Title Photo
Home \ Current Students \ Portfolio Programs and Comprehensive Exams

Portfolio Programs and Comprehensive Exams

Doctoral and Master’s Portfolio Programs

Doctoral Portfolio

Students who entered the doctoral program in the 2009-2010 Academic Year, and thereafter, will complete the Doctoral Portfolio, which replaces the Doctoral Comprehensive Examination. Students may find complete information about the Doctoral Portfolio here.

Master’s Portfolio

Students who entered the master’s degree program in the 2010-2011 Academic Year, and thereafter, will complete the Master’s Portfolio, which replaces the Master’s Comprehensive Examination. Students may find complete information about the Master’s Portfolio here.

Comprehensive Examinations

Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations

Students who entered the doctoral program PRIOR to the 2009-2010 Academic Year will be required to take the Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations and pay the necessary fee per conditions of the catalog under which they entered the program. Doctoral Comprehensive Examinations must be taken on campus and are offered three times each year in January, July, and November.

Please note that taking the comprehensive exam or being enrolled solely in the Portfolio does not retain a student in an enrolled status and thus, a student cannot request a student loan deferment based on taking the comprehensive exam.

Master’s Comprehensive Examinations

Students who entered the master’s degree program PRIOR to the 2010-2011 Academic Year are required to take the Master’s Comprehensive Examination and pay the required fee per conditions of the catalog under which they entered the program. Master’s Comprehensive Exams are offered off-campus only.

NOTE: The Master’s Comprehensive Examination Requires a Proctor/Testing Site or the Option of Utilizing the Securexam Remote Proctor Device (RPD).

Students taking their Off-Campus Master’s Comprehensive Exams are required to have their exams proctored through a testing site or the RPD. Students are also responsible for arrangements made to take the exam and all fees associated with the selected proctor/testing center and RPD.

The exam is only offered on the third Thursday and Friday of each month with the exception of December and January. The exam is not offered in December or January. Each monthly exam will be limited to 15 students - first come, first served. Please plan accordingly. There will be no exceptions.

It is highly recommended that the exam be taken between the hours of 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Central Time) in order that Academy personnel may properly monitor and assist students if administrative problems occur.

Listed below are some examples of locations that offer proctoring and testing procedures:

  • Colleges and Universities
  • Sylvan Learning Centers
  • Military Base Education Office
  • Public libraries

Once you have located a proctor/testing center or have opted to utilize the RPD, follow the steps below to complete the process:

  1. Fill out the Master’s Off-Campus Comprehensive Exam Application
  2. Provide the appropriate information, and pay the necessary fees.
  3. The student will be emailed a confirmation from Registrar’s office stating the student is registered for that exam date.
  4. The proctors will be emailed the access password along with instructions on how to administer the exam.
  5. You must bring a form of I.D. (drivers’ license, credit card, passport, etc.) to the testing center on the day of the exam.
  6. Students utilizing the RPD will be given access to the exam from the Testing Dept.
  7. Follow Instructions and Take Exam.
  8. Students that Schedule an Exam Date and Do Not Show – Will Forfeit ALL FEES.

For instructions on studying and taking the graduate comprehensive exams, refer to the guides posted below.