The purpose of the general examination is to test the students’ skills at being a consumer and producer of knowledge in the field of study. Specifically the examination will evaluate the student’s ability to synthesize, integrate, generalize, and expand upon all knowledge gained prior to the examination. According to the Graduate College Bulletin, “students should expect that material included in this examination will go beyond the subject matter covered in any individual course.”
For Nutritional Sciences Emphasis
The General Examination will consist of writing a grant proposal following the criteria and format of the F31/R03/R21 NIH grant. The content of the grant can focus on the same area of research that the student will focus on for their dissertation project, but is not to be their dissertation project. The oral portion of the General Examination is a brief presentation of the written proposal, which will be held after the written proposal is approved by the committee. During the oral component, there will be a rigorous question and answer session in which the student can display their ability to critically defend his/her hypothesis, overarching goals and methodology.
The student should apply for the General Examination when their course work is almost complete. A rubric will be available to the student prior to writing the General Examination. Students can meet with any General Examination Committee member prior to completing the written portion for consultation. The student will have a maximum of 12 weeks following approval from the Graduate College to complete the written portion of the General Examination. Students will meet with the dissertation advisor (who will have received feedback from the committee members) within 2 weeks of completion of the written portion of the General Examination to receive consultation and evaluation of their performance on the written portion of the Examination. Students can meet with individual members of the committee if so desired to discuss the written portion of the exam.
For Rehabilitation Sciences Emphasis
The General Examination in RS will consist of a written section and an oral section during which students will be given 12 weeks to complete. The General Examination is independently completed by the student. The student will be given all instructions and accompanying rubrics by which their examination submission will be evaluated. The written portion will consist of writing a literature review and a grant foundation-level proposal in their respective areas of interest. The oral portion is an opportunity for the students to provide verbal skills to demonstrate their comprehensive scientific knowledge related to their written examination as well as how they respond to questions posed by their respective General Examination Committee. The student should apply for the General Examination when their course work is almost complete as per the Graduate College Bulletin. A rubric will be developed to evaluate the written and the portions of the Examination. The same rubric will be used for all examinations and will be available to the student prior to writing the General Examination.
For Nutritional Sciences Emphasis and Rehabilitation Science Emphasis
The student will wait to apply for authority to take the general exam from the Graduate College until the written portion is completed and approved, so that there is ample time and opportunity for feedback and correction to the written portion of the exam. Within 2 weeks after consultation with the dissertation advisor, the oral portion of the exam will be scheduled, if at all possible.
Within 72 hours following completion of the General Examination, the chair of the General Examination Committee must submit to the Graduate College a written report signed by all members of the examination committee indicating whether the student passed or failed the examination. Copies of electronic signatures for committee members who have been approved to participate remotely will be accepted.
A unanimous report from the General Examination Committee is expected; however, on occasion committee members may dissent. If one committee member dissents the dissent is recorded. If two committee members dissent the dissent is recorded, a minority report must be filed, and the Graduate Dean will investigate and make the final decision on the General Examination. If more than two committee members dissent, the General Examination is judged to be a failure.
Successful Pass: Upon notification that the student has successfully passed their General Examination and a request has been made to the Graduate Dean for admission to candidacy, the student is eligible to enroll in Doctoral Dissertation research hours (AHS 6980). The student must be eligible for candidacy by the final date to enroll in order to enroll in dissertation research hours (AHS 6980) for that semester.
Failed General Examination: If a student fails either the written or oral portion of the General Examination the examination is considered a failure. Students have the option of taking a second Generation Examination if they fail the first attempt. The Chair of the General Examination Committee must provide the student with a critique of the failed exam; describe any further coursework, reading, etc. that the student is required to do prior to taking the second examination; and the proposed time for completion of the second General Examination. This must be provided as a written document to the student and a copy provided to the Graduate College Dean within 7 working days of the failed General Examination.
To take a second General Examination the student must submit a new Application for the General Examination to the Graduate College following the above procedures. The second General Examination must be scheduled no later than one academic year after failure of the first exam. Failure of the General Examination for a second time will result in dismissal from the doctoral program.
