Fall 2025 Early Consideration Deadline: January 31, 2025
Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
The following is the comprehensive exam schedule for the current academic year. ELPS Cohorts are assigned specific semesters for the Comp Exam, depending on when the cohort has completed all course requirements.
Comp Exam Re-take dates are only for those candidates who have failed one or more section(s) of the Comp Exam during the same semester.
| Fall Semester 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Friday, October 18 (12:00 PM) Canvas access opens – Monday, October 21 (11:59 PM) Canvas access closes | Online Comprehensive Exam Weekend |
| Friday, November 15 (12:00 PM) Canvas access opens – Monday, November 18 (11:59 PM) Canvas access closes | Revise and Resubmits of Online Comprehensive Exam (if necessary) |
Any questions regarding Comps Exam policy may be directed to Dr. Ellen Edeburn, Asst. Professor ELPS Dept (ellen.edeburn@csun.edu)
Preparation for the Exam
- Comprehensive Exam Study Manual (.pdf)
- Comprehensive Exam Rubric (.pdf)
Eligibility for taking the Comprehensive Exam
Students must have completed all course work, or be in the process of taking their final courses, during the semester in which they take the comprehensive examination.
Notification of Passing/Failing
It takes approximately two (2) weeks for examinations to be reviewed and graded. Students will be notified via mail and grades will be posted on student transcripts according to University established deadlines. Students should not request a grade by telephone, e-mail, or by visiting the ELPS office.
Two Time Rule
Students may not take the exam more than twice.
- Students who fail the examination on the first attempt will have an opportunity to schedule a counseling date with an ELPS faculty member to discuss their failed exam.
- Failure of the second attempt of the comprehensive examination will result in the student’s disqualification from the ELPS Master’s/Preliminary Administrative Services Credential program.
- The first attempt is defined as taking the complete comprehensive examination prescribed by the ELPS Master’s program. The second attempt is defined as retaking a second examination on the entire program or, at the discretion of the department, a supplementary examination on any part(s) of the first examination that the student failed.
- The ELPS Department will file the result of each examination with the Office of Graduate Studies.
- Per University policy, once students have enrolled in, and/or attempted the comprehensive examination and failed it (or any part), they may not change to any of the Thesis, Graduate Project, or Artistic Performance options. *The ELPS department does not offer any other option other than the comprehensive examination.