MFA Graduate Comprehensive Examination

The Comprehensive Examination will consist of two components: (a) a written examination, and (b) an oral defense of the written examination.

The written examination consists of questions that address three aspects of Theatre training: theory, history, and practice.

The questions are structured to function as springboards for thought. It is important to be as perceptive as possible in identifying the core concerns of each question so as to address them in the most comprehensive manner. The student should attempt to make insightful connections with the ideas and concepts that have informed the three years of study in the MFA program. Further, the examination is an opportunity for the student to articulate personal artistic vision and commitment to styles of theatre practice.

Normally, the Comprehensive Examination is scheduled during the student's final semester. The student is responsible for taking the initiative in scheduling dates for both the written component and the oral defense. The student's Graduate Advising Committee will evaluate both the written and oral components of the exam.

Written Response

Each member of the student's Graduate Advisory Committee submits proposed questions to the committee Chair (other faculty members may also submit questions for consideration).

The committee Chair serves as editor, responsible for formulating an examination which will address theoretical, historical, and practical issues in a context which is reasonable given the student's focus of study and the parameters for the examination administration.

Occasionally, most often in the case of Design students, the Chair may include a practical project to be executed on an individually determined timetable. At the scheduled time for administration of the examination the Graduate Advisory Committee will present the student with a written copy of the examination questions and any supplemental materials (e.g. reference texts, renderings, recordings, etc.) that may be needed.

The date and time by which the written response must be submitted will be indicated on the examination. The written examination response must be typed in double-spaced manuscript form, paginated, and conclude with accompanying bibliography and footnotes. Each source consulted should be listed in the bibliography whether footnoted or not. The Harvard (Author/Date) System is recommended for footnote citations. The text of each question should precede the written response to the question.

Paper copies of the written examination response are to be submitted, at the agreed upon date and time, to each of the Graduate Advisory Committee members. In addition, one copy should be submitted electronically on CD for inclusion in the student's file. Naturally, the student will be expected to retain one copy for personal reference. The Department will allow the student to make copies at no charge using the office photocopier.

Oral Defense

Oral defense of the written examination typically occurs three to six days after submission of the written response. Although normally only members of the Graduate Advisory Committee are in attendance, other faculty members may attend if they so desire.

If, in the opinion of the Graduate Advisory Committee, the written response to the examination questions demonstrates sufficient insight and understanding of the issues raised by those questions as well as a lucid and comprehensive treatment of those same issues, the oral defense will provide an opportunity to engage in further enriched discussion regarding those issues.

If, however, insight and understanding are not evident or there is a lack of clarity or breadth of treatment, the committee will focus the oral defense in an attempt to provide clarification and amplification sufficient to render the written examination response acceptable to the committee.

Scheduling

Normally, the Comprehensive Examination is scheduled during the student's final semester. Each semester the Graduate School publishes on the registrar's website a date by which notification of successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination must be received in order for a student to be graduated in that semester. It is advisable to schedule the Comprehensive Examination at least one month prior to the Graduate School deadline to provide time for rewriting which may be required.

The student is responsible for taking the initiative in scheduling dates for both the written component and the oral defense (typically, the oral defense is scheduled three to six days after submission of the written examination). The written component of the Comprehensive Examination is normally a take-home examination. In a typical example, the student receives the examination questions at noon on Friday and submits copies of the completed examination response by noon the following Monday. Many variations of this example are appropriate.

In preparation for the Comprehensive Examination, the student should review the MFA bibliographies. The books, plays, and periodicals included in these bibliographies were chosen to reflect influential ideas relevant to the Theatre in general and to the Department's programs of study in particular. These ideas will most likely serve as an important referent for the Graduate Advisory Committee as it formulates the Comprehensive Examination.

The student is advised to schedule the time for the Comprehensive Examination with care. There should be no distractions such as theatre production responsibilities or major course assignments due which might limit concentration on the examination.

Evaluation

If both the written examination and the oral defense reflect sufficient mastery of the field of study, the Graduate Advisory Committee will certify completion of the Comprehensive Examination with no reservations.

If the written examination leaves important aspects of the questions unanswered or seems to reflect a misunderstanding of issues, opportunity will be available in the oral defense for amplification and clarification. If the oral defense clarifies issues and resolves the Committee's concerns, the committee will certify completion of the Comprehensive Examination.

If satisfactory resolution is not achieved in the oral defense, the committee may require the student to rewrite the response to one or more of the original questions or the Chair may assign newly formulated questions that address perceived deficiencies. The student will be given a date to complete the rewrite and a second oral defense will be scheduled. Since it is not uncommon to be asked to rewrite one or more response, the student should be careful to schedule the first attempt of the Comprehensive Examination at least one month in advance of the Graduate School's deadline for notification of successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination.

If the written examination and oral defense reveal a fundamental lack of understanding or lack of ability to make connections among areas of knowledge in the field of study, the committee will not certify completion of the Comprehensive Examination.

In this case, the student will be required to address remedial measures recommended by the Committee prior to attempting a re-take of the examination. In accordance with published University policy, the student may attempt successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination a maximum of three times before being discontinued in the program.