MSPA PhD Program, Comprehensive Exams

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Comprehensive Exams

Specialization Exams

Training in Methodology

Biweekly Seminar

National Defense Intelligence College Cooperative Program

PhD Comprehensive Examinations

Once each year, after the end of the spring semester, designated faculty members will offer a set of written exams testing students in three core disciplines: economic, normative, and political analysis of policy issues. The exam dates for 2008 are May 28 (microeconomics), May 30 (political) and June 2 (normative). These exams will be based on material covered in School courses, supplemented by additional readings. Examiners will provide supplemental reading lists several months in advance of the exam date. Full-time students will generally take these exams at the end of the first year; part-time students at the end of the second year. Students also have the option of taking fewer than three exams in a given year. In addition, students must fulfill the quantitative methods requirement by successfully completing and defending a research paper.

A student must pass all four comprehensives (economic, normative, political, quantitative), plus additional exams given in areas of specialization, prior to defending a dissertation prospectus and advancing to candidacy. A student who fails one or more of the comprehensive exams may retake these exams when next offered. But a student may take each component of the comprehensive exams only twice; a second failure in any area will lead to removal from the program.

2008 Reading List for Normative Analysis

2008 Reading List for Political Analysis

2008 Reading List for Microeconomic Analysis

2007 Normative Analysis (DOC file)

2007 Microeconomics Exam (PDF file)

2007 Political Analysis Exam (PDF file)

Rules for Fulfilling Quantitative Analysis Requirement

2006 Microeconomics Exam (PDF file)

2006 Normative Analysis Exam (PDF file)

2006 Political Analysis Exam (PDF file)

2005 Microeconomics Exam (PDF file)

2005 Normative Analysis Exam (PDF file)

2005 Political Analysis Exam (PDF file)

Electronic Access to the Required Articles

Spring 2004: economics, political, normative