Candidacy Examination Procedures

Scheduling

1. The student, in collaboration with the advisor, sets the date and time for all portions of the examination.
2. The advisor (not the student) must schedule the room for the oral examination by contacting the Room Scheduler or by sending an email to the Student Data Manager requesting he contact them.

Written portion of candidacy examination procedures

1. The written portion of the Candidacy Examination is completed in a “take-home” format.
2. The written portion of the candidacy exam can be started at any point during the student’s academic progress. The exam consists of three areas:
   1. Philosophy of Science and Theoretical Underpinnings: The purpose of this section is for the student to present the topic of study for the dissertation, including:
      1. a brief discussion of the problem and rationale for the study; implications of the study for nursing (research, policy and practice);
      2. discussion of the theoretical or conceptual framework(s) that will guide the dissertation research including an overview of the theoretical or conceptual framework(s);
      3. an analysis of how knowledge can be developed using the identified theoretical/conceptual model(s), and
      4. a description of the benefits and limitations of knowledge generation of the specific area of research through the use of the identified theoretical/conceptual model(s).
   2. Literature Review: The purpose of this section is for the student to conduct an integrative literature review on the dissertation topic including both quantitative and qualitative research as is available on the topic.
   3. Methods and Measurement: The purpose of this section is for the student to present and discuss in detail the design of the dissertation research including:
      1. the rationale for the design, strengths and limitations;
      2. consideration for the vulnerabilities of the target population, including the investigator role as the researcher;
      3. sampling strategy and rationale;
      4. study setting and plans to gain entrance and conduct research in the setting;
      5. measures for the study; and
      6. the analysis plan.

The student will write the exam using each of the major headings and subheadings above to organize the response. Written examinations should be no longer than 30 pages total excluding references and select tables. No supplemental materials are allowed. Exams must be prepared in 11 font with 1 inch margins; all text should be double spaced. Pages must be numbered. Style format should be approved by the candidacy advisor. Candidacy committee members may request a print copy of the examination.

The completed written portion must be submitted to the candidacy committee within 2 weeks of the scheduled oral examination. A copy of the exam (unbound print copy or in electronic form such as PDF) must also be submitted to the Student Data Manager in Newton Hall for the College of Nursing’s archives.

Oral portion of the candidacy examination procedures

1. The oral portion, which lasts approximately two hours, is held after completion of the written portion.
2. The oral portion must be held within one month of completion of the written portion
3. The Graduate School must be notified at least two weeks in advance of the oral exam’s proposed time and place by the submission and APPROVAL of the Application for Candidacy Examination form.
4. After the Candidacy Examination Committee has been confirmed by the Graduate School, the Report on Candidacy form is generated electronically for access by the student’s adviser (Chair of the Advisory Committee).

Candidacy examination evaluation

The Candidacy Exam is evaluated on the basis of comprehension of the field, allied areas of study, and thoroughness. The decision about the outcome of the candidacy exam is reached in the absence of the student. After discussion, a decision of satisfactory or unsatisfactory is reached by means of a vote. Each examiner indicates judgment by logging into gradforms.osu.edu and electronically completing the Report on Candidacy Examination form that must be submitted to the Graduate School. A unanimous affirmative vote is required to receive a satisfactory and successfully pass the candidacy examination. If the vote is unsatisfactory, the committee must decide whether the student will be permitted to take a second candidacy examination and must record that decision on the Report on Candidacy Examination form.

Procedures for a second candidacy examination, failure and review are available in the Graduate School handbook.