Students in the CDB program take the comprehensive exam by the end ofhis/her second year of enrollment in the graduate program. To initiate the process, the student submits a one-page abstract and two specific aims on a topic, which can be related to, but not identical, to their thesis research project. This is submitted to the Chair of the CDB Curriculum Committee and the CDB Program Director and Education Coordinator. This is typically done by the end of the Spring 1 semester of the second year of study.

An Examination Committee is appointed by the Curriculum Committee, consisting of three faculty members with expertise in the area of the proposal.  The Examination Committee will be composed of individuals who are standing faculty members in the College of Graduate Studies and part of the Cell and Developmental Biology Program.  One Committee member will serve as Chair of the Examination Committee. The student’s Research Advisor is excluded from the Examination Committee. The Committee Chair will prepare a summary of the Preliminary Exam recommendation on behalf of the Committee to be part of the student’s record.

• The student will contact the members of their Preliminary Examination Committee to set the date of the examination.  This will typically take place in early to mid-March.
• The Comprehensive Examination has both oral and written portions.  The Chair of the Preliminary Examination Committee will meet with the student once a Preliminary Exam Committee is assigned to address any deficiencies raised by the Committee.

The written Preliminary Exam Proposal is to be ten pages, double spaced and use Arial 11 font and 1 inch margins. It should be in the form on a mini NIH proposal and include an abstract, two specific aims, significance, background, innovation, approach, research design and methods and predicted outcomes and alternative approaches section.

At the beginning of the Preliminary Exam the student provides a 15-20 minute presentation summarizing the goals of the proposal. This is followed by a 1.5 h oral exam by the Committee. Once the exam is completed and after deliberation by the Examination Committee, the student is notified of the outcome immediately: Pass or Fail. 

The student can take the comprehensive exam twice.  That is, if the student fails on the first attempt, he/she will be re-tested according to the Examination Committee’s directive. The outcome of the second attempt is Pass or Fail.  Failing the comprehensive exam twice results in dismissal from the program. 

Upon successful completion of the comprehensive examination, the student officially becomes a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. During the remainder of his/her tenure as a graduate student, the candidate's time is devoted primarily toward completion of the research thesis.

The Preliminary Exam Committee is a test of the student’s ability to pursue advanced studies in Cell and Developmental Biology.  Therefore, the student must be solely responsible for the preparation of the written and oral portions of the exam.

The student is not to be coached or receive help in preparing the proposal from their thesis advisor. The student and his/her thesis advisor must sign a statement to acknowledge their understanding of the process and the roles of advisor, faculty and peers. The student may:

Extensions of the Deadlines

For more information please contact the education office @ 215-955-9592 or sharon.egleston@jefferson.edu