Ph.D. Candidacy Examination
Our PhD Candidacy Exam is offered twice per year — during the first week of the fall
semester in late August and during the first week of the spring semester in January. Typically,
two of the subjects (see below) are tested in a four-hour exam on a Tuesday, and the remaining
two subjects are tested in a four-hour exam on Thursday that same week.
Newly-admitted students who have already completed a Master's degree are invited and encouraged
to take the exam as a diagnostic test. This optional taking of the Candidacy Exam does not count
against the two regular attempts allowed under our rules. Incoming students who have completed
only an undergraduate degree are also welcome to attempt the diagnostic exam if they wish, but this
happens very rarely.
For more details about the Candidacy Exam, please consult pages 8-11 of the
Information & Policy Guide for Graduate Students.
SAMPLE EXAM QUESTIONS
Last updated: May 10, 2008
