What are the preliminary exams (“prelims”)?

As a last step before attaining Dissertator status, you will take “prelims” in your final semester of coursework. The prelims consist of a Written Exam given by your Major Professor followed by an Oral Exam with your full DPRC. The prelims are a milestone to mark the end of your DMA coursework and assess your preparedness to embark full-time on the DMA Research Project. You can think of this as a “soft graduation” before starting your project. 

How do I prepare for my exams?

To prepare for the Written Exam, consult your Major Professor regarding the focus and intent of the exam question(s). To prepare for the Oral Exam, read through the papers/projects you’ve done, especially for courses you’ve taken with members of your DPRC, and be prepared to discuss your plans for the upcoming DMA Research Project. You may also consult your committee members to see what kinds of topics they would like to focus on during the Oral Exam discussion portion (e.g. teaching philosophy, performance techniques, etc.).

Fall 2025 Prelims Schedule

“PRELIM WARRANT”

This is the document that certifies successful completion of the pre-Dissertator degree requirements, minor requirements, and preliminary exams. It must be signed by:

1. All members of your DPRC
2. Your Minor Professor/departmental representative of the minor
3. Jess Johnson as Director of Graduate Studies

The Prelim Warrant must be requested no later than Wednesday, November 26. James Doing will coordinate the processing of your electronic Prelim Warrant. In order to request the Prelim Warrant, you must know the date of your Oral Exam, which will appear on the warrant.

PART 1: WRITTEN EXAM

The Major Professor determines the contents of the Written Exam and whether it will be given in a proctored setting (2-hour bluebook exam) or as a take-home. The exam should contain one or more questions that require a comprehensive response from the student, not to exceed what could be accomplished in a 2-hour proctored setting. Major Professors may consult Jess Johnson for advice on crafting the Written Exam.

Option 1: Proctored exam (2 hours)

The Major Professor will submit the question(s) to James Doing, who will coordinate with the student to schedule a time and location during the exam week. The exam will be written into a bluebook and returned to James. 

Option 2: Take-home exam

The Major Professor will send the question(s) to the student via email at a specified time, and the clock will begin on an exam window to be determined by the Major Professor (typically 5-7 days during the exam week). The student will send the finished exam directly to the Major Professor via email.

After the Written Exam has been completed, the Major Professor must grade the exam no later than Friday, November 21. The graded exam will be returned to James Doing in the Graduate Office, to be archived in the student’s file.

PART 2: ORAL EXAM

By passing the Written Exam, the student is given permission to hold an Oral Exam with the full DPRC. The student is responsible for scheduling the Oral Exam, which should be done well in advance of passing the Written Exam. You must notify James Doing of the exam date no later than Wednesday, November 26 in order to request the Prelim Warrant. Polling tools such as Doodle can be helpful: https://doodle.com/en/product/polls/

In preparation for the Oral Exam, the Major Professor will provide the DPRC members with the graded Written Exam and, using the Written Exam as a basis, will coordinate the development of questions for the Oral Exam. All members of the DPRC may contribute to the content of the Oral Exam, which will be a 2-hour meeting with the student.

The Oral Exam may be conducted in person, on Zoom, or in a hybrid format. All members of the DPRC are expected to attend the Oral Exam. If a member is not able to attend, they must still be willing to sign the Prelim Warrant.

What happens after prelims?

To finalize your Dissertator status for Spring 2026, the following actions must be completed no later than Friday, January 16:

• The Prelim Warrant must be fully signed by all members of your DPRC.
• All Fall 2025 coursework must receive a passing grade (B or higher).

Please note that you will not be given permission to add your Dissertator credits for Spring 2026 until these two steps have been completed. The Graduate School will email you separately to confirm your approved Dissertator status for the Spring 2026 semester.