COLLEGE OF EDUCATION & HUMAN SCIENCES
Comprehensive Exam in Kinesiology (KINE 585)
Comprehensive Examination in Kinesiology is usually taken in the same quarter as the student plans to graduate, but other arrangements may be made under extenuating circumstances. The comprehensive exam in Kinesiology is a four-hour written exam that consists of two sections. The first section is focused on application and synthesis of content knowledge in the student’s master’s degree concentration (i.e., Sport & Exercise Psychology or Sport Performance). The second section is focused on application and synthesis of knowledge in research. Here are links to general study guides for the Sport and Exercise Psychology Concentration and the Sport Performance Concentration Comprehensive Exam.
All comprehensive exams will take place on Friday afternoon, during the 6th week of the quarter the student is enrolled. After the student completes the exam, faculty have 10 days to grade the exam. Two faculty are assigned to grade specific sections in areas of their expertise. Grading scale is 3 = A, 2 = B, 1 = C, 0 = D.
Students must earn an average of 2.0 or better on each section of the exam to pass. If a grade of 1 (C) is awarded by both graders, the student FAILS that portion of the comprehensive written exam. The graduate student will then meet with the graders to review their answers and learn how they could have been better. Once the graduate student has met with the grader(s), they will be scheduled to retake that portion of the written exam before the end of the quarter. If the student receives a PASS on the retake of the written comprehensive exam, they will successfully complete the comprehensive exam.
If a grade of 1 (C) is awarded by only one grader, the two graders will meet to discuss the grade and come to consensus on the final grade. If consensus cannot be reached, the Comprehensive Exam Coordinator will assign a third grader to review that portion of the exam and provide a tie-breaking grade. If consensus by graders is a grade of 1 (C), the student FAILS that portion, and then the student must retake the written portion of the exam they failed as described above.
The second comprehensive exam will also be a four-hour written exam but will consist only of the section(s) that the student failed in the first written exam. If the student fails the second written exam – with below an average of 2.0, they have FAILED KINE 585: Comprehensive Examination in Kinesiology and will be unable to complete the master’s program in Kinesiology. No third try will be allowed.
Please note that students pursing Directed Research (KINE 535C) or Thesis (KINE 551) will need to enroll in KINE 585: Comprehensive Examination during the quarter of their poster or defense presentations. These presentations will serve as the student’s comprehensive examination; therefore, these candidates will not be required to take the 4-hour written exam.
Please contact the Comprehensive Exam Coordinator for the Department of Kinesiology, Dr. Mu Qiao (mqiao@latech.edu), with any questions regarding the comprehensive exam process.