Health and Aging - Comprehensive Examination

All PhD students must pass a formal comprehensive examination as a requirement of the PhD degree. The Comprehensive Examination consists of a written paper of publishable quality in peer-reviewed manuscript or book chapter format. The purpose of the comprehensive examination is to demonstrate scholarly writing, to demonstrate a critical synthesis of theory and literature, and to situate the student’s planned research within the field of health and aging, including theory, research literature, and research methods. Full details about the format and grading of the comprehensive paper are available on the Health and Aging Field website. This paper will be evaluated by the Comprehensive Examination Committee.

The Comprehensive Examination Committee will normally be composed of: the student’s supervisor; one member of the student’s advisory committee; and one person external to the student’s advisory committee (who may be external to the field, program, or university, as long as s/he is approved by the Health & Rehabilitation Sciences program).

The candidates’ Comprehensive Examination Committee will approve the proposed scope of the comprehensive paper and evaluate the completed paper. The student may approach committee members for guidance and direction regarding the paper, but they will not read drafts. Normally, the student will start the comprehensive process in Term 3 and submit three copies of the finished paper at least 2 weeks before the end of Term 5.

The Comprehensive Examination must be completed successfully in order for students to begin the thesis phase. If it is determined that the paper requires minor or major revisions, those revisions will be outlined in writing, and the student will have four weeks to submit the revised paper. Students who fail the second submission of the comprehensive paper will normally be asked to withdraw the program.