Qualifying Exam/Reflective Mid-Point Synthesis Description of Doctoral Qualifying Examination:
The Doctoral Qualifying Examination in Language and Literacy is a reflective synthesis, the purpose of which is to make an assessment of students’ potential for successfully completing the doctoral program.
After 9-12 hours of coursework, and before registering for further coursework, candidates should notify their advisor that they are ready to take the Doctoral Qualifying Examination. The first part of the qualifying examination is a take-home, typed, 10-15 page reflective paper that is at once personal yet substantive. In the paper, candidates should synthesize information and knowledge gleaned from the initial 9-12 hours of courses to date, two of which have to be EDRD 800, 801, 803, or 811. In the paper, candidates should detail their understandings of theoretical and practical issues in literacy education and chronicle their theoretical journey: where they have been in their thinking, where they are currently, and where they want to go.
For the second part of the examination, the student submits a revised version of an academic paper written in one of the core Ph.D. courses they have taken along with a copy of feedback the student received from the instructor of that course. The paper should be a reflection of the students’ ability to write coherently and logically and should include components of scholarly writing. The writing sample should have been carefully edited for typographical errors, spelling, and documentation. Feedback given by the instructor of record for the course should have been carefully considered by the student in their revisions. It is recommended that students read high quality research pieces in journals like RTE, RRQ, NRC Yearbook, and JTE and carefully consider the characteristics of the genre of articles published in such venues as part of revising this previously submitted paper. Articles in these journals are (often) traditional in writing style and (usually) explicit about the components of their research, often clearly labeling each.
In both parts of the examination, the student should ensure that citations are accurate and statements are explained for an audience who may or may not be familiar with experts/researchers drawn upon in the piece. Both must be formatted using the latest edition of the APA.
The Doctoral Qualifying Examination will be evaluated on:
-
Overall ability to synthesize information and knowledge.
-
Knowledge of topics/issues advanced in the coursework and readings to date.
-
Clarity and organization of the writing.
-
Knowledge of APA format
The Doctoral Qualifying Examination and the academic writing sample will be reviewed and assessed by members of the Language and Literacy faculty. As part of the assessment, the candidate will participate in a conversation with three faculty members (the initial advisor, one faculty member who has experience with the candidate academically and another faculty member who has not had experience with the student academically). The three faculty members will determine the candidate’s admission to candidacy. Students will have two opportunities to pass this examination.
Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Commitee
After the student has passed the Qualifying Examination and been admitted to candidacy, but before all course work has been completed, the student asks four faculty to serve on his/her Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Committee and asks one of those faculty members to serve as Chair of that committee. The responsibility of this committee is to oversee the written and oral comprehensive examination. Two or more of these faculty members should be from the student’s major degree program (Language and Literacy). One or more faculty members should be from outside Language and Literacy. One faculty member must be from outside the ITE department. Faculty indicates their willingness to serve by signing the Doctoral Comprehensive Exam Committee form, which the student originates (see attached). This form is sent to the Graduate School who approves the committee membership.