A description of the comprehensive exam for students in ODU's Community College Leadership and Higher Education graduate programs.

1. !"
Comps
Preview Session

2. Today
! Dates, Format, Grading, & Results
! Strategies for Success
! Q&A

3. What is comps?
The comprehensive examination is designed to allow
students to synthesize and apply the information and skills
learned and discussed in coursework throughout the
program of study.

4. What is comps?
Comps is intended to evaluate your ability to:
! synthesize knowledge acquired within the program core,
! ground that knowledge in the relevant scholarly literature,
! apply that knowledge to issues of current practice, and
! communicate that knowledge in professional writing that
is appropriate for a specific audience (e.g., government
officials, colleagues, administrators, policymakers, etc.)

5. !"
Instructions, Timeframe,
Format, and Grading

6. Instructions
! The exam may be written anywhere.
! Students are permitted the use of any materials in writing
their responses.
! The responses should not include work previously
submitted for academic credit.
! All exam work is to be done individually. Students may
not receive any assistance regarding content or editing
during the exam period.

7. Timeframe
! You will receive the comp exam question from Dawn Hall
(dhall@odu.edu) via e-mail no later than 12:00 noon on
Friday.
! Responses must be submitted to Dawn Hall via e-mail no
later than 12:00 noon on Monday.
! Written exam results will be made known approximately
3-5 weeks after the exams are submitted.

8. What is the format?
The format is different for Master's/Ed.S. and Ph.D. students:
! Master's and Ed.S. students write an 8-10 page essay in
response a case prepared by or identified by program
faculty.
! Ph.D. students write an 8-10 page essay in response a
case prepared by or identified by program faculty, as well
as an 8-10 page proposal for a research study that builds
on the essay response.

9. What is the format?
ESSAY
! The case study format of the examination encourages
students to apply what they have learned in coursework
to a real-world situation.
! Your response should be based on assigned course
readings, as well as literature from your own self-directed
research on a course-related paper, project, or
presentation.
! No additional research should be required in order to
answer the comps question.

10. What is the format?
RESEARCH PROPOSAL (PH.D. ONLY)
! The research proposal should include the following:
! Briefly state a problem that could be addressed with a research study.
! Clearly state a specific question(s) that you could answer with a
research study that has the potential inform institutional action.
! Select a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed method design, as well as
state the specific method by which you would go about answering the
research question. Include a clearly stated rationale for the design you
select, and cite scholarly literature relevant to the research design you
propose.
! Describe how you would go about conducting this research study,
concretely addressing how you will select participants and sites for
research, collect data, analyze data, and ensure your analysis meets
established criteria for quality within your selected research design.
Briefly identify limitations of the proposed research design.
! Briefly state the significance of your research study and the potential of
the results to inform practice.

11. How are comps graded?
! Program area faculty use rubrics to evaluate the content
section of the exam. (See the “Strategies for Success”
section of this presentation for rubric criteria and tips for
success.)
! Each written exam will be graded by a program faculty
member. Exams are graded "blind" with no student
names or identifying characteristics attached to the exam.

12. How are comps graded?
! One program faculty member will read the written
exam. If the exam is deemed acceptable – then the
student passes the written component.
! If the written exam is not acceptable, then a second
faculty member will read the exam.
! If there is disagreement between the first and second
readers as to the acceptability of the exam, then a third
faculty member will serve as a tie breaker.

13. What if I don’t pass?
! Students who fail the written exam the first time may take
the exam once more during the next comprehensive
exam administration period.
! If a student fails to pass the comprehensive exam after
two administrations, then the student will be dismissed
from the program.

14. What is the format?
ORAL EXAM (PH.D. ONLY)
! If the Ph.D. student passes the written exam, an oral exam
will be scheduled within one month of being notified of
passing the written exam.
! The oral exam takes place via phone for students who live
outside of Hampton Roads and in-person for students who
live in the area.

15. What is the format?
ORAL EXAM (PH.D. ONLY)
! In the oral exam, a panel of at least three program faculty
will ask you to respond to questions concerning your
written exam, including content from coursework related
to your written exam.
! You do not need to prepare a formal presentation; you do
need to be prepared to engage in a collegial conversation
with the faculty panel.
! The criteria the faculty will use to assess your responses
are the same criteria used to assess the written
component of the exam.

16. What is the format?
ORAL EXAM (PH.D. ONLY)
! A panel of faculty will vote on whether the student passed
the oral component of the comprehensive exam, and the
student will be informed of the result within 1 week.
! If the Ph.D. student passes the oral component, they
have then passed the entire comprehensive exam. If the
student fails the oral component, they must schedule
another oral defense within one month with three faculty
members – one of which is different from the original
three panel members.

17. !"
Strategies for Success

18. Answer The Question
! address every part of the question in your exam
! read the question carefully and identify all parts of the
question (read it backwards if it helps), only answer the
question that is asked,
! be deep focused rather than superficial and unfocused,
you can't cover everything 8-10 pages
Addresses the question comprehensively
WHAT FACULTY LOOK FOR…

19. Make a Strong Argument
! start the first day of comps with a outline and clear
argument, be clear about the logical progression of the
position you take
! leave time towards the end to reread, take a step back
and get perspective, and go back rewrite anything to
make sure your argument is clear, read out loud to
yourself as you edit
Takes clear position, using a strong, independent voice to
effectively organize and synthesize evidence to develop a
coherent analysis/argument
WHAT FACULTY LOOK FOR…

20. Organize Core Literature
! organize your course materials so they can be easily
accessed during comps
! identify what you consider to be "hot" articles -- that serve
as connecting points for YOU (maybe not someone else,
but you) -- you may or may not use them but it helps as
you prepare and write
Demonstrates in-depth understanding of core literature from
all/most coursework
WHAT FACULTY LOOK FOR…

21. Integrate High-Quality Sources
! spend some time thinking through connecting themes,
write them out, discuss them together in a group
! back up your argument with citations from literature from
core courses; no additional literature beyond the core is
required
Demonstrates skillful integration of high-quality, credible,
relevant literature; entire analysis synthesizes multiple
sources in support of ideas
WHAT FACULTY LOOK FOR…

22. Be A Strong Writer
! be a clear, solid writer
! use headings and subheadings; define terms
Follows APA 6 guidelines for cover page, in-text citations,
quotations, reference list; clear and concise writing style; free of
errors in syntax and grammar
WHAT FACULTY LOOK FOR…

23. Be A Strong Writer
! Papers should be prepared according to the APA style
manual (6th edition), including cover page, in-text
citations, pagination, headings, and reference list. An
abstract and list of keywords are not required. Papers
should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins and use
12-point Times New Roman. All papers should be clear,
succinct, free of grammatical mistakes, and free of jargon
and gender-biased language. Proofread all written work
and always cite your sources. Cover page, references,
tables, and figures are not included in the page limit.

24. !"
Some Final Tips…

25. Plan and Pace
! plan; develop a strategy that works for
you; how you will spend the 3 days writing
! pace yourself; set aside time for
relaxation and “fun” breaks
! mix it up; music, quiet, caffeine, the right
time of day, writing at a coffee shop,
varieties of tasks and locations for writing

26. “Baby Steps”
! set realistic goals at the beginning of each
writing session
! end each writing session by making a list of
what you need to pick up on “to get the ball
rolling” next time
! shift between “low energy” and “high energy”
writing activities as your energy ebbs and flows
! work in both long – and short – blocks of time

27. Find Your Happy Space
! create a productive space that you will
“enjoy” working in for 3 solid days
! put key resources for the day at your
fingertips; put everything else away

28. !"
Q&A