Comprehensive Examination (Master’s Degree)

1. A comprehensive examination committee is generally comprised of three to five members, at least two must be members of the UL Lafayette Graduate Faculty. In all cases, the committee must be chaired by a member of the Graduate Faculty. The UL Lafayette Graduate Faculty members shall constitute a simple majority of the committee.
2. Each candidate for a master’s degree will be required to demonstrate a general, comprehensive knowledge of a field of study. Each department, with the approval of the Graduate Council, specifies the means by which this knowledge is demonstrated. Examples are: a) a written and/or oral comprehensive examination; b) fulfillment of the requirements of an integrative (capstone) course; or c) overall performance on a set of core courses. Students should check the specific degree sections of this catalog.
3. A student’s success in fulfilling the comprehensive requirement will be judged, usually in the student’s last semester, by a committee approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. If an examination is required, it shall be administered by the committee which usually consists of the members of the faculty who are on the student’s advisory committee.
4. The student’s success or failure to meet the comprehensive requirement must be reported to the Dean of the Graduate School no later than the date specified in the schedule of classes for the student’s final semester.
5. The candidate must be registered as a student during the semester the comprehensive requirement is completed.
6. Satisfactory completion of the comprehensive requirement is determined by unanimous vote of the committee, except where the degree-granting department has specified in the catalog a different standard.
7. In instances where the Dean of the Graduate School is an official member of the student’s committee, the Chair of the Graduate Council is designated to receive the report of the committee.
8. A candidate who fails all or part of the comprehensive requirement must register in the Graduate School for at least one additional semester or summer session before being allowed a second attempt. No candidate will be permitted a third attempt.