The Comprehensive Exam

Administered every January, passing the Comprehensive Exam is the first step toward PhD candidacy and is also the final examination for the MS degree without thesis.

Pass Policy

Outcome	Criteria
PhD Pass	Average score for the entire exam greater than 60. Score for each section greater than 40.
PhD Partial Pass	Average score for the entire exam greater than 60 with at most one section score less than 40. The student has the option of retaking that one section next year or they can elect to take an oral exam on that subject within two weeks. The examining committee will be appointed by the Chairman of the department.
PhD Failure	Average score for the entire exam less than 60.
MS Pass	Average score for the entire exam greater than 40. Score for each section greater than 20.
MS Partial Pass	Average score for the entire exam greater than 40 with at most one section score less than 20. The student has the option of retaking that one section next year or they can elect to take an oral exam on that subject within two weeks. The examining committee will be appointed by the Chairman of the department.
MS Failure	Average score for the entire exam less than 40.

 

Sections from Past Comprehensive Exams (1993 - present) (.tgz)

Topic	Action
Quantum Mechanics
E&M and Special Relativity
Classical and Statistical Mechanics
Special Topic: Optics
Special Topic: Astrophysics
Special Topic: Plasma
Special Topic: Solid State
Special Topic: Particle Physics
Special Topic: Atmospheric Electricity