Ph.D. Comprehensive Examinations (2025–2026)

October 22 and 24, 2025

March 25 and 27, 2026

Doctoral Committee Submission Deadlines:

To apply for Comprehensive Exams for October 2026, please submit your application to the Doctoral Committee no later than Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

To apply for Comprehensive Exams for March 2027, please submit your application to the Doctoral Committee no later than Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

Please see the Theology Graduate Student Handbook (“Redbook”) for updated policies regarding submission of dissertation proposals.

Registration Instructions

for students preparing for and taking Comprehensive Exams. 

• THEO 0912 Requirement Prep. Register for THEO 0912 during the semesters you are preparing for Comprehensive Exams AND the semester in which you plan to take your Comprehensive Exams. 

• Once you have completed the oral component of your exams, the department will forward your paperwork to the GSAS office, and the deans will change the THEO 0912 registration to THEO 0930 to show completion of the exam requirement.

  • GSAS requires doctoral students to take and pass Comprehensive Exams within TWO semesters following the completion of coursework. 

  • Students must take and pass their exams within FOUR semesters of completed coursework to avoid dismissal from the program.

**All students out of coursework MUST fill out the Matriculated Student Status Form to maintain funding. 

Preparing for Comprehensive Exams

• In the fall semester of your SECOND year, you should connect with the faculty member you would like to have serve as your Dissertation Advisor.

• In the spring semester of your SECOND year, you will apply for your comprehensive exams, which will take place a year going forward from the approval of your application.

• You must have completed your language requirements BEFORE sitting for you comprehensive exams.

• Fill out the Comprehensive Examination Application Form. You will want to select your exams in consultation with your advisor.

• Your application will be reviewed by the Doctoral Committee, who will approval the application and assign examiners for each exam area.

• After you receive your approval and list of examiners, schedule meetings with your examiners to review your reading lists and potential topics for the exams. 

• In the summer after your second year, and during the fall of your third year, you will prepare to take the exams. A good rule of thumb is to meet with your examiners at least three times prior to taking the exams.

• In March of your THIRD YEAR, you will sit for your written exams and the oral defense of them.

** See the Theology Department's helpful Comprehensive Exam Preparation  webpage resources for further information.

Comprehensive Exam Reading Lists

• Scroll to the bottom of this page for quick access to the Fields of Study lists.