In their last term, Speech@Emerson students participate in a capstone experience called Comprehensive Exams. This experience includes clinical problem-solving case studies that require students to synthesize knowledge and skills acquired during graduate school.  During week 7, students respond in writing to a Child Case and an Adult Case. Following grading of the written exam, students then participate in an oral meeting with their exam readers.  This oral meeting is a chance to review the written work and update responses after receiving feedback on the written work.  

Please know that your Comprehensive Exams (a.k.a. "Comps") are designed to act as a true capstone to your overall program experience. As a result, the entire program and all the case studies you've done in classes – as well as your clinical experiences – work as a cohesive experience to prepare you for Comps.

Additionally, CD604 - Clinical Methods 4 is built to specifically cover study strategies and tools to help students prepare for and succeed with Comps Exams.  

Some students find that they want to additionally prepare proactively in advance of this final term of the semester.  Some common advice from previous students, staff, and faculty includes:

• Gather and organize your resources throughout the program.  Consider each term what might be relevant to synthesize and retain to prepare for a written case study.  Students often find that gradually building on resources (e.g., an annotated bibliography or information about test protocols) is more rewarding than waiting to begin this process in the last term of the program.

• Seek out sample cases. Attend closely to case studies included as a part of the curriculum in various courses.  Many text books also include sample cases.  Cases can also be generated by small groups of students based loosely off clients you have met in your clinical practical.  Be careful to maintain HIPAA and FERPA compliance if building case study materials modeled after real clients.  

• Create a study group.  Find people with whom you've worked well in previous courses.  Identify your own strengths and weaknesses, keeping in mind that each student has a unique set of clinical experiences during the program and may bring knowledge and skills to the table that you do not have.  

• Remember that everyone organizes information differently.  You should remain an active contributor to your resource collection.  Passively collecting resources which were created by others will not result in integration of that material.  Pooled study materials are only as good as your comprehension of those materials. Each individual is responsible to ensure accuracy of the information shared within a study group and, ultimately, their own performance on the Comps Exams.

• Take a deep breath and relax.  Scores of students before you have accomplished this task.  Focusing on demonstrating competence with the material one course and one term at a time is a sure method to success.