Ph.D. students are required to two examinations, the FYE and the comprehensive exam, before they take the qualifying exam.
First-Year Examination
The Ph.D. First-Year Exam measures students’ understanding of, and ability to, synthesize and apply core computational media knowledge (history, theory, research approaches, and evaluation methods) in a written format. To fulfill the writing and synthesis requirement students must enroll in CMPM 205, a 5-credit course. Passing the CMPM 205 course at a Ph.D. level will then fulfill the First-Year Exam requirement. CMPM 205 must be taken in the spring of their first year (third quarter, excluding summer quarters) unless students need additional foundation work before taking one of the core courses, in which case it may be the second year (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarters).
CMPM 205 is offered twice a year: in the Spring and Summer quarters. First year students must take CMPM 205 in the Spring quarter. Students who receive a U in the Spring quarter have another chance to retake CMPM 205 in the Summer.
If a student gets a U in the course after taking it twice, then the student has three options:
1.) Transfer to the master's program and complete a terminal M.S. degree.
2.) Withdraw from the Ph.D. program.
3.) Remain in the Ph.D. program and be recommended for disqualification.
Students are recommended for disqualification from the program immediately if they either (a) fail the course twice or (b) fail the course once and elect not to take the course again.
In extraordinary circumstances the graduate director may give a student the option of taking the CMPM 205 course without having taken the core coursework (CMPM 201, CMPM 202, and CMPM 203) during any quarter. Those who pass may complete the degree without taking the core courses.
Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination
The Ph.D. comprehensive exam measures students’ preparation to perform independent CM research. It must be taken (for the first time) no later than the end of a student’s second year in the program (sixth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Before taking the exam, students must have completed the preparatory coursework for understanding media creation and computer programming, as well as demonstrated an understanding of interpretive practices (Foundation Areas, as outlined above). The quarter prior to taking the comprehensive exam, students enroll in a 5-credit independent study (CMPM 297A) with their advisor to prepare for the exam. During the quarter in which they plan to take the exam, students enroll in CMPM 206 (a 5-credit course, usually offered by the CM graduate director each quarter) and a 5-credit independent study (CMPM 297A, usually with their advisor), and take an exam evaluated by advisor and graduate director (with another faculty member stepping in if advisor is graduate director). The exam itself includes two components, a literature review and portfolio:
- Literature Review: Reading a significant body of material in two or three depth areas of CM—from a list developed by the student, advisor, and course instructor—integrating it, and writing one or more essays about it.
- Portfolio: A portfolio review of CM projects, with (a) a detailed written description of the computational system-building goals and process of at least one project led (in this aspect) by the student and (b) a detailed written description of the media-making goals and process of at least one project led (in this aspect) by the student. The projects may be from during or before enrollment in the program, and the written descriptions may be of the same or different projects.
There are three possible outcomes of the comprehensive exam:
- Pass at Ph.D. level
- Pass at M.S. level
- Fail
As with the first-year exam, students who pass the comprehensive exam at the Ph.D. level are done with the exam. Students who pass at the M.S. level may elect to leave the program with an M.S., upon completion of all M.S. requirements. Both students who pass at the M.S. level and students who fail have the option to take the exam again, in a future quarter, not later than the middle of their third year in the program (eighth quarter, excluding summer quarters). Students who take the exam again may not decrease their outcome (e.g., a student who passes at the M.S. level in spring, then fails or passes at the M.S. level the next time the course is offered, retains the option of completing the M.S.). Students may only take the exam twice. Students are recommended for dismissal from the program immediately if they either (a) fail twice or (b) fail once and elect not to take the exam again.