In most graduate programs, graduate students must take comprehensive examinations that reflect the full ranges of their programs. The comprehensive examination is based upon the students’ major areas of study, as well as related areas, and may include work done on a thesis. Students must give evidence that they can integrate information and ideas from the various areas in which they have studied. The comprehensive examination may be written, oral and/or Web-based, as determined by the students’ departments.

To be eligible for a comprehensive examination, students should be near completion of the course work specified by their major academic departments. Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA or satisfactory academic standing or progress to sit for the exam. Students who plan to take the comprehensive examination must file a Comprehensive Examination Request form in the College of Graduate Studies. There is a nonrefundable comprehensive examination fee of $60 for master’s degree candidates and $75 for CAGS candidates. Students who fail to sit for the exam or fail the exam must reapply and are charged an application fee.

The comprehensive examination fee will be charged to the student’s account. The Comprehensive Examination form can be found at www.bridgew.edu/COGS/forms.cfm. The completed forms with necessary signatures and fees must be filed in the College of Graduate Studies on or before the appropriate application deadlines:

Oct. 1 for November comprehensive examinations
Feb. 1 for March/April comprehensive examinations

Ordinarily, comprehensive examinations are given during the months of November and March/April. The academic departments set the specific date of the comprehensive examination.

All students who take the comprehensive examination will receive their results by mail in a timely fashion.

Students who fail the comprehensive examination shall be given one additional opportunity to pass. Students should meet immediately with their faculty advisers or designated personnel to review weaknesses of their performances, and prescribed programs of study should be designed to help students prepare for the second examination. After students have made substantial progress in the additional work prescribed by the department, students will be allowed to retake the comprehensive examinations. Students will be required to notify the College of Graduate Studies of the exam date and repay the comprehensive examination fee. Students who fail a second comprehensive examination are subject to academic dismissal.