Comprehensive Exam Requirements and Guidelines

The Comprehensive Exam is due within three months of the submission of the approved Comprehensive Exam Proposal and annotated reading list.

The objectives, scope, and structure of the Comprehensive Exam must align with the approved outline developed for the Comprehensive Exam Proposal. While the Comprehensive Exam should heavily draw upon the annotated reading list, the student may include reading beyond what is covered in the list.

The Comprehensive Exam should include the following:

The introduction of the final paper followed by a logical ordering of the reviewed literature.
The synthesis and critical analyses of both theoretical and research perspectives of the problem, presented in a coherent, concise fashion.
Evidence throughout the paper of the relevance and developed arguments for advancing knowledge in the field of the social work profession and social welfare.
In the discussion section of the paper, the student articulates a theoretical model, theoretical framework, or conceptual model based on their critical analyses of the literature.
The conclusion section provides direction for future study of the problem area.

Format and Length of the Comprehensive Exam

The Comprehensive Exam should be no longer than 40-50 pages, excluding references.

The text should be formatted according to APA 7th Edition guidelines: 12-point font, double-spaced, left-justified, 1” margins on all sides.

In addition, the title page of the Comprehensive Exam must include the following statement:

“This Comprehensive Exam is an independent piece of work submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements to be met prior to formal approval of a doctoral proposal for a doctoral thesis in social work.”

The Comprehensive Exam should be carefully edited prior to submission. The student is encouraged to work with the Health Sciences Writing Centre, or may engage an editor for this purpose.

Submission of the Comprehensive Exam

The Comprehensive Exam is due on the specified deadline. The student will submit the final version of the Comprehensive Exam by uploading it on University of Toronto’s learning management platform, Quercus, by 11:59 PM in Eastern Time.

Winter 2025 Session Deadline: Monday, April 21, 2025
Summer 2025 Session Deadline: Monday, August 4, 2025

Plagiarism Detection Tool

Students are required to submit the comprehensive exam proposal, annotated bibliography, and comprehensive exam to the University’s plagiarism detection tool (i.e. Turnitin) for a review of textual similarity and detection of possible plagiarism. In doing so, students will allow their work to be included as source documents in the tool’s reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. The terms that apply to the University’s use of this tool are described on the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation website (https://uoft.me/pdt-faq). 

Students can upload their papers to Turnitin as many times as they wish to review their work before submitting a final version to the two assessors and the PhD Program Director. In doing so, students allow their essays to be included as source documents in the tool’s reference database, where they are used solely for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. Please notify the PhD Program office when your comprehensive exam is ready for assessment.

Use of Generative AI including ChatGPT

Students who plan to use generative AI tools in researching or writing their comprehensive exam must seek and document in writing unambiguous approval for the planned uses in advance from their supervisor. Unauthorized use of generative AI tools for scholarly work at the University of Toronto may be considered an offence under the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, and research misconduct as defined in the Policy on Ethical Conduct in Research and the Framework to Address Allegations of Research Misconduct. 

Assessment of the Comprehensive Exam

The supervisor and the second reader will provide the evaluation results and assessment reports within 3 weeks from the time of submission of the Comprehensive Exam unless otherwise specified.

The PhD Program Director serves as the Comprehensive Exam coordinator and oversees the process and implementation. The PhD Program Director assigns the final standing of credit (CR) or no-credit (NCR) after the supervisor confirms that the student has completed the requirements of the Comprehensive Exam.

The assessment criteria for the comprehensive exam include the following:

The logical development and presentation of the salient aspects of the selected topic.
The selection and use of relevant theoretical literature from a variety of knowledge areas and/or disciplines.
The critical assessment of related research literature.
The analysis and synthesis of conceptual material.
The articulation of a theoretical model which integrates the salient issues identified through the critical analysis of the literature.
Quality and organization of writing.
Relevance to social work practice, policy, and research.

Possible Results of the Comprehensive Exam

Assessment of the Comprehensive Exam is on a “pass/fail” basis.

Pass without changes
Pass with minor revisions
Pass with major revisions
Fail

Pass without changes.

If the student receives an assessment of passed “without changes” from both assessors, they have successfully completed the Comprehensive Exam. The student must submit the final version as a PDF to the PhD Program Director, who will submit the standing “CR” upon the receipt of the final PDF copy.

Pass with minor revisions or major revisions.

If one or both of the assessors evaluate the Comprehensive Exam as passed with minor or major revisions, the PhD Program Director will notify the student in writing that the student has passed the comprehensive exam with conditions, and that they must complete the revisions within the respective revision timeframes.

Pass with minor revisions – Revisions are due within 3 weeks from receiving the notification
Pass with major revisions – Revisions are due within 8 weeks from receiving the notification

The student should work with their supervisor during the revision process and receive the supervisor’s approval prior to submitting the final approved version as a PDF to the PhD Program Assistant and cc the PhD Program Director, who will submit the standing “CR” upon the receipt of the final PDF copy.

In these two scenarios, the student must file an Extension to Complete Coursework form if they cannot complete the revisions and have an unconditionally approved Comprehensive Exam paper by the time the grades are due for SWK8000H. Students will receive a temporary non-grade report (SDF; Standing Deferred) for SWK8000H once the extension request is approved by the PhD Director. Following the submission of the revisions, the supervisor is required to send an email message to the ACA confirming all changes have been approved. The student will send the final PDF copy to the PhD Program Office, who will catalogue the paper. The PhD Program Director will notify the student in writing that the student has successfully met the Comprehensive Exam requirement, and the PhD Program Director will submit the standing “CR” upon the receipt of the final PDF copy.

Students who fail to submit the final, unconditionally approved version of the Comprehensive Exam to the PhD Program Office following the above assessment options will not receive a credit and will not be permitted to proceed to the Thesis.

Fail

If the student does not pass the Comprehensive Exam (i.e., both assessors indicate a failing evaluation), the student will receive the assessors’ reports and an NCR grade for SWK8000H.

The student will have the opportunity to retake SWK8000H in the following academic session. Students are encouraged to work with their supervisor to revise the Comprehensive Exam Proposal as needed. Students may work with the same second reader or elect to change the second reader at this time. The student is required to enroll in SWK8000H and go through the steps to complete the comprehensive exam before the end of their third year in the program.

For students who write the exam a second time, if one or both assessors do not recommend approval on the second exam, the student will receive an NCR for SWK8000H and will be notified in writing by the PhD Program Director. The Faculty will submit a request to SGS for termination of the student’s registration for those who receive an NCR twice for SWK8000H Comprehensive Exam.

Comprehensive Exam Grading

This is a credit (CR)/no credit (NCR) exam. The grade standing will be submitted by the PhD Program Director. The credit will only be given when the final approved version of the Comprehensive Exam is submitted to the ACA. Students who pass the Comprehensive Exam but fail to submit the final version within the respective timeframe (i.e., 3 weeks for minor revisions, 8 weeks for major revisions) to the ACA will not receive a credit.

The temporary non-grade report (SDF; Standing Deferred) will be assigned to students who have an approved coursework extension. Students who are unable to complete the Comprehensive Exam during the extension period will receive an NCR for the course by the PhD Director unless there is an approved second coursework extension.

The Faculty will submit a request to SGS for termination of registration in the PhD Program for students who do not complete the requirements for SWK8000H after two attempts. The Faculty will also submit a request to SGS for termination of registration for students who do not take SWK8000H by the end of the third year unless there is an approved Extension to Achieve Candidacy.

Comprehensive Exam Extension Policies

Student should communicate with the PhD Program Director about extension requests for the submission of the comprehensive exam proposal and annotated reading list, the comprehensive exam, or revisions to the exam in advance of assigned due date and agree upon the extension length.

Coursework extensions can be requested for:

Non-disability related reasons: sudden/acute/temporary illness; emergency situation; religious observance
Disability related reasons: accommodations approved by Accessibility Services

For detailed information on extension requests submitted within vs. beyond the academic session, please go to the FIFSW Website for Coursework Extensions/Late Assignments.

Academic Appeals

Graduate students registered in the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) may appeal substantive or procedural academic matters, including grades, evaluation of comprehensive examinations, and other program requirements; decisions about the student’s continuation in any program; or concerning any other decision with respect to the application of academic regulations and requirements to a student (SGS General Regulations 11.1).

The purpose of Academic Appeals is to provide the student with a process of inquiry regarding grades received on assignments or exams while respecting the academic responsibility of the assessors. These procedures do not cover instances of academic dishonesty, academic misconduct, discrimination or harassment (see for example Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters).

For guidelines on how to submit an academic appeal for the assessment of the comprehensive exam, please refer to the FIFSW Website for Academic Appeals.