Graduate Comprehensive Examinations

MA and MFA degrees: A final written examination (or "comps") is required before graduation. It is usually administered during the last semester that the candidate is registered. The examining committee will consist of at least three members of the graduate faculty, two of whom are from the String Area. It is the student's responsibility to register in the main office for "comps" at the beginning of the semester they intend on taking them. The student must then obtain the necessary signatures of each of their committee members (which are chosen in conjunction with Prof. Rutledge), and agree on topics for questions. Prof. Rutledge will serve as your committee chair. Topics should vary in scope and content. (Example: one question about string quartet history; one question about the history of viola pedagogy; one question analyzing a movement of a Brahms sonata.)

DMA degree: Requirements for the DMA "comps" are generally the same as for the master's degrees, except that for DMA "comps" the student must have 5 committee members submitting 5 separate questions, consisting of written or oral parts or both at the discretion of the String Area. Follow the guidelines set forth by the Graduate College, which can be found in "The Graduate Student Handbook." You can obtain a copy in the main office.