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Examinations
Doctoral students at Texas A&M University are required to complete the following examinations:
- Qualifying Examination (Ed.D. only). At Texas A&M, each Ed.D. student
is required to take a departmentally prepared written qualifying examination prior to the
completion of 30 hours of doctoral work. Continuation in the program and/or any additional
required study is determined by the results of this qualifying examination. The examination is
composed of one, three-hour written examination (mandatory) and an oral examination (optional, to
be determined by the student’s Advisory Committee). A single essay is assigned and graded by the
student’s graduate Advisory Committee. All Ed.D. students must pass the qualifying examination in
order to continue in the program.
- Preliminary Examination (Ph.D. & Ed.D.). This examination is taken no later
than the end of the first semester after completion of formal course work and no earlier than when
a student has completed all but six credit hours of course work. The examination is composed of a
four session written examination (mandatory) and an oral examination (optional, to be determined by
the student’s Advisory Committee). Both components of the examination must be passed (or waived, in
the case of the oral examination) before the student may enroll for dissertation credits or initiate
formal dissertation procedures. The written preliminary examination consists of four three-hour
writing sessions covering the following topic areas:
Session #1 - History, principles, and philosophies of health education and health promotion;
Session #2 - Practical applications of health behavior theory and program planning;
Session #3 - Research methods, statistics, and epidemiological applications in health education
and health promotions; and
Session #4 - An elective area of concentration (e.g. sex education, worksite health promotion,
injury control, school health, alcohol and other drugs, safety education, etc.)
The questions for sessions #1, #2, and #3 are generic for all doctoral students. These questions are prepared by the Division of Health and Safety’s ad hoc preliminary exam committee. The questions for session #4 are developed by the student’s Advisory Committee.
Students may be asked to sit for an oral examination of their written work. The oral exam is designed to allow students to expand, clarify, and justify their answers.
How to Prepare for the Preliminary Examination
The purpose of the preliminary examination is threefold: first, to examine the student’s knowledge
of health education and health promotion; second, to examine the student’s ability to relate this
knowledge to the design, implementation, and evaluation of the health education and health promotion
programs; and third, to assess the student’s ability to build cogent answers based on the work of
other scholars in the field of health education and health promotion. With these purposes in mind,
listed below are some guidelines to help students prepare for the examination.
Review the key concepts covered in your Level I and Level II courses. Students should not
assume that the Level I and II courses provide all that is needed to prepare for the comprehensive
examination. Students need to expand the breadth and depth of their knowledge and be able to
apply key concepts beyond the scope of what is covered in class. The purpose of the both Level
I and Level II classes is to provide background information and provide a blueprint for self-study.
In other words, passing the core classes does not mean that a student will pass the preliminary
examination. Students need to show intellectual growth.
- Review material listed in Appendix B: Ph.D./Ed.D. Program Reading List. These
material will broaden your knowledge based in areas related to Sessions 1, 2, and 3.
- Be sure to gather, review, and file supporting documents and publications. You will be
expected to cite the work of others as you frame your answer Exact bibliography data will not
be required, but you will be expected to reference the work of scholars in the field.
- Worth with others. You are encouraged to:
- Study with others
- Share materials
- Consult with students who have taken the test previously
- Discuss key concepts with faculty
- Keep in mind that this is a criterion referenced exam. You are not competing with other
students.
The preliminary examinations (Sessions 1, 2, and 3) are graded by two members of the ad hoc Preliminary Examination Committee. Session 4 is reviewed by one member of the student’s doctoral committee.
The preliminary examination is offered three times a year as listed below and other times if warranted.
- 1st Thursday and Friday of February
- 1st Thursday and Friday of June
- 1st Thursday and Friday of October
Final Examination (Ph.D. & Ed.D.). Upon completion of the dissertation, the student defends the work before his or her graduate Advisory Committee. Faculty and students from Texas A&M University are invited to the final examination (also called the "dissertation defense") if deemed appropriate by the Advisory Committee. Students must carefully examine and comply with all Texas A&M University policies and procedures for final examinations related to the dissertation. Ed.D. students must comply with the guidelines regarding "Record of Study" requirements. Students must pass the final examination in order to receive the doctoral degree.