Comprehensive Exam Policy and Application

Please see section on Graduate Academic Polices for all graduate programs regarding progression.

All students in the PhD program are required to complete a portfolio-based comprehensive examination as a criterion for progression to PhD candidate status.

Submission and review of the Nursing PhD student portfolio represents our program’s PhD candidacy qualifying process for the recently-instated curriculum. This review provides the Graduate Faculty with an opportunity to acknowledge individual PhD students’ progress towards curricular and programmatic objectives, while allowing for provision of formative feedback and recommendations for further scholarly development. By looking across all the portfolios submitted in a given year, faculty can also identify aspects of programmatic policies and coursework that appear to be working well, and areas where further growth and curricular revision may be warranted.

The portfolio-based comprehensive exam consists of two stages, submitted at the end of the first year and second year of PhD study, respectively. Students pursuing a part-time plan of study should expect to submit a portfolio at the end of each academic year, until they have completed all courses associated with the PhD Portfolio requirement. In such cases, requirements of the portfolio submission will be adapted to just those courses the student has already completed. 

PhD students will assemble their portfolio throughout the year, according to guidelines provided by the PhD Academic Matters committee. Portfolio contents typically consist of an updated CV and annual progress report, key assignments from required coursework, and any other materials the student may elect to share. Second year portfolios include an essay prompt inviting students to reflect on growth over the first two years of PhD study. PhD advisors are invited but not required to submit feedback to accompany students’ portfolios. 

Portfolio Requirements 

Required components of the portfolio are defined by the PhD program mission and curricular objectives and informed by peer-reviewed guidance on quality benchmarks for research-focused nursing doctoral programs. Reviews are conducted holistically, applying a strengths-based lens focused on identifying areas of competency and opportunities for further growth and professional development. Students are provided with summaries of reviewer feedback following each annual review, including strengths identified, areas for further growth, and recommended resources.

Portfolio submissions should be assembled as a single PDF, according to the template provided, and submitted according to instructions circulated by the PhD Academic Matters Committee. Portfolios are typically due within 1-2 weeks of the end of spring term classes. Please follow instructions and deadlines provided by the program. 

Note: Portfolio requirements are subject to adjustments based on recommendations by the PhD faculty.

Portfolio Template 

Please include an APA-formatted coverpage with the title “PhD Portfolio – Spring 20XX” and the name of the student, year of PhD study, PhD advisor, and date. 

The table of contents should be formatted according to the year of study (see below): 

1st Year Students: 
  • Plan of Study/Progress Report....................................................................... Page # Start 
    (Does not need to be signed by adviser before submission)
  • CV.................................................................................................................... Page # Start
  • Evidence of a philosophical argument............................................................ Page # Start 9
    Suggested submission: final paper from N708 Histories & Philosophies of Science – Big Ideas in Nursing)
  • Review of the literature.................................................................................... Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: Review of Literature - Detailed outline with PRISMA diagram & matrix  from N709 Edgerunners: State of Nursing’s Scholarship, Research & Innovation
  • Individual and institutional positionality of researchers in the community...... Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: positionality statement from N711 Community-guided and Experiential Approaches to Research
  • Connecting theory with philosophy................................................................. Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: final paper from Nursing 712 Theory and Connections to Nursing Praxis: Putting Ideas to Work
  • Research Question & Specific Aims…........................................................... Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: Specific aims page developed in Nursing 713 Research Design I: Working with Accountability Partners to Define the Research Focus
  • Fundamental understanding of concepts of statistics.................................... Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: Structured Stats Critique from Nursing 714  Deductive Reasoning
  • Additional question (optional): How do you feel your first has gone? What supports were useful? What support do you need moving into your second year?
  • OPTIONAL: Any additional materials the students wishes to share which might help showcase accomplishments & growth over the past year
2nd Year Students: 
  • Plan of Study/Progress Report...................................................................... Page # Start 
    (Does not need to be signed by adviser before submission)
  • CV.................................................................................................................. Page # Start
  • Reflection Template...................................................................................... Page # Start
  • Articulate your philosophy of leadership and corresponding plan for continuing development of leadership skills.                                                                                          Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: Nursing 801 Leadership for Health Justice Leadership Philosophy Statement and IDP
  • Demonstrate qualitative thinking and inductive reasoning.............................. Page # Start 
    Suggested submission: Nursing 802 Inductive Reasoning Research Design Assignment 
  • Philosophy of teaching and learning.............................................................. Page # Start
    Suggested submission: Nursing 803 Create New Futures: Policy, Pedagogy, and Publishing for Impact Teaching Philosophy Statement
  • Implementing Research.................................................................................. Page # Start
    Suggested submission: Final paper from N804 Research Design II: Designing and Implementing the Research Study
  • Public Engagement Plan................................................................................. Page # Start
    Suggested submission: Nursing 803 Create New Futures: Policy, Pedagogy, and Publishing for Impact Public Engagement Plan Assignment
  • OPTIONAL: Any additional materials the students wishes to share which might help showcase accomplishments & growth since starting the PhD program

Evaluation of the Portfolio 

Portfolios are reviewed by a committee of the Graduate Faculty who are familiar with the nature and objectives of our program and coursework, using a holistic and strengths-based approach.  PhD students and their advisors are provided with a written copy of the committee’s assessment of the portfolio, including the committee’s overall recommendation, strengths of the portfolio, and areas for further growth with recommendations. PhD students are encouraged to read the Committee’s feedback in its entirety and to incorporate recommendations into advising discussions.  Annual portfolios are archived online in a password-protected folder that the student, advisor, PhD Program Assistant, Comprehensive Exam Committee and PhD Program Director have access to.

A three-person Comprehensive Exam Committee is responsible for refining annual portfolio requirements and evaluation standards. The PhD Program Director, PhD Academic Matters Committee Chair, and the Dean will finalize selection of committee members. The Comprehensive Exam Committee is typically composed of faculty who have recently taught the required first and second year PhD courses and must include at least one faculty member who has previously participated in the evaluation of the Comprehensive Exam. 

According to our PhD program policies for academic progression, outcomes of the portfolio review are: 

  • Recommendation for continued academic progression (1st year) or PhD candidacy (2nd year) OR
  • Referral to academic counseling with the PhD Program Director

Upon successful completion and passage of the second year portfolio, PhD students may refer to themselves as "PhD candidate." 

In cases where portfolio requirements are not met during the 1st or 2nd year, outcomes of academic counseling with the PhD Program Director will be decided on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the student, advisor, and PhD Academic Matters Committee. This may include development of a structured learning contract with additional course requirements to address identified learning needs, referral to other academic programs, or recommendation against continued academic progression in the PhD program.