Published using Google Docs
_FAQ - PhD preliminary and qualifying exams
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

FAQ - PhD Preliminary Exams and Qualifying Exams

What are the PhD benchmark exams?

In addition to coursework, students in the PhD in Public Policy and Administration take two benchmark exams prior to admission to candidacy (at which point they may register for required dissertation credits), then successfully defend their prospectus and dissertation before their chair and committee, and finally must have dissertation document accepted by the Graduate School for ProQuest prior to graduation.

The steps below provide detail about when students become eligible to take the benchmark exams.

GRADUATE CATALOG: You can read more about this system in the Graduate Catalog (if you need a different year choose from the drop-down menu, upper right)..

  1. Complete four PhD core courses from among six courses 7000, 7130, 7220, 7230,7310, or 7410 (possibly plus some electives and 7140 Adv. Quant. Tech., depending on when the coursetaking started in the rotation) successfully. Successfully means no grades in core courses lower than a B; no grades in electives lower than C; TSU graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better (good standing).
  2. Pass preliminary exam (preparing based on the four core courses taken to date other than 7140; ).
  3. Complete remaining coursework successfully (including 7140 Adv. Quant. Tech., the statistics core course if not already completed).
  4. Pass qualifying exam (includes take-home written as well as oral components, including set of questions developed by chair and committee members, based on the topic the student is working on for prospectus, plus a general public administration question); passing means admission to candidacy.
  5. Now that student has been admitted to candidacy, they should begin taking the 12 required full-price dissertation credits (may take as many per semester as you want as long as you complete 12 prior to graduation); complete prospectus with advice from chair and committee. Student receives I’s (incompletes) for dissertation credits until the last step prior to graduation – approval of the final committee-approved dissertation document by the Graduate School for ProQuest.
  6. Defend prospectus successfully.
  7. Complete dissertation with advice from chair and committee. Once 12 full-price PADM 8110 dissertation credits have been taken, low-price continuation credits should be taken to stay in the system and maintain library access (check with PhD program advisor or department chair to make sure which section number is the low-price option to avoid extra charge).
  8. Defend dissertation successfully.
  9. Finalize dissertation document including any revisions required by chair and committee; dissertation document must pass the TurnItIn plagiarism check and/or any other academic integrity checks required by the Graduate School and/or department or chair. All publishing requirements of the Graduate School regarding document format must be met suitable for submission in ProQuest prior to a grade being awarded for the dissertation credits and completion of the program/graduation.


This is only a summary, all students must meet other expectations of the TSU Graduate School and department as detailed in the relevant Graduate Catalog.  

When are the PhD preliminary exams offered?

Upcoming dates are listed here.

The exam is offered once per semester (Fall, Spring, and Summer) and all students taking the preliminary exam that semester must take it on that day.

The exam period will be 8am - 5pm. It is taken virtually. Request detailed instructions from the Department chair prior to the exam.

When am I ready to take the PhD preliminary exam?

You are eligible to take the preliminary exam when you have been admitted to the PhD program; you have completed the program of study with your advisor; you have successfully completed four of the following PhD core courses with a B or better grade and no I’s outstanding (7000, 7130, 7220, 7230, 7310, or 7410); and you are in good standing according to program and Graduate School expectations (including cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0). You may or may not have completed PADM 7140 Adv. Quant. Tech. by the time you take the prelims, depending on the point in the course rotation when you started taking your classes – but that course’s content is not tested on the preliminary exam so it doesn’t count toward the four courses you need to sit for the exam.

You are expected to take this exam as soon as you are eligible and have prepared. You may not be permitted to take additional PhD coursework (including both 7000-level core courses and 6000-level electives) past the fourth core course taken among the six (7000, 7130, 7220, 7230, 7310, or 7410) if you have not taken the preliminary exam when offered and passed.  This means if you decide to wait before taking the preliminary exam given that you are otherwise eligible, because you want to prepare more or for any other reason, you must stop taking PADM coursework in the interval.

How do I request to take the PhD preliminary exam for this semester?

You complete a request to take preliminary exam form at the beginning of the semester in which you want to take the exam and submit it electronically to the PhD program advisor (scan and email).  If you requested to take the exam in a previous semester and did not take it after all, you need to request to take it again for the current semester.

What is the format of the PhD preliminary exam?

The format is "choose three out of six essay questions."  One essay question will be provided for each of the six eligible courses (7000, 7130, 7220, 7230, 7410, 7310).  You will choose three questions (of course, you should choose questions for courses you have had!) You must write an answer to ALL three questions to have your exam considered for grading.  You have nine hours total to complete the exam (including any breaks, lunch, etc.)  Sample questions are available online at this location. The sample questions are also linked from the PhD handbook directly, in Section VIII on Benchmark exams. The instructions below can give you an idea of the way the exam works.Please note these are sample instructions from Summer 2025. Adjustments may be made, and the controlling instructions are those you receive with your exam. You can ask the department for the current instructions in advance of your exam when you submit your request to take the preliminary exam form.

“Instructions:

·         Academic honesty:

By submitting my exam, I indicate that I have read and understand the above instructions, and agree to follow them.

Reminder: Answer your choice of three (3) of the following six questions with a thorough, well-written essay for each question. You must turn in three complete answers for the exam to be evaluated. You should choose three questions based on 7000-level courses that you have taken. You may not use generative AI in the preparation of your responses. Responses must be written in your own words, and you must explicitly cite literature from the courses you took.”

—end sample instructions for the prelim exam—

How should I prepare for the PhD preliminary exam?

Each person finds their own approach to studying for exams, but for success in this summative evaluation a serious effort must be made.  One recommendation is that students develop a study schedule and treat it like a "class" for themselves for at least the semester leading up to comps.  A study group may be beneficial.  However, there is no blanket recipe for preparation as each person's situation is unique -- for example, how much time has elapsed since they took the courses, how well they mastered the course material originally, etc.  Development of detailed tables and concept maps covering assigned and suggested readings, concepts, scholars, and theories are often part of the strategies used in preparation.  Sample questions are available here.

How are the PhD preliminary exams evaluated?

The preliminary exam is graded as a pass or failed attempt based on the one-day written exam only; there is no oral component.  Multiple faculty participate in exam grading each semester.  Faculty use a rubric to evaluate student performance on the questions on three outcomes:  accuracy & precision; critical thinking;  and writing quality.  The rubric levels below give insight into what characterizes different levels of performance on the different outcomes.  Each of the three questions answered must be evaluated as passing for the exam result as a whole to be a pass.

No course credit is earned as a result of passing the examination.  Exams are retained in students’ permanent record in the department.

What if I do not pass the preliminary exam?

Additional regulations governing how many times the exam may be retaken if failed are published in the Graduate Catalog. A student who fails the exam may sit for the exam in a future semester at the usually-administered time if that student is still within the number of retakes permitted by policy. Examinations are only held once each semester (Fall, Spring, Summer). After learning of a failed exam result, a student who is still permitted to retake the exam must request an appointment as soon as possible with the Department Chair to discuss exam issues, deficiencies and study plans -- this process is required in order to be permitted to sit again for the exam.  No student will be permitted to take any additional PhD coursework (including both 7000-level core courses and 6000-level electives) beyond the semester in which the preliminary exam is failed, until such time as he or she successfully retakes it if eligible.  

When are the PhD qualifying exams offered?

Students take the qualifying exams when they, their Chair, and committee members determine that the time is appropriate, given that the student is in their last semester of doctoral course-taking. Therefore, the timing of a given student’s exam is arranged between students and their committees. (This is different than the preliminary exams, which are offered to all eligible students on a single day during the semester.)

When am I ready to take the PhD qualifying exam?

You are eligible to take the qualifying exam when you have been admitted to the PhD program; you have completed the program of study with your advisor; you have successfully completed all of the following PhD core courses with a B or better grade and no I’s outstanding (7000, 7130, 7220, 7230, 7310, or 7410); and you are in good standing according to program and Graduate School expectations (including cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.0).

You are expected to take this exam as soon as you are eligible and have prepared.

What is the format of the qualifying exam?

See the Graduate Catalog for details on this exam in the PhD in Public Policy and Administration. The following instructions provided with the exam when administered also clarify the details of the exam process – please note these are sample instructions from Spring 2025. Adjustments may be made, and the controlling instructions are those you receive with your exam. You can ask your chair for the current instructions in advance of your exam when you schedule it.

—begin sample instructions for the qualifying exam—

“WRITTEN PORTION OF EXAM: You will have ten days (from a Friday to a Monday) to complete the written portion of the exam and submit it via email – your chair will give you the deadline date and time. If you have any clarification questions re: the exam, ask via email sent to your chair and copying the other PA faculty members of your committee as soon as possible after receiving the exam. Write full responses to all questions. You may conduct literature searches if that is indicated as appropriate for specific prompt(s), but bear in mind it is not our intention to have you spend a great deal of time doing library work, at the expense of reflecting on works already read for class or those provided with the exam and writing. Questions will typically advise you to draw upon literature explored in the PhD core classes; works which you have read in development of your dissertation topic interest; or specific readings may be provided. Use APA format for your in-text citations and references with the addition of including a LINK in the reference entry for every reference cited that was not provided with the exam, even if APA would not require it. That means, for example, if you cite a book, you need to include a link to the book’s record in the library or with a publisher or online vendor. You may include a reference section for each response or at the close of the exam, whichever is convenient, but it must be complete. You may allocate your time as desired across the exam questions, but you must turn in a complete exam for it to be evaluated.  Be mindful of your time and do not invest so much in one or two questions that you don’t complete the other(s).

Upon an initial review, the committee will develop a consensus written list of feedback points, which should be given additional attention in your reflection and study prior to the oral portion (this list may or may not represent a complete list of issues in the exam). Your chair will email you this list by end of day Monday (or adjusted point if holiday intervenes) after the exam was returned.  You will also be allowed to keep a copy of your written exam file. No additional feedback will be given either orally or in writing by any member of the committee, including the chair, outside of that written list.

ORAL PORTION OF THE EXAM: The oral portion of your exam will be set approximately 2-3 weeks after the due date for the written portion, considering your and the committee’s schedules. All students who complete the written portion go on for the oral portion, and the exam grade will be based upon both portions considered holistically. The content of the oral exam may be wide-ranging, touching on the points from the consensus feedback list; additional points or questions based on your written exam; or other areas of PA knowledge the committee deem appropriate as you have completed your coursework and are anticipating the proposal development process. You may refer to a printout of your original exam essays during the oral exam, but no other resources.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: As a doctoral student, you are expected to understand and adhere to the highest standards of scholarly writing quality, including how you draw upon sources and properly give credit. Any sources for facts, findings, ideas, words, or concepts – in short, ANY material not from your own mind – must be cited both in the text (author, date) and in the References section.  No degree of plagiarism, intentional or otherwise, including “patchwork” plagiarism even if the source is cited, is acceptable in your written responses. The exam will be examined with Turnitin prior to evaluation. The qualifying exam must be your own work, without assistance from any other individual. You may not discuss exam content with others during the exam period including other students, alumni, or other faculty.

GENERATIVE AI USE PROHIBITED: You may NOT use any generative AI tools (including but not limited to ChatGPT, Grammarly AI text generation, MS CoPilot, etc.) in the conception, preparation or editing of your exam responses; doing so will be considered academic dishonesty and can result at a minimum in a failure on the exam. Prohibited uses on this exam include but are not limited to brainstorming using AI; using AI to summarize assigned works; using AI to organize an answer; using AI to create answers to the prompt. You are NOT given permission to submit prompts from this exam, which are not your intellectual property, to any generative AI model. Dumping your writing into a generative AI tool to “clean it up” is also prohibited for this doctoral exam. Work must be produced in your voice as a writer, using your own intelligence — after all, that’s the intelligence you are seeking to develop by entering upon the journey of doctoral study, and the one whose products program faculty are committed to evaluate.

You may use the ordinary grammar and spellcheck features in Office to help proof your exam – you know the difference between that and generating text. Any evidence of plagiarism or other academic misconduct will be grounds for failure on the exam and additional possible consequences per program, Graduate School and TSU policy.

UNSUPPORTED CLAIMS ARE JUST OPINIONS – AVOID THEM: You are not being asked for unsupported opinions in this exam. Also, take note that normative declarations without an explicit subject and without evidence are simply your opinion – and will lower your evaluation just as an unsupported opinion that does have “I” as the subject will. Example, "It is important that..." is equivalent to saying "I think that it is important that..."; “The government should…” is equivalent to saying “I think the government should…”. Each claim made in your prompt responses, normative or positive, must be supported carefully with cited evidence from reading(s). Be careful to adhere to the prompt and pay attention to whether it is asking for evaluative claims at all, or solely analysis and/or synthesis. Reread the prompt as you work and when you have completed your response, to ensure you don’t inadvertently stray from it.

ABOUT THE EXAM:  The qualifying exam structure and questions are geared towards assessment of your mastery of the core literature in the subfields of public administration. The subfields not already explored in your choice of questions answered at the preliminary exam stage are considered in the development of the qualifying exam questions. They also provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to communicate, analyze, synthesize, and (if asked) evaluate complex abstract concepts key to the generation of new scholarly knowledge. The written portion is structured as a set of take-home essays, and you have had more time to grow as a scholar since the preliminary exam. Therefore, expectations for the accuracy and precision, critical thinking, specificity of references, and written expression shown in the written portion are somewhat higher than in the one-day closed-book preliminary exam. Furthermore, the questions developed for each student by the committee are meant to help advance your thinking in preparation for the dissertation proposal, given your topic area of interest – so that this process benefits your progress towards the next benchmark. The written and oral aspects of the exam relate to the professional expectations about scholarly communication competency for individuals holding the Ph.D. and serve as preparation for the proposal and dissertation defense experiences. Evaluation of the exam will be by question using the rubric included at the end of this document (conditional on absence of plagiarism or generative AI use problems). A score above 6 on a question is a pass. All three questions must pass to pass the exam. Initial scoring is conducted individually by the committee members based on the written exam, and scores by question may be adjusted up or down or left the same based on the oral portion of the exam, yielding the final results by question. The committee discusses results after the oral portion and comes to a decision.

By continuing to write and submit an exam, you are agreeing to adhere to the instructions above.”

—end sample instructions for the qualifying exam—

creation date:  2015.04.28

edit date:  2025.09.03