{"id":689,"date":"2023-03-24T00:02:55","date_gmt":"2023-03-24T00:02:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/fren-ital\/?page_id=689"},"modified":"2025-11-13T11:31:00","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T19:31:00","slug":"qualifying-examination","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/fren-ital\/qualifying-examination\/","title":{"rendered":"Qualifying Examination"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <h1 class=\"p1\">The Qualifying Examination involves three steps:<\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li class=\"p1\">the submission of a dissertation prospectus and bibliography,<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">a written exam on the proposed dissertation research and accompanying reading list, and<\/li>\n<li class=\"p1\">an oral exam.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p class=\"p1\">The prospectus is meant to introduce the topic of your dissertation and present the critical framework in which you will engage it. The prospectus should take the reader through the main argument that will be developed in the dissertation, outline the key texts with which the dissertation will be working, and explain how the dissertation will contribute to the field of secondary literature on the topic. Typically the prospectus is between 20 and 25 pages in length.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The bibliography lists the major primary and secondary materials referred to in the prospectus, as well as works that are more broadly relevant to the dissertation project.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">If the student\u2019s written examination is satisfactory, they may proceed to the oral portion of the exam, to be completed within sixty days of submitting the written portion to the qualifying exam committee.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The oral exam is a two-hour exam in which the student presents their dissertation prospectus and responds to questions from the qualifying exam committee about the proposed research project, the bibliography, and the written exam.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">The oral exam cannot be scheduled until drafts of both the prospectus and the bibliography have been approved by the Qualifying Exam committee chair and then circulated to the rest of the committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n            \n  \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--accordions \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--accordions\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      <div class=\"header-container\">\n\n                  \n<div class=\"f--field f--section-title\">\n\n    \n  <h2>\n          Qualifying Exam FAQs:\u00a0\n      <\/h2>\n\n\n<\/div>\n      \n      \n      \n    <\/div>\n  \n      <ul>\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-1-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-controls=\"section-1-1-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">When should I take the Qualifying Exam?<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-1-rXsUmKbAO5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-1-rXsUmKbAO5\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Qualifying Exam is normally taken in the first semester of the fourth year, and no later than the spring of that year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-2-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-controls=\"section-1-2-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">How will I be evaluated?<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-2-rXsUmKbAO5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-2-rXsUmKbAO5\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Qualifying Exam is, first and foremost, an opportunity to present the dissertation prospectus before a committee of five faculty members in order to receive feedback and direction prior to embarking on the dissertation.\u00a0Most students find this collective discussion to be an extremely helpful moment in their graduate careers.<\/p>\n<p>It is the responsibility of the student, working with the dissertation director, to assemble the committee for the Qualifying Exam.\u00a0This committee normally consists of the director, three other faculty members from the department, and one external member, chosen from another department or discipline.\u00a0You should begin assembling your committee well in advance of the exam, prior to the completion of coursework.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-3-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-controls=\"section-1-3-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">How do I prepare for the exam?<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-3-rXsUmKbAO5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-3-rXsUmKbAO5\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>In one sense, all of your graduate study is meant to serve as preparation for the Qualifying Exam.\u00a0 More specifically, you should dedicate yourself exclusively to exam preparation after you have finished at least 54 units of coursework.\u00a0Normally at this time students enroll in GRSC 800 (Studies for the Qualifying Examination).\u00a0There is no standard length of time for preparing the exam, but you should aim to take the exam as soon as possible after completion of coursework and successful passage of the French Field Examination, and no later than the end of the fourth year.\u00a0You should meet with your advisor as you are finishing up coursework in order to discuss the formation of your committee as well as directions for your research.<\/p>\n<p>The prospectus is meant to introduce the topic of your dissertation, but, more importantly, it should present the critical framework for your engagement with your topic.\u00a0 Moreover, the prospectus should take the reader through your argument, outline the key texts with which you will be working, and suggest the nature of your approach to the secondary literature on your topic. Some students are able to outline the precise chapter divisions of the dissertation at this point.\u00a0Others are not yet able to articulate the structure of the thesis, and here feedback from the exam committee can be particularly useful.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-4-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-controls=\"section-1-4-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">How do I go about scheduling the Exam?<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-4-rXsUmKbAO5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-4-rXsUmKbAO5\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>The Graduate School requires submission of the petition to take the Qualifying Exam at least 30 days prior to the exam itself.\u00a0Once you have a rough idea of when you will be ready to take the exam, the departmental administrator will contact all of the faculty on your committee and schedule a time and place for the exam.\u00a0Keep in mind that it is necessary to begin scheduling the exam well in advance of the 30-day limit; leave even more time for scheduling if you plan to take the exam at the beginning or end of the semester.<\/p>\n<p>The Graduate School requires submission of the petition to take the Qualifying Exam at least 30 days prior to the exam itself.\u00a0Once you have a rough idea of when you will be ready to take the exam, the departmental administrator will contact all of the faculty on your committee and schedule a time and place for the exam.\u00a0Keep in mind that it is necessary to begin scheduling the exam well in advance of the 30-day limit; leave even more time for scheduling if you plan to take the exam at the beginning or end of the semester.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-5-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-controls=\"section-1-5-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">What happens once I have passed the Exam?<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-5-rXsUmKbAO5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-5-rXsUmKbAO5\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>Once you have successfully passed the Qualifying Exam, you will be admitted to candidacy.\u00a0 You will then choose a dissertation committee that consists of three members:\u00a0 the director, the external member, and one other faculty member.\u00a0 Some students are prepared to make this choice immediately after completion of the exam.\u00a0 Others wait until a later date.\u00a0 Of course, you are very much encouraged to continue speaking with<\/p>\n<p>Once you have successfully passed the Qualifying Exam, you will be admitted to candidacy.\u00a0 You will then choose a dissertation committee that consists of three members:\u00a0 the director, the external member, and one other faculty member.\u00a0 Some students are prepared to make this choice immediately after completion of the exam.\u00a0 Others wait until a later date.\u00a0 Of course, you are very much encouraged to continue speaking with other faculty as you go through the writing process.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n              <li>\n          <button type=\"button\" class=\"accordion-trigger \" id=\"heading-1-6-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-controls=\"section-1-6-rXsUmKbAO5\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-disabled=\"false\">\n                          <span class=\"item-title\">I have further questions about the Exam. Who can help me answer them?<\/span>\n            \n                      <\/button>\n\n          <div id=\"section-1-6-rXsUmKbAO5\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"heading-1-6-rXsUmKbAO5\" class=\"accordion-panel\">\n\n                            \n    \n\n\n\n\n\n\n<div\n  class=\"cc--component-container cc--rich-text \"\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  >\n  <div class=\"c--component c--rich-text\"\n    \n      >\n\n    \n      \n<div class=\"f--field f--wysiwyg\">\n\n    \n  <p>As you begin to think about preparing for the Qualifying Exam, you can speak with your dissertation director, and the Director of Graduate Studies for the department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n            \n                      <\/div>\n        <\/li>\n\n          <\/ul>\n  \n  \n\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":76,"featured_media":4004,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-689","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - 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