Comprehensive Exam, Degree Portfolio or Final Project
All Masters degrees conferred in New York State must include a culminating experience. Depending on their programs, degree candidates are required to complete one or more culminating experiences as specified for the relevant program. SEE PROGRAM PLANS FOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.
Different programs require comprehensive examinations at different stages. Comprehensive examinations are offered twice a year, during the Fall and Spring semesters. For students whose graduation would be substantially delayed or who will be student teaching in the Fall, the examination may be offered in the Summer. Students must register for the examination by the beginning of the semester in which they will take it. Students who fail the comprehensive examination may retake it once and may be required to successfully complete the graduate education writing tutorial or other remediation approved by the program director or department chair before retaking the exam. Those who fail a second time will be required to substitute additional remediation, which may include coursework and must include a substantial writing component, and will be prohibited from registering for any other graduate education courses until this requirement has been satisfied. Students who fail the Special Education comprehensive examinations for the second time will be prohibited from continuing in the School of Education.
Final Projects in lieu of comprehensive exams, where allowed, will be due one month before the end of the semester of graduation. Students must register for final projects as they would for comprehensive exams. Approval of Graduate Advising and a faculty mentor are required. Students who fail a comprehensive exam once are not permitted to substitute a final project.
Culminating Experience Reports required for all Childhood programs and Science Education portfolios will be due during the semester prior to student teaching, except in limited cases where students have not completed all pre-requisite courses. Education Leadership portfolios are due in the final semester of the student’s program. The above portfolios are submitted electronically. Information can be accessed at https://mville.digication.com/home_guest.digi
Candidates in Teaching Languages Other Than English must also complete the Oral Proficiency Interview and Written Proficiency Test of the American Council for Teaching Foreign Languages, with scores of “Advanced-Low” or above. Candidates in Bilingual Education must complete the Oral Proficiency Interview.