Qualifying Examination

A Qualifying examination must be taken by students who: a) enter the Ph.D. Program without a Master's degree; or b) have a grade-point average (GPA) lower than 3.00 (B) at the end of spring semester of Year One. This GPA is based on grades received in EDP 610-611 and EDP 615.

The examination consists of two questions: one dealing with material from Core One (EDP 610-611); one dealing with material from EDP 615. The examination, which lasts four hours, may be taken either at RIC or at URI. It is a "closed book" exam, with no reference materials allowed in the examination room.

The questions are written and graded by the instructors who taught the students in EDP 610-611 and EDP 615. In order for students to remain in the Ph.D. Program, they must pass both questions on the Qualifying Examination. In addition, those students whose GPA is below 3.00 after spring semester of Year One (based on grades in EDP 610-611 and EDP 615) must raise their GPA in Program courses to 3.00 or higher by the time that they have taken nine additional credits in graded Program courses (this excludes EDP 641). Typically, it takes two semesters to accumulate nine (or more) credits.

• The same time limit applies at any point in the Program that the GPA has fallen below 3.00.