Comprehensive Examination Guidelines

What is the comprehensive examination?
When is the examination scheduled?
Who is on the examination committee?
What are the passing requirements?
What happens if a candidate fails?
What is the examination process?
What questions are used for the examination?
What are the criteria for evaluation?

What is the comprehensive examination?

All master's candidates must pass a comprehensive examination (commonly referred to as "comps") covering all coursework required for the degree in their field of study. The comprehensive examination is primarily an oral examination and it allows students to demonstrate mastery of coursework in their advanced practice specialty area. Emphasis is placed on demonstration of the relevance of coursework for practice. Students and faculty are encouraged to arrange multiple experiences in synthesis and application to practice throughout the program. Upon matriculation, the Director of Master's Programs will direct students to the Graduate Handbook of the School of Nursing for a description of the comprehensive examination process.

When is the examination scheduled?

Students complete the oral comprehensive examination during the last semester of their formal academic program. The examination is scheduled in accordance with the appropriate deadline shown in the University Registrar's Calendar. To facilitate the timely graduation of master's students, the Office of Academic Affairs in the School of Nursing will announce internal deadlines for the completion of comprehensive examinations and submission of paperwork that conform to University deadlines.

The oral comprehensive examination will be given two times annually: fall and spring semester. At the discretion of the program, the examination may be given during the summer session. At the beginning of the semester during which the examination will be offered, the coordinator in each advanced practice area will submit to the Director of Master's Programs a list of students who are eligible for taking the oral comprehensive examination.

The Office of Admissions and Student Services of the School of Nursing will review student records to assure that: (a) all incompletes have been removed and (b) all coursework for the master's degree in nursing is completed or final courses are in progress.

There are two exceptions to the above:

• Students may sit for the comprehensive examination prior to enrolling in the final clinical practicum if this is the only course they have left in their program of study.
• Students who are in the final stages of completing their research project or thesis may elect to sit for the comprehensive examination if they anticipate graduating in the subsequent semester. Students must be enrolled in coursework during the semester in which they participate in the comprehensive examination.

Who is on the examination committee?

Three members of the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Faculty in the School of Nursing administer the final oral comprehensive examination. At least two members of the examination committee must represent the student's advanced practice area. Two members of the committee must be regular (tenured, tenure-track or fixed-term with a regular appointment) members of the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Faculty. In special cases and with prior approval of the Graduate School, two of the examination committee members may be fixed-term members (with permission to chair research projects and theses) of the Graduate Faculty. One member of the committee may be a special appointee to the Graduate Faculty.

The chair of the committee must be from the student's advanced practice area and be a regular member of the UNC-Chapel Hill Graduate Faculty. With prior approval of the Graduate School, a faculty member who is a fixed-term member (with permission to chair projects and/or theses) may serve as chair of the committee. The Director of Master's Programs must receive a list of fixed-term faculty who will chair master's comprehensive examinations early in the semester that comprehensive examinations will be given to obtain prior approval from the Graduate School.

What are the passing requirements?

A student passes the oral comprehensive examination upon approval by at least two-thirds of the members of the committee. The vote of the committee is considered by the Graduate School to be final.

What happens if a candidate fails?

A master's candidate who fails the comprehensive examination may not take the examination a second time until at least three months have elapsed. A student who fails the examination a second time is ineligible for graduate work. No student may continue in the program or take an examination a third time without approval by the Administrative Board of the Graduate School.

What is the examination process?

The designated chair of the comprehensive examination committee will schedule a student informational meeting at the beginning of the semester in which comprehensive examinations will be offered to discuss the process and scheduling of the examinations.

1. Approximately four weeks prior to the oral examination date, students will be directed by the chair of the comprehensive examination committee in their specialty area to review the examination questions. The committee chair will instruct students in the intent or spirit of the examination.
2. The oral examination will be preceded by a written abstract of responses to the comprehensive examination questions.
3. Students will write and submit to the chair of the comprehensive examination committee an abstract of their responses two weeks prior to the date of the oral examination. The abstract will consist of a maximum of 500 words (two typewritten pages) for each question read. A reference list must follow the response to each question.
   1. Written abstracts will be evaluated as pass or fail by committee members at least one week prior to the oral defense. If there is a serious deficiency in the written abstract, students will be notified by the chair and asked to strengthen or clarify these written responses during the time of the scheduled oral defense.
   2. The oral examination will be held at the scheduled date and time. The chair will bring the required comprehensive examination form (see #5) to the meeting and conduct the examination session.
4. After the oral examination is completed, the chair will excuse the student from the room so that an evaluation of student performance can be made among committee members. The student will be notified of the results after the chair invites them back into the examination room.
5. If the student passes the oral comprehensive examination, the chair:
   1. Certifies the student has successfully passed by completing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School Master's Comprehensive Exam or Approved Substitute Report (green form). The chair signs Part II: Report of Oral Examination (Part I of this form should not be completed.)
   2. Collects all copies of the written abstracts from committee members.
6. Submits the forms (a and b above) and one copy of the student's written abstracts to the Office of Academic Affairs. Any other copies of the student's responses are to be shredded.
7. If the student fails the oral comprehensive examination, the chair:
   1. Certifies the student has failed the examination by completing the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Graduate School Master's Comprehensive Exam or Approved Substitute Report (green form). The chair signs Part II: Report of Oral Examination (Part 1 of this form should not be completed.)
   2. Collects all copies of the written responses from committee members.
   3. Submits the two forms (a and b above) and one copy of the student's written outline to the Office of Academic Affairs. Any other copies of the student's responses are to be shredded.

What questions are used for the examination?

The following questions are to be used across all advanced practice nursing areas. The committee can modify them in form. The chair of the committee must submit modifications in writing to the Director of Master's Programs four weeks prior to the scheduled examination.

1. Citing relevant theory, research and clinical literature, describe your practice area to a person unfamiliar with advanced practice in nursing. For example, how would you describe your scope of practice? With what health needs or problems do nurses in this area concern themselves? Discuss therapeutic interventions that define your practice area. What distinctive contributions do nurses make in this practice area?
2. What theoretical framework have you found to be most useful in your practice? Describe this framework and how it guides you in practice.
3. Identify a problem in your area of practice in need of nursing research. How can research be used to advance nursing practice in this area? What kinds of studies would advance nursing practice in this area?

What are the criteria for evaluation?

The oral comprehensive examination allows the students the opportunity to present and support the brief written outline of their responses. Therefore, questions are not to be changed during the examination.

Criteria used to determine student performance on the examination include responses that:

1. Demonstrate integration and synthesis of literature relevant to the student's advanced practice role.
2. Accurately represent theoretical concepts, models and frameworks that are used in an appropriate context.
3. Accurately portray the problems and therapeutic interventions in the student's advanced practice area.
4. Specifically address the questions asked.
5. Clearly and coherently communicate the student's point of view to committee members.