After completing all required doctoral coursework, the student must clear two steps before officially entering the dissertating phase:
A. A series of five comprehensive exams
B. A thesis colloquim (see separate page)
The comprehensive exams can only be begun once all required coursework is completed (which includes all incompletes), and must be completed within nine months from that date along with the thesis proposal defense. There are five required exams:
Two faculty must review each of the first three exams. Each of the first three exams - Primary, Secondary and Methodology - should take one month apiece.
Although the word "exam" is used, in fact this covers multiple formats. In particular, one format is that questions and a reading list are arranged with examiners, and after a period of preparation, an exam of a specified time duration - 3 hours, 8 hours, etc. - is administered. Another format is actually more of an essay, where a research paper on a specified subject is written in consultation with examiners. In either case, the entire process must take precisely one month from the first conversation with examiners on the subject - to arrange reading lists or determine subject - to the final submission of the work in question. The language exams simply assess competency, and do not require additional preparation. A student should thus be able to complete the exams in four months of full-time work.
1. Primary Religion
The primary religion exam is administered by the professor(s) who specializes in that religion and with whom coursework in that religion was done. See the individual descriptions of particular programs for details, and consult with your adviser. In the case of "Indian Religions", which lacks a secondary religion, the exam exam will ideally consist of three discrete parts: two focusing on specific religious traditions under study, and the third addressing in some way the interaction among those religious traditions/communities in the Indian setting. Details to be worked out on a case-by-case basis with your advisor.
2. Secondary Religion
The secondary religion exam is administered by the professor(s) who specializes in that religion and with whom coursework in that religion was done. See the individual descriptions of particular programs for details, and consult with your adviser.
3. Methodology
The methodology exam is administered by the professor(s) who taught the two courses taken for the methodology requirement. This can be done in conjunction with the student’s adviser as appropriate.
4-5. Language Exams
The language exams are administered by the professors who teach those languages:
- Chinese: Groner and Hudson
- Japanese: Groner
- Sanskrit: Lang and Nemec
- Tibetan: Germano and Schaeffer
Students in African and Islamic tracks must consult their advisers regarding language exams.
For students using French or German as primary or secondary languages, the standard competency exams cannot be used in place of more difficult comprehensive exams in those languages - students must consult their advisers for details. Language exams may be taken at the end of the final semester of coursework before all incompletes are finished, but this must be the final semester of all coursework, and not simply the final semester of coursework in the language in question. Language exams do not require two faculty to evaluate them, since in some cases there is not a second faculty member with the necessary competency.
If required language course work is done in regular course work at UVA, an A in the final semester of required course work exempts the student from any further doctoral related competency exams. If the student does not get an A, then s/he must take a competency exam at some point after the final semester of required course work, and prior to the thesis proposal defense. If the coursework is not done in regular UVA courses, then a method for assessing competency must be worked out with the student's adviser.
As the time approaches, the student is responsible for contacting the appropriate faculty member to initiate the process of setting up the exams in a timely fashion. It is necessary to present a written schedule for taking comprehensive exams at the year end meeting of the final semester of coursework. The student should consult his/her adviser from the start to make sure that the correct faculty members are being consulted, and to set up an overall time schedule to insure timely completion within the nine month period (along with the thesis proposal defense). This should include a plan in which two faculty members will review each exam. In this context, it is important to keep in mind that professors are not expected to work on such tasks during the summer months. When the two faculty members have passed the exam, they will communicate that "pass" via written or emailed note to the graduate secretary.
The program adheres to strictly enforced standard time periods for each comprehensive examination, which specifies one month apiece for the primary religion, secondary religion and methodology exams. This means from the first meeting with the professor to discuss the content of the exam to the final submission of the required work, only one month may elapse.
At the conclusion of the final semester of required doctoral coursework (whether or not there remain incompletes to resolve), the student will be required to meet together with all HR faculty administering his/her comprehensive exams. In most cases, this will be done at the year end meetings with HR faculty. At this meeting, a "memo of understanding" will be written out with specific dates for the individual onset and completion of all four comprehensive exams, as well as the thesis proposal defense. The contract helps provide clear parameters for the student, and also protects them from unrealistic expectations stemming from him/herself or the faculty member in question. The student must complete all four comprehensive exams within eight months from the final month of the final semester of required coursework. If medical or other personal circumstances necessitate a delayed schedule, that should be factored into the contract. If such circumstances necessitate a delay beyond two years, the student should go on formal leave from the program.
The thesis proposal defense must be done with one month of completion of the comprehensive exams, meaning that the entire process must be completed in nine months at the outside. The adviser will be responsible for strictly ensuring this schedule is maintained. If a student fails to meet the schedule, s/he will have their registration put on hold; failure to complete within two years will entail being discontinued from the program.