Comprehensive Examination Policy

• Western Kentucky Graduate School policy stipulates that all students enrolled in master’s-level programs in the University must successfully complete a comprehensive examination as a culminating experience of their master’s-level studies. Individual academic departments within the university are responsible for the implementation of this policy.
  
• The Department of Counseling and Student Affairs provides CACREP accredited master’s-level programs in Marriage and Family Therapy and in Professional Counseling. The School Counseling master’s program is accredited by NCATE. The department also provides master’s-level study in Student Affairs, which is CAS compliant. In order to graduate, master’s students are expected to demonstrate mastery of theory, research, practice, and ethics/policy in at least one of the four practice concentrations/specializations in addition to the fundamentals of theory, research, practice, and ethics/policy pertinent to counseling and student affairs.
  
• The Department’s Master’s-level Comprehensive Examination is intended to be a fair and rigorous test of the student’s mastery of important areas of professional knowledge in (a) the fundamentals of student affairs or counseling theory, research, practice, and ethics/policy, and (b) theory, research, practice, and ethics/policy pertinent to the concentration or specialty in which the student is enrolled (i.e., Marriage and Family Therapy, Professional Counseling, School Counseling, and/or Student Affairs). The examinations require each master’s student to demonstrate the ability to interpret, apply, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and integrate concepts, ethical principles, policies, research, research design, strategies, techniques, and values derived from the student’s graduate preparation, readings, and practice.
  
• The Comprehensive Examination in the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs does not (necessarily) repeat or review specific content of completed courses; rather, it requires the student to utilize intellectual and applied resources of the relevant professional disciplines to solve problems posed in the questions asked.

• Students either must be in their final semester of academic study or have completed their studies (including practicum and/or internship requirements specific to students’ area of specialization) and NOT exceeded the six-year limit, as defined by the Graduate School, for completion of all degree requirements.
  
• The student MUST have on file in the Department Office and/or the Graduate Studies office:
  
  1. Form C – This form should be filed during the first 12 hours of course work. If the graduate school does not have this form on file by the completion of 12 hours, a registration hold will be placed on the student’s record. This hold will not be lifted until the Form C, with all appropriate signatures, is approved by Graduate Studies and is on file in the Graduate Studies office as well as the Departmental office.
  2. Form D – This form is to be filed between 12 and 21 hours of completed course work (The Graduate Studies office prefers that at least 21 hours be completed for master’s-level programs requiring more than 36 hours for the degree). If the Form D is not on file in Graduate Studies after the student has completed 21 hours, a registration hold is placed on the student’s record for the following registration term.
  3. Kentucky State Police (KSP) background check - A criminal check, TB test, and a health screening is required prior to any work in the schools. Additional information is available in Tate Page Hall 408. An original copy of a KSP background check must be on record in the Counseling Department before a student can enroll in Practicum. Forms are available at the counseling office in Tate Page Hall 409.
  4. EDFN 500 – This course must be completed prior to the semester you plan to take the comprehensive examination. The College of Education and Behavioral Sciences’ policy does not allow for exceptions to this requirement. Please consult with your advisor if you have questions regarding this matter or any others relevant to the successful completion of your degree.
  5. Comprehensive Exam Application–Written comprehensive examination applications can be obtained from the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs.
     
     The exam is offered three times per year: once during the spring, fall, and summer terms. Dates of the test are available well in advance. Therefore, students have ample time to plan their schedules according to the test date. Dates are set by the Office of the Dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences. Please refer to the CEBS Website for specific dates.
     
     Applications are due one month prior to the examination. Please follow directions on the application for the Comprehensive Examination to ensure that your application will be processed in a timely manner.

Guidelines for Completing the Comprehensive Examination

• All students will have the same amount of time and follow the same rules unless an exception is pre-approved and authorization has been received from the Departmental Comprehensive Examination Coordinator in consult with the appropriate Departmental faculty and/or ADA coordinator.
  
• Exceptions to the rules and procedures stated above will be determined by the Comprehensive Examination Coordinator, the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs, the policies of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences, and the Office of Graduate Studies.
  
• Form E - A report to the Graduate Studies verifying successful completion of the Departmental Comprehensive Examination is required. The Coordinator of the Comprehensive Examinations submits this form.

Also see: CEBS Policy on Administration of Comprehensive Examinations for the Master of Arts in Education