The comprehensive exam serves as a capstone experience in the MPA program. It is designed to provide students with the opportunity to integrate and to use the knowledge they’ve gained through their course work in the program. In special cases, an oral examination may be required in addition to the written examination.

Structure
The exam consists of four essay questions addressing themes and issues broad enough to permit students to use theories, concepts, principles, techniques, and/or examples from any of the courses they’ve taken in the MPA program. Students must answer two of the four questions.

Expectations
Students are expected to apply ideas (i.e., theories, concepts, principles, techniques, and/or examples) learned in the MPA program accurately and offer a reasonable argument defending their approaches to two of the four questions. It is recommended that students prepare for the exam by studying their class notes, reviewing the exams completed in their courses, and reviewing papers they’ve written in order to sharpen their understanding of important theories, concepts, principles, techniques, and/or examples covered in those courses. Students may form study groups to prepare as well. Discussing past exams with students/alums who have taken the MPA comps is prohibited and will be considered a violation of Villanova’s academic integrity policy.

Evaluation
The MPA Director and at least one other faculty member teaching in the MPA program will evaluate the exams. The MPA Director will report the results (pass or fail) to the Graduate Studies Office. The MPA Director will consult with appropriate faculty if any problems, such as accuracy, arise with the use of ideas from their respective courses.

Registration
Students sign-up for the comprehensive exam in the Department of Political Science (Office 202, St. Augustine Center). To be eligible to take the exam, students must have completed at least 30 credits (ten courses) and have a 3.00 GPA or higher. The exam will be scheduled for a Saturday in the Fall, Spring and Summer. Students must register for the comprehensive exam by the following dates:

• Summer 2009 - June 26
• Fall 2009 - September 15
• Spring 2010 - February 15

Future Exam Dates

• Summer 2009 - July 11
• Fall 2009 - October 31
• Spring 2010 - March 13
• Summer 2010 - TBA
• Fall 2010 - October 30
• Spring 2011 - March 13