MLIS
- Comprehensive Examination
| Exam Schedule | Thesis
Option | Register for Comps |
For questions regarding the Comprehensive Exam, please contact: Ms. Linda Barajas barajas@sois.uwm.edu
WHAT IS IT?
Regulations of the UWM Graduate School require that all candidates for graduate degrees “demonstrate proficiency to integrate the knowledge of that discipline” in which they obtain a degree. The faculty of the School of Information Studies (SOIS) has determined that this requirement be met through successful completion of either a proficiency examination or a thesis. This FAQ deals with the proficiency examination, which consists of a list of approximately 8-12 questions that are distributed at the start of the Examination Period from which students select two questions to answer.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
The list includes questions from, but is not limited to, the following areas: Archives and Records Administration, Children’s and Young Adult Literature and Librarianship, Digital Libraries, History of Libraries, Computing, and Recorded Information, Information Architecture, Information Ethics, Information Law and Policy, Information Retrieval, Knowledge Management, Management of Libraries and other Information Organizations, Organization of Information, School Library, Media Technology and Services, Types of Libraries (public, corporate, medical, law, prison, etc. and other information settings).
Questions typically require students to draw upon content from more than one area in order to provide an adequate answer.
WHEN CAN I TAKE IT?
Students who have completed satisfactorily (minimum grade of B) the required core courses and in addition have completed 60% (21 credits for a 36 credit masters, 18 credits for a 30 credit masters) of their total coursework may take the exam.
Students taking the exam during the 2008-2009 academic year are exempt from the four core course satisfactory completion requirement.
HOW IS IT CREATED?
Questions are composed by faculty and staff and stress critical thinking or synthesis and connections across topics rather than a repeat of material covered in course work. Examiners may pose questions on emerging trends, unresolved questions or new applications. In short, having knowledge of “A” and “B” the questions prod students to seek “C”. The Proficiency Committee undertakes the responsibility for selecting the final form of the questions.
WHAT IS IT LIKE?
The answer must be typed or word processed, be a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 12 double spaced pages using Times New Roman, 12 point setting, excluding cover page and endnotes. MLA is preferred style unless the otherwise indicated. Indicate the citation style on the title page.
You are expected to substantially document your answer with reference to relevant scholarly and professional literature in any of the usual citation formats; your references are not counted as part of the minimum and maximum page limits. In addition to content and style, your grade on the examination is also based in part on spelling and grammar. Your answer should be exclusively your own work and, thus, you may not consult anyone else on the content, writing, or editing of the answer.
The exam is “take-home” but completed individually. Discussion of the questions or any part of a question among exam participants during the Examination Period shall be considered grounds for a charge of academic misconduct.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The SOIS online course management system is used to administer the examination (distribution of questions, submission of answers and posting of results).
The exam begins (questions are distributed) at noon Milwaukee time on the fourth Friday of the semester (fall and spring).
Exams are due at noon Milwaukee time on the third Monday after the exam is distributed. This period allows students over two weeks including three weekends to work on the exam.
Dates for 2008-2009:
Fall
First Day of Fall Semester Classes: Tuesday September 2, 2008.
Fourth Friday of Fall Semester (Examination Period begins): Friday September 26, 2008.
Third Monday of Examination Period (Examination Period concludes): Monday October 13, 2008.
Spring
First Day of Spring Semester Classes: Monday January 26, 2009.
Fourth Friday of Spring Semester (Examination Period begins): Friday February 20, 2009.
Third Monday of Examination Period (Examination Period concludes): Monday March 9, 2009.
If you have a disability and require special arrangements for the exam, you must notify in writing the Committee chair and the UWM Student Accessibility Center at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the exam. Any needed accommodations will be arranged with the advice of the Student Accessibility Center.
HOW IS IT GRADED?
Faculty will have approximately 2 weeks to grade the examinations. Every attempt will be made to post the results of the examination the third Friday after the Examination Period ends.
Grading is anonymous in that faculty do not know which student has written a particular answer. Likewise students do not know which faculty graded their answers. In order to accomplish this students are assigned and label their answers with a random numeric identifier.
Exams are graded pass-fail. In order to pass the Proficiency Examination both answers must receive a passing grade. In cases where a failed grade is given, the examiner shall include substantial reasons for the failing grade.
WHAT IF I FAIL THE EXAM?
By UWM Graduate School policy, you may take the proficiency examination twice. Thus, if you fail the first time, you may take it again. A student who fails the exam initially will be counseled by the student's faculty advisor. The faculty advisor will advise the student on the reasons for failure with respect to their answers and ways to overcome deficiencies. If you fail the second time, you do not receive a degree.
In addition, you have all the appeal rights detailed under “Appeals of Academic Decisions” in the SOIS Bulletin, and detailed in the Graduate School Bulletin. (Available at http://www.graduateschool.uwm.edu/students/policies/appeals-and-exceptions/#appeals.)
Existing appeal procedures and standards apply. However, Step 1 appeals requesting a re-grade of a failed exam (one or both questions) are to the Proficiency Committee sitting as a whole. Where a member of the Proficiency Committee graded the failed question then their place on the committee shall be replaced by an ad hoc member of the SOIS Executive Committee.
A request for a Step 1 appeal must be received by the Chair of the SOIS MLIS Proficiency Committee within 30 working days. The 30 working day period begins on the day the results are posted on the SOIS online course management system
ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS
Questions typically require not only that students present some general information learned in SOIS courses, but also that they present specific viewpoints, attitudes, and decisions based upon current professional and scholarly thought, practice and literature.
Students are expected to compose a well-organized and clearly articulated answer to the questions as asked, consistent with graduate level standards of composition. Students are asked to develop each argument with supporting information, placing a stress on why the question was answered as it was. References to appropriate and authoritative professional and scholarly sources of information are strongly encouraged. Faculty and staff who grade the questions in their areas of expertise, seek specific information.
STUDY SUGGESTIONS
In preparation students should consult recent scholarly and professional literature. Of course, review your class notes, textbooks, and other readings you may have done during your coursework.
Once the exam period has begun (the questions have been made available) there should be no discussion of the actual questions among students until the exam period is concluded. Such discussion shall be considered academic misconduct.
REGISTRATION
To register for the Comprehensive Exam, please download and complete the Comprehensive Exam Registration Form. Click Here>>>
Exam
Schedule - Please note: Comps are
no longer offered in summer.
Fall 2008 - 2009
First Day of Fall Semester Classes:
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 |
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Sign-up
Deadline |
Friday,
September 12, 2008 |
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Exam Period Begins |
September 26, 2008 (Fourth Friday of Fall Semester) |
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Exam Period Concludes |
| October 13, 2008 (Third Monday of Examination Period) |
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Spring 2008 - 2009
First Day of Spring Semster Classess:
Monday January 26, 2009 |
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Sign-up
Deadline |
Friday,
February 6, 2009 |
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Exam Period Begins |
February 20, 2009 (Fourth Friday of Spring Semester) |
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Exam Period Concludes |
| March 9, 2009 (Third Monday of Examination Period) |
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If you have a disability and require special arrangements for the exam, you must notify in writing the Committee chair and the UWM Student Accessibility Center at least two weeks prior to the beginning of the exam. Any needed accommodations will be arranged with the advice of the Student Accessibility Center.
**Available for pick-up in person, fax or via
our distance education web site.
***Submission accepted in person or via fax.
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