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MALAS Comprehensive Exam Option
updated January 15, 2012 (in beta)  Dear New and Continuing MALAS Graduate Students, As of Fall 2011, MALAS Graduate students have the option, once again, to pursue complete their MA requirements via a Comprehensive Exam--the Thesis/Project option is still viable as well. We often receive the question of "What's the difference between taking the Comprehensive Exam and the Thesis" and, in all honesty, the answer is "not much." We have had students pursue both the exam and the thesis with similar outcomes. If you look at the online catalogue of MALAS classes, https://sunspot.sdsu.edu/schedule/?dept=malas you might have seen these additions: MALAS 795. Studies in Liberal Arts and Sciences (3) Cr/NC
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. Individual preparation for comprehensive examination for students taking the Master of Liberal Arts and Sciences under Plan B. MALAS 799C. Comprehensive Examination Extension (0) Cr/NC Prerequisite: Completion or concurrent enrollment in degree pro- gram courses. Registration required of students whose only requirement is completion of the comprehensive examination for the master’s degree. Registration in 799C limited to two semesters. MALAS Graduate Students NOW have the option of taking a comprehensive exam each Fall and Spring semester. That's right: those of you who have been dreading writing a thesis now have a legitimate way to secure your MA without all the stress and logistical hoops associated with the MA thesis. Here's how it works: MALAS graduate students meet with the MALAS Graduate Director and select PLAN B Exam in their program of study--MALAS students who have already submitted a program of study with the Thesis option, can petition to move into the exam option. Next, MALAS graduate students register for MALAS 795--signing up for MALAS 799C is not necessary for most MALAS graduate students. The add-code is available from the MALAS Graduate Director. Working with the MALAS director and their graduate committee (already established for some folks; still in progress for others), the student identifies three areas where they would be tested with a short reading list (including works from the seminars they have taken as a graduatestudent at SDSU) for which they would be responsible. The comprehensive exam consists of questions covering three specific areas determined by your previous course work and research interests. For Spring 2012, the MALAS comprehensive exam would be given on campus Friday, May 4, 2012 from 8am to 1:45pm Exam Question I: 8:00am to 9:50am Exam Question II: 10:00am to 11:50pm Exam Question III: 12noon to 1:50pm Sample Case Histories CASE EXAMPLE 1 | Patricia Hernandez O’Connor Patricia Hernandez O’Connor has been taking courses in MALAS, Women’s Studies, and English for two years; working with the director and/or her committee, Ms. Hernandez O’Connor elects to be tested on: AREA 1: Women in 20th Century Literature AREA 2: Feminist Innovations in Literary Criticism and in Science AREA 3: Comparative Juxtapositions: Virginia Woolf and Zadie Smith CASE EXAMPLE 2 | Mr. Cedrid Q. Livingston-Ulabe Mr. Cedrid Q. Livingston-Ulabe has been taking courses in MALAS, Biology, and Political Science for four years; working with the director and/or his committee, and Mr. Cedrid Q. Livingston-Ulabe elects to be tested on: AREA 1: Literary Approaches to the Study of the History of Science AREA 2: The Politics of Scientific Research in the 21st Century AREA 3: Comparative Juxtapositions: Frantz Fanon and Stephen Hawking For their exams, Ms. Hernandez O’Connor and Mr. Cedrid Q. Livingston-Ulabe would develop with their committees and/or the Director, a substantive list of readings which would figure in the authorship of their questions; they would receive 2 (TWO) questions in each category to pick from on the day of the exam. There would be no outside research material allowed to support their work on the exam which would be administered in a conference room in the Arts and Letters Building, SDSU. These are just fictional case histories; each MALAS student taking the exam is unique. As is suggested above, the precise contour of the exam will mirror the student's area of coursework and research expertise. Yours, William A. Nericcio Director/Graduate Advisor | MALAS memo@sdsu.edu |