1.2 Comprehensive Exam

By default, students entering the MSCP program are required to complete the comprehensive exam. Students can, however, choose to opt out of the comprehensive exam and instead complete a thesis.

What is the comprehensive exam?

  • A closed book essay test that covers all the material studied during the program.
  • The test is offered at the end of the Spring Semester during the second year.
  • The exam consists of a morning session (9AM-Noon) and an afternoon session (1PM-4PM).
  • During each session, students choose to respond to 3 of 5 questions.
  • Students are given a review sheet to facilitate studying for the exam.

How the comprehensive exam replaces the thesis

  • Students register for the exam by paying a comprehensive exam fee during the semester they take the exam (typically Spring of their 2nd year).
  • Students do not take PSYC 566 Thesis (3 units) in the Spring of their 2nd year.
  • As a result, students who take the comprehensive exams graduate with a total of 37-units instead of 40-units with the thesis option.
  • Students who take the comprehensive exam are also not required to take PSYC 565 Research Practicum in the Fall of their 2nd year. Instead, students can choose an elective course in consultation with the Program Director.2

  1. As noted below, students can intend to complete the thesis and take PSYC 565 and PSYC 566 but switch to the comprehensive exam for a variety of reasons. In these cases, students are still required to pay the comprehensive exam fee although they have already paid for thesis units.↩︎