Comprehensive Exams

1
Comprehensive Exams

• Department of Health and Kinesiology
• The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Last Revised 02/2008

2
Requirements

• Who can take exams?
• Completion of all core courses
• In final semester of study
• Fill out registration form
• Enroll in EDU 6961, if taking no courses in
  semester exam is to be taken
• Signed, final degree plan on file

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Purpose of the Exams

• Comprehensive exams are designed to evaluate the
  skills and knowledge you have acquired during the
  course of your graduate studies.
• They are an estimator of your ability to think
  critically, write for a professional audience,
  and form independent opinions supported by sound
  arguments.

4
Content

• What will be on the exams?
• Questions will include material covered in the
  courses you selected on your registration form.
• Hint Prior exams from your classes should give
  you an idea of how the questions will be
  formatted.

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Content, cont.

• What will the questions look like?
• This will depend on the instructor for the
  course.
• They can range from an essay, to interpreting
  graphs, to writing a scenario for a real-life
  situation.

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Questions

• Questions must be from KAH faculty members.
• They should be from courses that you earned a B
  or higher in.
• Only in special circumstances will non-KAH
  faculty be allowed to write exam questions for
  students.
• Non-UTSA faculty may not write questions for
  students.

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Preparing for the Exam

• You should start thinking about choosing exam
  questions in your second semester of study.
• Save your notes!
• Professors may give students a study guide of
  general areas that will be covered.
• Students will NOT receive the questions in
  advance-NO EXCEPTIONS!

8
Grading

• Students will be notified of results by both UTSA
  e-mail and by letter.
• Questions regarding exam results should be
  directed to Jessica Craig, Student Development
  Specialist.

9
Retakes

• Who is eligible?
• If you miss only 1 out of 3 questions, you may
  retake exams in the same semester.
• If you miss 2 or more questions, then you will
  have to wait until next semester.
• Students who fail comps twice in a row will be
  required to take additional coursework before
  attempting exams again.
• Thesis students are not required to take
  comprehensive exams.

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Contact Information

• Questions, comments, or concerns regarding the
  comprehensive exam policies should be directed to
  Jessica Craig at Jessica.Craig_at_utsa.edu.
• [phone]
• Students may view a copy of the exam policies on
  the department website at http//kah.utsa.edu/Prog
  rams/Graduate_Programs.htm.