PhD Comprehensive Exams for Old and New Testament
The PhD Comprehensive Exam is made up of:
- 1 exam that focuses on your primary focus (e.g., Pauline Epistles), 5 hours
- 1 'area seminars' exam, 5 hours
- Oral examination by the field committee
Comp Exam Schedule
- Last week in November and April (written) and Reading Week (oral). See the Academic Calendar or email support@wts.edu for the current dates. By registration ONLY.
When can I register for the exam?
During the regular registration period. Exams may only be taken after your language exams and your coursework requirements are fulfilled (it is okay if you are completing your final course(s) while you complete your comprehensive exam).
How do I schedule the exams?
You can register for the exam in Populi. If you have any issues or questions, contact Myranda Scherschligt at support@wts.edu.
The Student Success team will arrange for proctoring during each exam and deliver the completed exam to the Field Committee.
Exam Format
Written Exams
The first written examination covers the area seminars; the second written examination covers the student’s area of concentration in the canon. Each written examination will be five hours long.
The comprehensive exam consists of both written and oral comprehensive examinations and includes testing in the original language of that corpus of material which they have declared as their concentration. Students will be expected to translate and parse passages selected at random. It is strongly suggested that students decide early in their course work what their concentration will be and begin serious work on mastering that corpus in the original language.
Written exams are typed on a laptop in a quiet space in either the Library or Andreas Center, as determined by Academic Affairs.
Breaks are permitted, but the timer will not stop for breaks.
Oral Exam
An oral examination of approximately two hours normally will be given two weeks after the written examinations.
The oral exam can encompass the whole biblical studies curriculum, with particular focus on hermeneutical aspects. The starting point, however, is with perceived weaknesses or incomplete answers given in the written exams. Greater competence is expected on questions relating to the student’s area of specialization.
Aids Allowed
Greek/Hebrew Bible
Exam Preparation
Review your Comprehensive Exam Study Guide.
Students should be reasonably acquainted with the state of the art with respect to their area of the canon, being able to name key names and key positions. Comprehensive exams are also for the purpose of moving beyond coursework to synthesizing what’s been taught. Students should be able to defend their own hermeneutical convictions (e.g., evaluate form criticism, typological interpretation of the OT, or demonstrate how to interpret wisdom literature Christologically) and apply them in critical analysis of various scholarly positions, especially within his/her area of the canon.
In preparation for the the oral exam, it is permissible to review the questions and responses from the written examination, beginning directly after completion of the written exams.