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Examinations

Graduate students at Texas A&M University are required to complete the following examinations:

1. Preliminary Examination (Ph.D. & Ed.D.).

The preliminary 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 both a written and oral component and is comprehensive. Both components of the examination must be passed before the student may proceed further in the program.

2. Final Examination (Ph.D. & Ed.D.).

Upon completion of the dissertation, the student defends his or her research before the student's Advisory Committee.  The "dissertation defense" is considered the final examination.

3. 30-Hour 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 dependent on the results of this qualifying examination.

Advisory Committee

The student's Advisory Committee will consist of not fewer than four members of the graduate faculty; one of whom must be from a department other than the student's major department. The duties of the committee include responsibility for the proposed degree plan, the research proposal, the preliminary examination, the dissertation, and the final examination. It is recommended that the student form his/her committee within the first year of study.

Dissertation

Each student completes a research Dissertation (Record of Study for Ed.D.) on a relevant topic.  The student works with the Advisory Committee during all phases of the dissertation project. Upon completion, the student much successfully orally defend the dissertation before the Advisory Committee.