Political Behavior - Examination Guide
Introduction | Field Requirements | Examination Guide | Faculty
Examination Requirements
A. A student majoring in Political Behavior must answer questions in the general area of Political Behavior and two areas of specialization defined in I.A. above.
B. A student minoring in Political Behavior must answer questions in two areas of specialization.
C. The Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations will have both written and oral components. Written examinations will be "take home", and are scheduled each semester by the Graduate Coordinator. Answers to the written component should be no longer than 15 double spaced pages (with normal margins and fonts) for major exams, and 10 double spaced pages (with normal margins and fonts) for minor exams. Organization and selectivity are important considerations in the evaluation of written exams.
D. The oral component of the examination follows the written component. The oral component will cover the same areas of specialization as the written component, but is not intended to be a repetition of the written exam.
Evaluation of Examinations
A. An examination sub-committee will write examination questions, administer the oral exam, and evaluate Ph.D. examinations in Political Behavior. Candidates will choose one member, and the Political Behavior Committee will appoint two, or (if appropriate) more members. The representative from Political Behavior on the candidate's supervisory committee will become chair of the student's examination committee.
B. The examination committee will work with the student prior to the examination to confirm areas of concentration, and otherwise counsel the student in preparation for the examination. This includes delineation of appropriate, detailed, specialized reading lists above and beyond the core list described in I-C above.
C. It is the responsibility of the candidate to arrange for the composition of the examination committee, and to consult with its members on a regular basis in preparation for the examination.
D. The examination committee prepares and evaluates the candidate's examination in Political Behavior, and recommends a final grade to the Political Behavior Committee.
E. The procedures for evaluating each candidate's examination are as follows:
- 1. Each essay answer and the oral component will be evaluated by each member of the examination committee according to the standard 4-point scale used at the University of Florida (decimal interpolations are possible).
- 2. Members of the examination committee then discuss each essay and the oral component, and arrive at an average grade for each question, and an average grade for the entire examination, again using the standard 4.0 scale.
- 3. To pass the examination, a minimum grade of 3.0 is required. Examinations receiving a grade of 3.5 or higher will be awarded a "high pass" on the examination. A grade of less than 3.0 is a failing grade.
F. The examination subcommittee will report the grade on the total examination to the Chair of the student's supervisory committee and the Graduate Coordinator.
G. A failed examination must be entirely repeated. A student may not repeat the exam more than once. Failure of the second exam results in termination from the program.
