The M.A. Oral Exam and Defense

After all three readers have read and approved the thesis as defensible, an oral examination will be scheduled. There must be at least two weeks between the date when the student schedules the exam and the exam itself. The exam normally lasts two hours, with one hour devoted to a defense of the thesis and one to the student’s mastery of the M.A. reading list.

Following the exam, the three committee members vote on the student’s performance. The committee may vote to pass or fail the student; to recess the exam so the student can revise the thesis and/or improve knowledge of the reading list; or to pass the student on the condition that s/he complete certain specified, minor revisions of the thesis or improve knowledge in specified areas of the reading list.

Normally the deadlines for scheduling the oral examination are:

• For December graduation, by the beginning of November, with the exam to be held by mid-November;
• For April graduation, by the end of February, with the exam held by mid-March;
• For August graduation, by mid-June, with the exam held by late June.