not be a part of the same graduate program as the student. The purpose of this "oversight member" is primarily to monitor the fairness of the exam itself. Additionally, the "oversight member" may enhance the scholarship of the student and contribute to the academic benefits of the exam. The "oversight member" must be an Academic Senate member. In the absence of a unanimous decision, 1 no pass vote shall result in a pass of the Oral Qualifying Exam. More than 1 no pass vote will result in a fail.

Before the student is admitted to candidacy, the student must pass a series of qualifying examinations, both written and oral. The written examination is administered by the graduate program. The Oral Qualifying Exam is conducted by the student's approved committee. The Oral Qualifying Exam is not open to the general public, but members of the Academic Senate may attend. Written and oral exam results must be reported to the Graduate Division.

Upon successful completion of the qualifying examinations, the candidate is advanced to candidacy by the Graduate Council after certification by the Dean of the Graduate Division that the formal requirements have been met.