Comprehensive Examinations

Doctoral students become formal candidates for the degree only after successful completion of the comprehensive examination and defense of the dissertation prospectus. The application for admission to candidacy for the degree is available from the Graduate School-Newark and should be submitted to the director of the Ph.D. program at the time of completion of exams and the prospectus. The completed form should be filed with the Graduate School-Newark office.

The comprehensive examinations in public administration are in two parts (theoretical core and research specialization). Comprehensive Examination I is given in January and June of each year. Comprehensive Examination II may be taken at any time after successful completion of Comprehensive Examination I as well as all relevant courses. The program recommends that students who complete all of their coursework on a full-time basis sit for part(s) of the examination at the conclusion of the spring semester of their first year, and complete examination II in their second year or as early as possible in their third year. All students (including those who have enrolled on a part-time basis for some semesters) should plan to complete the examination process by the end of their third year.

Comprehensive Examination I on Theoretical Core.
Upon completion of all five core courses (without any outstanding incompletes), students must complete Comp I, which covers content learned in core courses. The essay questions are not provided in advance. Comp I will be given only in Winter (January) and Summer (June/July). The dates will be announced in advance and should be taken as soon as possible after students complete all core courses. Comp I essays are generally graded by faculty members who teach in the core. Although rarely have there been academic integrity violations in the Comprehensive Examination process, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the academic integrity policy of Rutgers University.
Comprehensive Examination II on Research Specialization.
Upon completion of all of the relevant elective courses in their specializations (without any outstanding incompletes), the student should complete their second comprehensive exam (Comp II), which reflects knowledge the student has learned through his or her elective coursework. The exam takes the form of an essay, representing one of the student's areas of specialization. The exam is administered by the student's main adviser, a core member of the SPAA faculty (or if the student does not yet have an adviser, by a core SPAA faculty member with expertise in the specialization).
If the student receives a failing grade on the essay, an additional faculty member selected by the PhD director will be asked to read the essay and the student may be given one last opportunity to revise the essay. If the student still receives a failing grade, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program.