In accordance with policies of the NCSU Graduate School, all MLA students take an Oral Examination in the final semester of their matriculation. The exam process and questions are written and administered by the faculty of the Department. This exam is intended to test the students’ understanding and
competence in application situations requiring critical design thinking processes. Responsibility for implementation and compliance of the Oral Examination with the NCSU Graduate School resides with the Director of the LAR Graduate Program (DGP).
The Oral Examination consists of two parts: Presentation and Defense.
1
Presentation
Typically, the exam consists of two questions. The questions are prepared by the LAR Graduate faculty and distributed to the students approximately 30 days in advance of the presentation. The questions expect students to reflect upon, apply, and communicate a significant body of knowledge and skills learned during their tenure as graduate students in the MLA program.
The presentation is public meaning faculty, students, and others are welcome to observe. The exam presentation is formal in the sense that the student is expected to give a verbal and graphic presentation that responds to each of the 2 questions, and stand for questions and comments from the assigned landscape architecture graduate faculty Advisory Committee. Students are given 10 minutes to respond verbally and graphically to each of the 2 questions.
LAR Graduate Advisory Committee consists of three or more Graduate Faculty members who are
appointed by the LAR Director of the Graduate Program (DGP). In the event a student concurrently seeks a minor in another discipline, one member of the Graduate Advisory Committee must represent that discipline.
2
Defense
Following this presentation, students are given up to 20 minutes to respond to questions and comments delivered by the LAR Graduate Advisory Committee and others attending the Oral Examination.
3
Grading
Upon conclusion of the Oral Examination the LAR Graduate Advisory Committee convenes to discuss and grade the examination. The LAR DGP then informs the student about their exam performance and completes and transmits all required documentation and forms to the NCSU Graduate School for processing. Please read, below, paragraphs “b” through “d” that explanis grading policies and procedures as set forth by the NCSU Graduate School.
Format of the exam. Candidates for Master's degrees must pass a comprehensive oral examination to demonstrate to the advisory committee that he/she possesses a reasonable mastery of the subject matter of the major and minor fields and that this knowledge can be used with promptness and accuracy. The Graduate advisory committee of three or more Graduate Faculty members is appointed by the DGP. In the event a student concurrently seeks a minor in another discipline, one member of the Graduate advisory committee must represent that discipline.
This examination may not be held until all other requirements, except completion of the course work taken during the final semester, are satisfied. After obtaining DGP approval, a student must file a Request
for a Permit to Schedule the Master's Oral Examination with the Dean of the Graduate School only after the above conditions are met.
Passing the oral examination. The Graduate School will determine whether the advisory committee and the courses taken by the student meet Graduate School requirements. If all requirements are met, the Request for a Permit to Schedule the Master's Oral Examination will be granted and a permit, entitled Admission to the Final Master's Oral Examination, will be forwarded to the DGP within 10 working days of receipt of the request. Upon receipt of this permit, the student may proceed to schedule the exam at a time that is agreed upon by all members of the advisory committee.
Within five (5) working days of completing the exam, the student's DGP must forward a permit form (Admission to the Final Master's Oral Examination) that displays the date that the exam was conducted, the result of the examination and the signatures of all advisory committee members to the Dean of the Graduate School. A unanimous vote of approval of the advisory committee is required for passing the oral examination.
Conditional Pass. Students may get a 'conditional pass' contingent upon completion of additional work to the satisfaction of the advisory committee. A formal re-examination will not be required in this case. The DGP must notify the Graduate School when the conditions of the pass have been removed. (This notification is in addition to the notification of the conditional pass within five working days after the exam.) The date upon which the Graduate School is notified of the pass establishes the student's graduation date.
Failure to pass the oral examination. Failure of a student to pass the oral examination terminates the student's graduate work at NC State unless the graduate advisory committee unanimously recommends a re-examination. Only one re-examination will be given. If the Graduate School denies the request, the student's program is terminated. A student may appeal all committee actions by written application to the Dean of the Graduate School (refer to NC State policy on grievance procedures for students).