General information about the REES MA Examination

Every graduate degree candidate at the University of Kansas must pass a general exam (in addition to the regular course exams) by the final date for meeting degree requirements set by the Graduate Division of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (these dates appear in the Timetable and in the Graduate School Catalog). The examination may be taken only during the semester of the student's final enrollment in course work and after other requirements have been met.

The M.A. General Examination in REES is given twice a year in October and March (a summer examination may be scheduled if necessary). The date will be announced and posted in the CREES Office. It is the candidate's responsibility to inform REES of his/her intention to take the examination in a given semester by the stated deadline and to make arrangements to be present at the time and place specified.

The REES MA Exam is three hours long. Candidates receive a slate of questions representing the five principal fields (Political Science, Literature/Culture, History, Economics/Business/Geography, and Philosophy/ Religion). They must answer one question from four different fields, writing approximately 45 minutes on each question. They must pass three out of four questions in order to pass the examination (the answers are graded pass/fail). A committee of three REES faculty members will read and grade the examinations. There is no oral exam. If the student fails the examination, he/she may take it again the following semester.

Each candidate will bring to the examination four small blue books (one for each question) and implements of writing. No other materials are allowed.

NOTE:
In the last semester of their study, students may be asked to take a Proficiency Examination for their target language. This examination does not affect the outcome of the General M.A. Examination in any way. The REES Program collects such statistical data as part of its own institutional assessment and evaluation procedures. The individual results of the Proficiency Examination are confidential.