Master of Public Policy

Final Master's Oral Examination:

A final examination is required of all master's candidates. The examination is intended to test the candidate's ability to integrate and interpret material in the major and supporting fields with emphasis on the work presented in the essay. The student should be fully prepared to answer any question from members of his or her committee as it relates to all course work to go beyond description of the concepts and engage in a critical discourse to demonstrate the student's critical analysis and reflection and synthesis of all course work. FINAL ORAL EXAMINATIONS SHOULD NOT BE SCHEDULED UNTIL ALL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE MPP ESSAY AND THE DEFENSE HAS BEEN SCHEDULED WITH THE GRADUATE SCHOOL (http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/current/forms.html).

The student should expect the final oral to take approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours. At the conclusion of the examination, the committee members meet in private, vote and return their ballots and examination cards to the Graduate School. The Graduate School officially declares the examination passed or failed and notifies the student, program, and department of its findings.

NOTE: Final examinations are open to the public. All faculty members and fellow students are encouraged to attend. During the oral defense, candidates will be addressed by their committee members and other appropriate faculty members only. Students and members of the general public may only observe the examination. Forms for scheduling the final exam are available at the Gradute School's Survival Guide: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad_school/current/forms.html

Failed Master's Oral Examination:
Should a student fail his or her first attempt at the final oral examination, a second, final reexamination may be held at the request of the student's program/department. A waiting period of three months between the first examination and the final examination is required to allow the student time to prepare for a successful defense.

Agenda:

1. Call to Order
2. Introductions
3. Purpose and Format of the Meeting
4. Public Presentation (approximately 20-30 minutes)
5. Open Discussion (aapproximately 15 minutes)
6. Visitors Asked to Leave and Committee Break (if necessary)
7. Review and Questioning of Student - Committee (this can include both the MPP Essay and MPP coursework)
8. Excuse Student
9. Discussions of Performance of Student
10. Voting on Performance of Student
11. Invite Student to Return
12. Announce Voting Results to Student
13. Sign Graduate School Approval forms

Final Examination Guidelines:

• The final defense is scheduled for 90 minutes to 2 hours (typically in the Sociology Conference Room, Fairbanks Hall)
• The Major Professor chairs the defense meeting.
• All members of the committee may ask questions.
• Interested visitors may be a part of the audience during the student's presentation of research findings. Visitors will be asked to leave while the committee deliberates.
• After the committee has completed its questioning of the candidate, the student is invited to leave the room while the committee deliberates.
• When the committee has reached a decision, the student is invited back to hear the committee's action. Actions available to the committee are Pass, Pass with one dissenting vote, Recess, or No Pass.
• Students are required to submit three hard copies of their final MPP Essays to the MPP Director for binding. In addition, each student will submit an electronic copy as well to be included in the Valley Library collection. All students will receive a bound copy for personal use.
• Examples of former MPP Essays are available for review in the Departments of Political Science and Sociology.