The purpose of the qualifying examination is to determine if students have the ability to master coursework: to analyze, synthesize, integrate, apply, generalize, and expand upon knowledge gained; and to write a coherent, scholarly narrative response. Students complete a qualifying examination during the end of the last semester of their first completed year (minimum of 18 credits) in the program. Students who are unable to pass the qualifying examination are unlikely to successfully complete the DSc program. Students are allowed up to 48 hours to complete the examination that will take place from noon Saturday (Central time) of final exam week until noon on Monday.
Students will answer questions based on the content of 2-4 articles, which the faculty will provide at least a week prior to the examination. The articles will relate to one or more of the DSc degree program courses students have taken up to the time of the exam. The questions will be broad enough to:
- allow synthesis, integration, and application of information from the articles and coursework; and
- require the student to demonstrate the ability critically think through a problem to respond to the questions.
Students will receive the examination questions 48 hours before the exam is due. Students may use any materials they like during the examination. All written work must be done independently and without the assistance of another person.
Faculty will assign a grade according to a grading rubric (below). Students will receive a copy of the rubric prior to the exam. Students must pass each question with a grade of C or above to pass the exam. The decision that a student passes or fails is based on the opinion of the majority of the faculty grading the exam. Faculty will inform students of the results within two weeks of the exam, unless notified otherwise.
If a student fails the examination, the student may rewrite the exam one time. The retake exam will take place prior to the end of the following semester. Students who fail the first attempt might or might not choose to register for the preceding semester and should discuss the options with their advisors. If a student fails the second examination, the faculty will recommend that the student be dismissed from the program. Students may appeal the decision by following the guidelines in the OUHSC Allied Health Student Handbook.
Qualifying Examination Grading Rubric
