UW-Madison School of Nursing
Ph.D. Program: Comprehensive/Candidacy Examination Guidelines

Purpose | Policies | Guidelines

Purpose of the Examination

The purpose of the comprehensive/candidacy examination is to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and synthesis in the substantive areas of the student’s doctoral program. The questions are designed to integrate knowledge from core courses in nursing, methods, ethics, the minor area of study and guided research. Successful completion of the examination advances the student to candidacy and signals readiness to conduct independent research.

Policies Guiding the Examination

1. Each student takes the examination at or near the completion of course work. Students should complete an "intent to write comprehensive examination" form available in the Doctoral Program Office at least 6 weeks prior to writing the examination. Specific requirements include the completion of:

   1. Required course work (see PhD Program Guidelines).

   2. Any grades of incomplete (I) or progress (P) in non-research courses,

   3. Graduate School PhD minimum credit requirement.
   

2. In collaboration with the major professor, the student selects a Comprehensive Examination Committee (CEC) to develop, read, and grade the examination. The CEC has a minimum of three and a maximum of five members who must have Graduate Faculty membership. The committee is chaired by the major professor. It is recommended that one member be outside the School of Nursing, e.g., from the minor area of study.

3. Based upon the student’s course work and research, and in consultation with the student, the CEC develops a set of questions that represent content: (a) from nursing knowledge, (b) from theories and methods of inquiry, (c) from the minor area of study; (d) from guided research and (e) bridging or integrating the substantive areas. The number of questions the students must write should not exceed six. Prior to the exam, the CEC will provide study questions and/or other means of assisting the student to prepare for the examination and will discuss the format and criteria the faculty will use in grading the examination.

4. The student will specify whether the examination is to be completed over two consecutive days for a maximum of six hours each at the School of Nursing or as a "take home" over a one week period. The availability of resources during the two day test period will be determined by the major professor.

5. The major professor, in consultation with each CEC member, will determine which exam questions that member will read and grade. Each question is graded by at least two CEC members, one of whom is the faculty that writes the question. Possible grades are: (a) pass with distinction, (b) pass, or (c) fail. The major professor obtains a ballot for the CEC from the Doctoral Program Office. A simple majority constitutes a pass for each question. A tie vote constitutes a fail. The results of the examination are conveyed to the student in a timely manner by the major professor. The major professor is encouraged to convene the CEC for a discussion of the results with the student or to provide a written summary of comments.

6. The student must pass each question to achieve candidacy. Any question on which the student receives a grade of fail may be retaken once. The major professor and the student will determine when the retake of any questions should occur.
   
   If a student has concerns about the evaluation or administration of the exam, she or he should consult the School of Nursing Appeals and Grievances Policy (http://son.wisc.edu/students/AppealsGrievances.doc) or the Graduate School Academic Guidelines.

7. The major professor is responsible for communicating the results of the examination to the Doctoral Program Office. Upon notification of successful completion of the examination, the Doctoral Program Office will send an official letter of congratulations and will file the Preliminary/Comprehensive Warrant with the Graduate School signifying the achievement of candidacy.

PhD Program Exam Guidelines

Existing and Evolving Knowledge in Nursing - minimum 6 credits required

Students enroll in a course in knowledge development in nursing early in their program. This course examines the history of the discipline, with emphasis on the evolution of debates regarding what is known and how it is known. In addition, students complete one of two population focused courses depending on their interests or backgrounds. One course focuses on patient-centered nursing research, the other on research in communities and systems.

Methods of Nursing Inquiry - minimum 12 credits required

Students complete a two semester sequence integrating content on interpretive and quantitative methods to address major research problems in nursing. Additional course work in statistics and advanced methods is required.

Research Ethics - minimum 1 credit required

N802 Ethics and the Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit) focuses on ethical issues in the design, conduct and reporting of research in the context of the nature of the scientific endeavor, the structure of the research community, and professional and federal guidelines for supporting scientific integrity and controlling misconduct. Doctoral students and post doctoral trainees from a number of disciplines enroll in this seminar.

Proseminar in nursing research - minimum 4 credits required

Students will take a one credit seminar each semester during their first 4 semesters. Students have opportunities to apply content and skills from course work and independent research in scholarly critique and debate and discuss expectations of the faculty/researcher role (publication, presentation, grants writing, service, etc.).

Ph.D. Minor - minimum 10 credits required

The purpose of the minor is to add breadth to a Ph.D. major. Students must complete a minimum of 10 credits as either an Option A Minor (10 credits in a single department/major field of study) or Option B Distributed Minor (10 credits in one or more departments).

Research/Dissertation Credits – at least 12 of the 18 minimum required credits

In their first year, students begin conducting research under the supervision of their major professor. Students continue working on their research throughout the program. In this process, students refine their own area of nursing inquiry, conduct pilot studies leading to the doctoral dissertation, present papers, publish research findings, and, most importantly, lay the groundwork for their own program of research.

Teaching and Learning - minimum 3 credits required

Students may select formal course work in the School of Nursing or the School of Education or complete an individually arranged mentored practicum experience