Qualifying Exam Checklist

  • The semester before you plan to take the Qualifying Examination:
  • Declare two Fields of Expertise on which you plan to be examined by the Qualifying Examination Committee well in advance of the Qualifying Examination. The Fields of Expertise must be approved at least 4 weeks prior to your Qualifying Examination.
  • Complete a Dissertation Prospectus well in advance of the Qualifying Examination. The Dissertation Prospectus must be approved by your Dissertation Chair at least 4 weeks prior to your Qualifying Examination before needing to reschedule the Qualifying Examination to a future semester.
  • Run an Academic Progress Report in CalCentral to confirm that you will meet coursework requirements by the end of the term that you wish to take the Qualifying Examination.

  • Coordinate with your Qualifying Examination Committee to find a common date and time to hold the Qualifying Examination. Three hours should be scheduled for the exam.
    • The Qualifying Examination date must occur on or before the last day of the end of the Year 3 spring semester, as posted in the Academic Calendar.**
    • If this timeline is not met, the student must submit a petition to the GSAO for an exception to schedule the Qualifying Examination for a future semester. Exceptions are not automatically granted or guaranteed and will always require a written plan for progress with a timeline for completion.

  • You may reserve a room in Haviland Hall. To reserve a room, please follow this link. Please submit requests at least three days in advance to guarantee that reservations are approved on time.

  • Notify the GSAO of your exam date, time, and location.

  • At least four weeks prior to the exam date, submit electronic copies of the final (graded) Qualifying Paper, chair-approved dissertation prospectus, completed Dissertation Prospectus Chair Evaluation and Approval Form, and approved Fields of Expertise form to the Qualifying Examination Committee and the GSAO.

  • At least three weeks prior to the exam date, submit the Qualifying Exam Committee eForm (formerly the Graduate Division Application for the Qualifying Examination) via CalCentral.

Notes

**For MSW/PhD students, each milestone in the timeline is increased by one year. The QE date must occur on or before the last day of the end of Year 4 spring semester.