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Comprehensive Qualifying Examinations

Written Qualifying Examination

The Written Qualifying Examination tests your breadth of biomedical knowledge, as well as your analytical and critical reasoning skills. It may be taken no more than twice. If it is not passed on the first attempt, it must be retaken by the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the exam was first taken. Failing the examination twice will result in dismissal.

This examination must be completed before the end of your second year in the program. It is offered three times a year, and the Center for Translational Science Activities (CTSA) predoctoral programs coordinator will assist you in selecting a date to take it. These courses must be completed before you take the exam:

  • CORE 6000 — Responsible Conduct of Research
  • CORE 6100 — Chemical Principles of Biological Systems
  • CORE 6150 — Genome Biology
  • CTSC 5000 — Overview of Clinical and Translational Research
  • CTSC 5010 — Clinical Research Protocol Development
  • CTSC 5020 — Regulatory Issues in Clinical Research
  • CTSC 5300 — Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology
  • CTSC 5600 — Statistics in Clinical Research
  • CTSC 5601 — Utilizing Statistics in Clinical Research
  • CTSC 5720 — Clinical Trials: Design and Conduct

The first part of the examination consists of short-answer essay questions that cover statistics, epidemiology, biochemistry and genome biology. The second part of the examination involves preparing a short proposal based on a translational research question that's outside of the student's area of research training.

Oral Qualifying Examination

Once the Written Qualifying Examination has been passed, the Oral Qualifying Examination may be taken. The CTSA predoctoral programs coordinator will assist you in selecting an examination date. All approved committee members must be present at the exam. Only one dissenting vote is allowed for a "pass" or "conditional pass."

In the event of a conditional pass, the specific requirements that must be satisfied by you will be listed on the back of the Oral Qualifying Examination report form. The examination may be taken no more than twice. If it is not passed on the first attempt, it must be retaken by the end of the quarter following the quarter in which the exam was first taken. Failing the examination twice will result in dismissal.

  • Committee. The composition of your Oral Qualifying Examination committee is determined by the CTSA predoctoral programs director, though:
    • There must be a minimum of four members from four different independent research programs
    • Three members, including the committee chair, must have full graduate faculty privileges
    • Two members must have graduate faculty privileges in the student's degree track (must be logged in to the Mayo network)
    • Two members must be designated by the CTSA predoctoral programs director as experienced examiners

  • Format. For the Oral Qualifying Examination, you'll submit a written thesis proposal and defend your thesis research proposal to the Oral Qualifying Examination committee. The proposal should summarize the goals, methods and rationale for the research project.

    The oral examination is composed of two or three parts. The first part is an oral presentation of your proposal, while the second part is a discussion between you and your examination committee regarding the proposal.

    If there were any conditional elements or weaknesses identified at the time of the Written Qualifying Examination, the committee may add a third part to the examination. This third part includes a wide-ranging discussion of either the area of deficiency or course work material covered by you during your first two years. You're notified after your Written Qualifying Examination about whether to expect this third component during your Oral Qualifying Examination.

  • April 20, 2012
  • ART535031