Comprehensive Exams
Students electing to take comprehensive exams first choose three of the four general exam areas listed below, and then in each area chosen, elect one exam. (Click on the highlighted links for reading lists.)
| A | B | C | D |
|
Epistemology Metaphysics |
Ethics Social/Political Philosophy |
Ancient Philosophy Modern Philosophy |
Aesthetics Asian Philosophy Contemporary Continental Philosophy Latin American Philosophy Logic Nineteenth Century Philosophy Philosophy of Mind Philosophy of Language Philosophy of Religion Philosophy of Science |
Approaches to philosophy that cut across examination fields, for example, feminist philosophy or philosophy of race, are incorporated into the appropriate examinations. For example, questions in feminist metaphysics would appear on the metaphysics examination.
Students electing to take comprehensive exams must have already been advanced to candidacy and must be enrolled in PHIL 596 Comprehensive Exams, during any quarter in which they will take an exam. When enrolling in PHIL 596, please also notify the Director of Graduate Studies as to which exams you will be taking. Once you elect to take an exam, you must pass that exam; you may not switch from one exam to another.
Comprehensive exams may be spread over more than one quarter. Note, however, that no comps will be offered during summer term.
All comprehensive exams are scheduled on the Thursday and Friday of the 5th and 9th weeks of each quarter. Exams will be 2 hours each; which exam is given on which day of the week (and at which time slot) will be at the discretion of the Director of Graduate Studies (after consultation with all exam-takers). Each exam will ask the student to answer two questions (chosen from among several on the exam).
In the event that a student fails one or more comprehensive exam(s), those exams will need to be taken again in a future quarter.
Students should consult the Comprehensive Exam Preparation Guides for information about exam content and advice on preparing for the exams. In the event that an individual student needs more direction in preparation for a comprehensive exam than is available in the Preparation Guide, s/he should enroll in coursework in the area or in a directed study course (PHIL 598) with a faculty member in the area in which s/he is preparing.
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