Comprehensive Examination
Future testing dates
Fall: November 7-9, 2025
Spring: March 21-23, 2025
The exam is offered twice per year on the weekend starting on the first Friday of November and the third Friday of March (unless that is a major religious holiday weekend). Students have from 8:15 a.m. on Friday until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday to complete their comprehensive exam.
Required forms
- Educational Leadership Comps Registration Form (Ph.D)—Complete three weeks prior to the testing date. This document may be saved to your computer, completed on screen, saved again, and attached to an email.
- Completed Program of Studies Form—If you have not received a signed copy in the mail, contact your adviser and request they finalize and submit your formal program of studies (which lists all courses you are required to take as part of your doctoral work). This must be done prior to you being able to take the core comps.
The completed registration form must be sent electronically to:
Ben Holland, Administrative Assistant
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5283 USA
benjamin.w.holland@wmich.edu
Resources
These previously used comps cases are being provided as a service to students preparing to take the exam. Given that we have now moved to a take-home version of the comps, sample responses are no longer being provided.
- Sample comps "confirmation letter"
Received from the department office once registration form received, and eligibility requirements checked. - Comps Questions (updated version being implemented Fall 2023)
These scoring rubrics are used by the EDLD Comps Committee to independently and then collectively review your comp responses.