Supplemental Materials
Agenda for Original Proposal Oral Exam
Please note that the following agenda is provided to promote consistency in the conditions across exams and committees, and to provide students with a clear picture of what to expect during their exam.
As preparation, the student should bring a copy of the written proposal. It can be useful to prepare some additional transparencies on key topics and/or be prepared to use the board to help in answering committee members’ questions. In general, it is useful to allot 1.5–2 hours for the presentation, following oral exam, and feedback.
The research advisor introduces the student to the audience, giving some background about the student and his/her research.
Student gives a formal presentation of their proposal.
(30–45 minutes)
Committee members ask the student questions.
(approximately 60 minutes)
Questions should assess whether the student has a thorough understanding of the literature and methods relevant to the proposal, including any material mentioned in the written proposal or oral presentation. While some of the questions may not have clear-cut answers, the Committee will evaluate the student's ability to reason effectively and draw appropriately on a broad range of knowledge to do so.
Note that, unlike in the progress report oral exam, the questions should not particularly focus on the student’s knowledge of fundamentals except as required to explain the proposed study.
The committee chair may act as moderator for the exam to ensure appropriate breadth and depth of coverage in questioning. Note that the research advisor is a participating member of the committee for the purposes of this exam. However, he/she should refrain from asking questions until other committee members have substantially completed their questioning on a given topic.
The student is excused from the room while the committee meets to determine the exam outcome. In the case that a student fails or receives a conditional pass, the committee should determine what the student must do to pass the exam and should set a firm deadline.
(10–15 minutes)
The student may receive a pass, conditional pass, or fail. It is essential that a conditional pass or fail is accompanied by written expectations for what the students needs to do to pass and when it needs to be done. Generally, the deadline for a re-exam should be within 1–2 months.
The committee chair should invite the student back into the room and report the outcome, some brief feedback, and, if needed, more must be done to pass.
(10 minutes)
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The committee chair is responsible for providing written feedback, on both strengths and weaknesses, for the student and for the student’s file to be returned to Valerie Bridge within 1–2 days.
(10–15 minutes)
If the student has further work to do to pass, details regarding this work and the deadline must be provided in writing.
See Also:
- Original Proposal Exam Outcome and Feedback (28k Microsoft Word file)